Orange You Glad You Came?

While on vacation at Disney, I took advantage of the Florida produce, and made sure to stop for a few minutes to get some delicious Florida oranges. On our way to Disney World on the first day, I noticed a HUGE building that was shaped like an orange. I started freaking out, and knew that was the place I wanted to go to get some oranges.

On the last day we were in Florida, we stopped at Orange World to check out their oranges. Unfortunately, the building wasn't filled with fruit (like I thought it was) but there was a beautiful selection of freshly picked oranges and grapefruits. There were also samples of all the fruit that was being sold so we were able to taste to see which types of oranges we like best. After trying all the different types of oranges, my mom and I decided to go with the Valencia oranges. They were big, juicy, and very sweet. We bought a huge bag so that we could share some with family back in North Carolina.



  


Take advantage of your vacation location, and take home some food souvenirs that will bring your vacation back home with you!

                                   

Eating Right: At Disney

Recently, my family and I took a trip to the magical world of Disney for Spring break. This included four days of all day walking, riding rides, hunting down characters, dancing through Mainstreet, catching monorails, and just having a blast. All of this left no time for cooking, which meant quick and easy meals/snacks throughout the day. Here are some ways I ate healthy and saved money while enjoying being on vacation at the most magical place in the world...












1. Find a grocery store, and stock up


The first thing I did when arriving at the hotel, was find the closest grocery store, and went to buy snacks and foods to last the week. I had never been to a Publix before, so I was pretty excited to go to one.

2. Eat a filling breakfast:

Each morning before we left for the day, I would make a big bowl of oatmeal with oats, almond milk, two bananas, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Then I would drink a mug of coffee to keep me going.  Oatmeal is a perfect breakfast option to start a long day of magical adventures, because it keeps you full from the fiber in the oatmeal, and the carbs from the bananas gives you energy. Also, eating a big breakfast before you leave rather than eating inside the parks is a great way to save money.


3. PACK YOUR OWN FOOD (my number 1 tip!)

Not knowing what the parks would have for food options, or how much money they would be, I made sure to pack snacks to last me all day. Mostly I packed things that would fit in my small bag and be easy to eat while walking and standing around. It is so important to pack your own food, because that way you'll always have it, and you'll know exactly what it is you're going to be eating. If you keep your hunger at bay by munching on your snacks all day it will keep you from getting super hungry and binging on not so good for you foods in the park. Also, Disney World's food options are pretty expensive, and so you'll definitely be saving money by bringing your own food.

Here are some snacks I brought:

 GMO free corn cakes from Real Foods, Kale & Spinach Chips, natural almonds, natural walnuts, and vegan edamame chips from Trader Joes.



Dried fruit, packs of raisins, dates, and apricots. Dried fruits are AMAZING snacks because they are small, delicious, and are more calorie dense and have lots of sugars/carbs for quick energy.

Fruit puree is also a great source of calories/carbs and it is so easy to eat while walking/waiting in lines, etc. Some people may call it baby food, but I call it a perfect snack. Look for the fruit AND veggie options, to get even more nutrients. 

Fruits that are easy/clean to eat are also perfect for snacks, I brought apples and cuties.

Vegetables are also great, especially frozen peas, because they have protein and fiber, also they are easy to eat. I also had carrots and broccoli packed as well, but never got a photo.

All my snacks ready to go in my bag....

Fits perfectly...

4. Look for fresh food options

There were several food options in the parks that were definitely healthy, and great food choices. In Epcot, there were great food choices in all the countries, including steamed vegetables and rice in Japan and even hummus and vegetables in Morocco! Also it was pretty easy to find fresh fruit, and even potatoes/corn throughout Magic Kingdom. Look for the words 'steamed' and 'baked' rather than 'fried' or 'breaded' and be cautious of all the frozen treats. Stick with smoothies (Tomorrowland had a great smoothie place) or juices with ice instead of sorbets, ice cream, etc.

                                  

5. Bring a water bottle

Even in March, Orlando was pretty hot and with walking so much it was pretty easy to get dehydrated, so save money on expensive bottled water, or drinks at Disney and bring your own water bottle, and just refill it with water when you're thirsty. I also found that it was pretty easy to get a cup of ice for free at most restaurants. Staying hydrated will keep your hunger at bay, and keep you from getting exhausted.

6. Coffee

If you need a pick me up in the middle of day, get some coffee. But stick to simple black coffee, or even a shot of espresso! There were tons of cafes in the park that sold coffee, it was rather expensive, but definitely worth it if you need a little boost of energy. Black coffee has no calories, and won't give you as much of a "crash" than a sugary coffee drink will. Also, black coffee is always much cheaper than the sugar filled coffee drinks.

So those are my tips for eating healthy at Disney, or at any type of theme park. The key to eating healthy is bringing your own food, so you're not tempted by all the high calorie, high fat, high sugar options that are in the parks. By having your own food you won't be as likely to spend money on the park's foods that may not be as good for you.

Enjoy The Taste of Eating Right: National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, which is so exciting! This month is dedicated to eating nutritiously, and motivating people to make healthy changes in their life. I love that there is whole month dedicated to nutrition, something that I live everyday celebrating.

For the past three years, I have truly dedicated my life to not only studying and learning about good nutrition, but also to eating and living a more nutritious life. I also try to encourage, and motivate others to make steps to healthier eating. When I decided I wanted major in nutrition I had no idea that I would develop such a passion for this field, and for this career, but I'm so glad that I did.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is promoting this month, so you should definitely go check out their website/information about National Nutrition Month at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/#.UxQCPnm9ZuY
They've also provided a subject for us bloggers to discuss, and that is Enjoying the Taste of Eating Right. 

Personally, there is nothing more satisfying than biting into a big juicy cantaloupe, or crunching on fresh baby carrots, or sipping a sweet green juice, or slurping up a warm cauliflower soup, so eating right for me is pure enjoyment. I haven't always like to eat these foods, and in the past I would have been disgusted by the thought of cauliflower soup....much less anything that had to do with cauliflower. Enjoying the taste of eating right took time.



It took my taste buds getting used to different foods. I think that this is why so many people refuse to eat fresh, nature made foods, because their taste buds are so used to eating processed, fake, and chemical invested foods. All of these foods have become a huge part in our culture, and it may take a while for it to leave our taste buds.


That's why I'm a strong believer in  t r y i n g  new foods, different foods, fresh foods, natural foods, locally grown foods, good for you foods. The more times you try something, the more chances you'll grow to like it...trust me, it worked for me! Also, don't be scared to not like something. If you've tried tomatoes multiple times, and every time they've made you gag....then that's okay, you don't like tomatoes. But trying multiple times is what matters.

I enjoy the taste of eating right, because eating right makes me feel right. When I have my flax pumpkin oatmeal in the mornings I start the day feeling good. Not only does it taste amazing, but it makes me feel amazing for the rest of the day. Starting your day on a positive healthy breakfast will leave you feeling confident and feeling like you've already had success in your day.



Food and guilt is something that is a struggle in many people, including myself. Many people associate guilt and food, which can be dangerous to your mental health, as well as your physical health. It's important to not feel guilty when it comes to food, because food is supposed to be happy, and make you feel happy, from the inside out. So find your balance, and don't feel guilty when you indulge every now and then...especially if you're trying, because trying is all that matters.



So back to the question.....how do I enjoy the taste of eating right? I enjoy the taste of eating right by eating foods that make my body happy. I eat foods that are fresh, from the ground or from a tree, because theses are the foods that make me happy! That's how I enjoy eating right!