You’ve planned the perfect Disney vacation. Congratulations! I’m imagining your itinerary right now, which is undoubtedly filled with all the activities you can physically cram into each day. Early mornings, late nights, and action-packed days in between that leave all of your Disney love tanks full. Sound about right? Your bags are probably already packed in your mind. Sunscreen, water bottles, good walking shoes, and all the other essentials catered for. You might have even gone the extra mile, getting the family more active before your trip, spending more time up and walking, and training for the few days of high-intensity movement you are gearing up for. It’s great to think about how to maximize your energy while in the parks; for all of those attractions, you are going to need it. However, there might be one thing slowing you down without you even realizing it. Your food choices.
I know, I know; it’s Disney! I’m not about to start preaching to you about maintaining a diet and ignoring the sugary goodness of all those tempting treats, but there are a few tips that can help you avoid a food-induced energy crash. Your time in the Disney Parks is probably the best opportunity to afford those few extra calories since you will likely be more active than you would be on a normal day. But the order in which you consume those yummy menu items, can completely change how they affect your body. Have you ever felt the bump of energy that was quickly followed by a sluggish, sleepy feeling after eating certain foods? That’s what we want to avoid in the park. When the afternoon hits, and it’s time to power through the middle of your schedule, you don’t want to feel like you have to sit down because your stomach isn’t in its happy place.
Photo by Clayton Cardinalli on Unsplash
Throughout the day is your best time to enjoy snacks that have higher nutritional value or some protein. That’s going to help with your energy. And even though I would never do this at home, I save my indulgent and sugary treats for dinner and dessert when visiting the Disney Parks. I know it’s supposed to be a terrible time for your body to be processing calories just before bed. However, that’s not the goal in this case. For me, I just want to know that when that crash comes, it’s perfectly timed to go to bed and not feel as though I am missing out on anything. Another bonus is that sometimes, by the time it comes to ordering dessert, I’m full and don’t end up indulging at all, which, for me, works out better for my body and my overall energy.
I’m no professional, but I have made the food mistakes the hard way, and I’m hoping that by sharing some of these suggestions, we can avoid the same for you! Have you ever noticed that your body doesn’t always appreciate what you feed it while in the parks? If you have any experiences or tips, share them with us in the comments below or start a discussion with our DIS community.
Feature Image: Photo by Andrijana Bozic on Unsplash
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
