The Life Ledger

Fitness is a way of life.

photo credit: jon.nelson

Consumerist turned me to the latest battle in the war on the restaurant industry - making calorie information readily available. San Francisco’s new ordinance requires any restaurant with more than 20 locations to display calorie information on menus or posters, and carries a $500 fine for each violation. This is great news, since bills requiring restaurants to display calorie information, which common sense tells me is a necessary part of treating the obesity epidemic, has historically been fraught with resistance. As the article on Consumerist points out,

San Francisco joins New York City and Washington’s King County in the battle to protect consumers with information, a fight that has not gone well for municipalities. California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger recently vetoed a bill that would require nutrition labeling throughout the state, and New York City was barred by a judge from enforcing its regulations until April 15, when the plan may be tossed altogether.

The CPSI is serious about this issue. In a press release marking the San Francisco bill, the CPSI outlines their vision of the future:

No one expects to learn the price of your restaurant meal by checking online in advance or by finding out only after you’ve ordered. And at chain restaurants, where menu items are so carefully calibrated and standardized, it would be easy for chains to put calories right on menu boards and even more nutrition information on printed menus.

…It’s hard to imagine that not many years ago, packaged foods in the supermarket did not have to bear the standardized, easy-to-read Nutrition Facts labels. We’re optimistic that twenty years from now, it will be hard to believe that calorie counts were confined to web sites and tray liners, and absent from menus and menu boards.

In order to empower all of us to assist in the fight for what seems like common sense legislation, the CPSI maintains a “Menu Labeling” resource site at http://www.cspinet.org/menulabeling/. Information offered includes a template for requesting menu labeling legislation from your governor, up-to-date news on menu labeling legislation and PDF documents on different related topics. For example, the PDF document on “Myth vs. Reality: Nutrition Labeling at Fast-Food and Other Chain Restaurants” lists and refutes commonly-used responses to requests for calorie information, like the one I received from Disney recently:

Myth: Special orders are common, and it would be impossible for a menu to list nutrition information for all possible different food preparation options and combinations.

Reality: Restaurants only would have to provide nutrition information for standard menu items as “offered for sale.”

• Menu labelling does not apply to customized orders or to daily specials (neither are standard menu items).
• If restaurants can provide nutrition information on websites and brochures, they should be able to put those numbers on menus where people can see them and use them when ordering.

For my part, I’ll be sending an e-mail to my governor and continuing to write about calorie information in restaurants. What about you - would you like to see your municipality or state adopt legislation requiring restaurants to list calorie information in the restaurant?

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Did you know each turkey leg has over 1400 calories? Start at the beginning of the series for some general Disney World nutrition information.

photo credit: maduarte

Far from a typical theme park, Epcot offers visitors a blend of entertainment and education. Using fun, animatronics and Disney flair, Epcot urges recognition of the part one plays in the world, the environment, and our shared future. At Epcot’s Futureworld, visitors experience space, sea, speed, land and imagination, and the one thing that ties all the disparate experiences together is, of course, food.

Below, I’ll list vendors and restaurants offering healthier snacks and meals. We’re compiling most of the information below from great Disney sites like MousePlanet.com and AllEars.net. If you’re not like the folks at the WDW Today Podcast who can visualize every nook and cranny, you might want to review a park map like the one found at http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/. Also, keep in mind I am in no way proposing the suggestions below are healthy, particularly since I have no nutrition information - rather, the suggestions appear healthier in comparison to the standard fare. Finally, we’ll be skipping the character meals, because let’s be honest - if you’re paying for a character meal, you’re paying for the experience, not the food. With that in mind, let’s get started!

photo credit: Mista Gargoyle

Sunshine Season Food Fair
Land Pavillion, located in lower level outside entrance to Soaring.

After taking a leisurely flight over California, a boat ride through the history and future of agriculture and learned about the Circle of Life, Sunshine Season Food Fair offers a great (albeit loud) place to catch your breath before continuing your adventure. Sunshine Season is a huge counter-service area with many options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, and organized into “bays” serving different foods. The Asian area offers steamed vegetables, sushi and (usually) a vegetarian meal option. There are several fish options, including Seared Tuna on Mixed Greens with Sesame Rice Wine dressing and Grilled Salmon with Mashed Potatoes with Kalamata Olive Pesto. If you’re not keen on fish, both the Grilled Vegetable Cuban Sandwich and Rotisserie Chicken or Beef Flatbread with Wild Greens and Tabbouleh appear to be tasty, healthy alternatives.

photo credit: ColeMatthew - all rights reserved

Coral Reef Restaurant
Living Seas Pavillion, located just inside main entrance.

Coral Reef offers a pleasant, if pricey, dining experience, providing guests full view to large fish tanks - photos like this one illustrate the dining experience. As MousePlanet puts it, “For some, there may be a bit of a cognitive disconnect in serving a mostly-seafood menu while watching fish swim around you.” Or as Len Testa eloquently puts it, “them’s good eatin’!” If you don’t mind eying both before and after versions of your meal at the same time, Coral Reef does have some healthy-sounding alternatives, including Pan-seared Tilapia - served with a roasted white and green bean salad tossed in a tomato vinaigrette and Grilled Mahi Mahi - served over Israeli couscous and arugula with honey soy glaze. Land-lubbers can try the Grilled Chicken Breast - with Jasmine rice and chicken broth.

photo credit: XISMZERO - all rights reserved

Electric Umbrella Restaurant
Future World, located inside Innoventions West near the Fountain.

Electric Umbrella offers fast counter-service fare with a few healthy alternatives to the standard hamburger. If you’re in the mood for a quick salad, try the Tossed Island Chicken Salad with mango, pineapple, and raisins, in a fat-free Italian dressing. If you’re more in the mood for a quick sandwich, try the Vegetable Wrap with hummus, zucchini, lettuce, cucumber, carrotts, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinaigrette and apple slices or Grilled Chicken Sandwich - with lettuce and tomato served with a wheat bun with apple slices. Or, if you’re really courageous, you could try the Len Testa Build-Your-Own-Salad salad bar(otherwise known as the fixins bar), although you might get some odd stares.

Next up - Epcot’s World Showcase.

Did you know each turkey leg has over 1400 calories? Start at the beginning of the series for some general Disney World nutrition information.

photo credit: Calamity Meg

With a staggering 16.64 million guests a year, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is consistently the most-visited theme park in the world. With that kind of volume, I would expect Disney to concentrate on cheap, consistent foods that appeal to the general masses and are quick to devour (like the 1400-calorie turkey legs), which pretty much cuts out most healthy meal choices. However, even with this volume, Disney manages to make some healthier choices available at Magic Kingdom - the trick is knowing where to find them.

Below, I’ll list vendors and restaurants offering healthier snacks and meals. We’re compiling most of the information below from great Disney sites like MousePlanet.com and AllEars.net. If you’re not like the folks at the WDW Today Podcast who can visualize every nook and cranny, you might want to review a park map like the one found at http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/. Also, keep in mind I am in no way proposing the suggestions below are healthy, particularly since I have no nutrition information - rather, the suggestions appear healthier in comparison to the standard fare. Finally, we’ll be skipping the character meals, because let’s be honest - if you’re paying for a character meal, you’re paying for the experience, not the food. With that in mind, let’s get started!

Snacks

photo credit: stretchdog

Aloha Isle
Adventureland, located just past the entrance from Main Street.

Aloha Aisle is home of the absolutely scrumptious Dole Whip pineapple soft serve ice cream. Unfortunately, it’s ice cream, so we’ll have to overlook it in favor of the fresh pineapple spears - a great snack and a good alternative to the common apples and carrots found elsewhere. If you’re thirsty and in the mood for juice, Aloha Isle offers apple, orange and - of course - pineapple.

photo credit: pinkpollyanna

Liberty Square Market
Liberty Square, located across from the Liberty Square Riverboat and next to the Hall of Presidents

If you’re craving fruit, Liberty Square Market has the biggest selection. It’s a little pricey, but then, so are the hamburgers. At the Market, you’ll find grapes, apple sauce, oranges, apples, bananas, watermelon and mixed fruit bowls. They also offer pickles, corn on the cob, carrot sticks and celery sticks. Trust me - get your snacks here and bank your calories for a Dole Whip dessert at Aloha Isle. You won’t regret it.

photo credit: joeandy

Main Street Bakery
Main Street, located halfway down Main Street on right

Apple turnovers, Mickey head frosted cookies, banana bread pudding - Disney lists Main Street Bakery as an official location for purchasing fresh fruit. Beware, however - it will take some serious willpower to resist all those sweet treats in favor of fruit. Fruit selection, which according to Allears.net includes strawberries and cantaloupe, likely changes with the season. What doesn’t change is the danger of hiding a cheesecake slice under those fresh strawberries.

photo credit: BMS-LOU - all rights reserved

Toontown Farmers Market
Toontown, located between The Barnstormer and Donald’s Boat.

Like the Main Street Bakery, Toontown Farmers Market is an official location for purchasing fresh fruit. The Market is conveniently located across the street from the character meet & greet site at the Judge’s Tent, allowing one parent to wade through multiple queues obtaining pictures and autographs from various princesses and woodland creatures while another forages through the cotton candy and popcorn to find apples, fruit cups, oranges, grapes, bananas, yogurt cups and frozen lemonade.

Meals

photo credit: andreaweckerle

Columbia Harbour House
Liberty Square, located across from Haunted Mansion’s entrance.

Fried fish, fried chicken, french fries - this restaurant gives all appearances of being a standard fried seafood joint. However, amidst all the batter there are a couple of healthier alternative meals to be had, starting with their Lighthouse Sandwich (hummus with tomato & broccoli slaw). If you’re still hungry, add a bowl of vegetarian chili. Finally, if you’re more in the mood for a salad, they’ve got you covered with their Garden Galley Salad (mixed greens with chicken, pecans, pineapple and feta cheese), and I’m sure you can request they hold the cheese.

photo credit: zesmerelda

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Tomorrowland, located across from the Tomorrowland Speedway loading area.

Home of the purple ketchup, Cosmic Ray’s offers three counter-service “bays”, each with its own selection of food: Unhealthy, Unhealthier and Passable…. I mean Chicken, Burgers and Sandwiches. Skip Burgers, don’t collect your 200 extra calories and head directly to the Sandwich bay, where you’ll find humongous Chicken Wraps with a side of Strawberry Yogurt, apples or grapes. Beats a burger any day.

photo credit: stretchdog

Plaza Restaurant
Main Street, located at the end of Main Street on the right, next to Plaza Ice Cream Parlor.

Decorated as a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor restaurant, Plaza Restaurant hosts a variety of sandwiches and salads. For healthier alternatives, skip the famous Reuben and head straight for a Chicken Strawberry Salad (fresh garden greens, grilled chicken breast, fresh strawberries, gorgonzola cheese, tossed in a white zinfandel vinaigrette dressing) or Vegetarian Sandwich (fresh mozzarella, hummus, basil pesto, cucumber, roasted red pepper, vine-ripened tomato, and lettuce on a freshly baked foccaccia bread served with sweet potato chips). Other offerings that appear to be on the lighter side include the Tuna Salad Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich and Plaza Club. As with any sandwiches, hold the mayo to keep the extra calories down.

photo credit: sansaarai - all rights reserved

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station
Tomorrowland, located at the entrance of Tomorrowland from Main Street past Plaza Restaurant.

Open seasonally, the Noodle Station offers a pleasant alternative to the ubiquitous hamburgers and chicken strips. Best described as “Asian inspired,” the Noodle Station serves noodle bowls such as Chicken Noodle Bowl and Vegetable Noodle Bowl with Tofu. Also available are Teriyaki Chicken or Tofu and Beef and Broccoli, both served with steamed white rice. Also, an added perk - the terrace provides a nice view of the castle during the fireworks show.

photo credit: cafeplushenko - all rights reserved

Tony’s Town Square
Main Street, located on the right side of Town Square as you enter the park.

If you like seafood, Italian cuisine or Lady and the Tramp, Tony’s has you covered. Amidst the cheese and bread you’ll find dishes like their Grilled Salmon (over Mixed Greens with beets, feta, and candied walnuts, tossed in an orange-shallot vinaigrette), Catch of the Day (served with Orzo pasta tossed with pancetta, roasted garlic and seasonal vegetables topped with balsamic maple glaze) and Seafood Diavoli (linguini pasta with clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, and salmon in a spicy tomato sauce). You can even splurge on a healthy(ier) dessert with a Seasonal No-Sugar Added Sorbet with fruit.

From fruit to fish and Asian to Italian, Magic Kingdom makes available many more food options than hamburgers and fries. Did I miss your favorite haunt for healthy(ier) meal and snack alternatives? I’d love to hear about it - leave me a comment below.

Next up - Epcot!

In March of last year, I wrote an article about Subway’s white and wheat breads, and whether the wheat bread actually is the healthy alternative. It turned out white was healthier. I noticed Subway modified their ingredients listing this month (and, I’m sure, several times between), so I wonder - since Subway still claims to be the healthy fast-food alternative, and people have a perception that anything “wheat” is the healthy alternative, has Subway stopped lying to its customers? Let’s find out.

First, here’s the old and new ingredients list:

Old list, quoted from my post dated 3/20/07:

WHEAT BREAD
Enriched flour (flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, whole wheat flour, high fructose corn syrup, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of the following: wheat bran, yeast, salt, soybean oil, dough conditioner (acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono-and diglycerides, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, potassium iodate, amylase (enzymes)], cracked wheat, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, caramel color (contains sulfites), dried honey preparation (honey powder, invert sugar, wheat starch, soy bran flour, silicon dioxide [anti-caking]), mineral oil. Contains soy and wheat.

New list, dated 01/2008:

WHEAT BREAD
Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, whole wheat flour, high fructose corn syrup. Contains less than 2% of the following: yeast, wheat bran, bleached oat hull fiber, vital wheat gluten, salt, soybean oil, dough conditioner, acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, potassium iodate, enzymes [amylase]), cracked wheat, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, caramel color (contains sulfites), refiners syrup, dried honey, mineral oil. Contains wheat.

And the caloric information for the two breads, first dated 3/20/07:

And the new chart, taken from Subway’s nutrition information page on 1/4/08:

The only difference I see is wheat bread’s listed dietary fiber - up from 3g to 4g. The wheat bread still has more calories and fat than white bread, and contains high fructose corn syrup and lists a refined wheat as the first ingredient. Sure, there’s not a drastic nutritional difference between Subway’s white and wheat breads, but that’s just the point - not only is there not much difference, the white bread seems slightly nutritionally healthier. Just another reminder - “wheat” doesn’t always equate “healthy.”