A Whole30 & Paleo Guide to Disneyland & California Adventure
Walk into Disneyland, and you will smell popcorn, churros and corndogs! You will see ice cream, beignets and dole whips! Sorry to burst your Mickey Balloon, but none of that is Whole30 or Paleo. It’s okay, though! I have a great list of eats for you at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, along with some great B.Y.O.S. (bring your own snacks), that will help you conquer Disney theme parks during your Whole30!
Disney is great with accommodating special diets and dietary restrictions. They want to make sure you can safely eat and enjoy your time at the parks. But I do have some helpful tips for you!
You may think it's hard to visit Disney Parks while on Whole30 but it's really not that hard at all! Don’t let your WHOLE30 stop you from having a magical time at The Happiest Place On Earth!
Note: Because everything that is Whole30 is also considered Paleo, that also makes everything in this guide Paleo as well.
For more about Eating at DISNEYLAND with
food allergies, CLICK HERE and check out my
Let’s talk Whole30 at Disneyland! What can you eat on Whole30? REAL FOOD! Meat, lots of veggies, seafood, eggs, fresh fruit, herbs, spices, seasonings and natural fats.
WHAT YOU NEED TO AVOID:
- Sugars, Added Sugars, Real or Artificial
- Alcohol - even for cooking
- Grains
- Legumes (beans, peanut butter, chickpeas etc.)
- Dairy
- Carrageenan, MSG or Sulfites
- Baked goods
- Junk Foods
- Vegetable oils
- Treats (even made from approved ingredients)
More:
- Ghee and Clarified Butter is okay.
- Fruit Juice, if used as an ingredient to sweeten a recipe, sauce or dressing, is okay.
- Legumes such as green beans, sugar snap peas and snow peas, are okay.
- While Canola oil is technically okay during your Whole30 (because it’s almost impossible to avoid while eating out), it’s not something you should be buying or using at all. (I personally even avoid it at restaurants, as well, and request olive oil only).
You’re best options at Disney are going to be meat or fish and veggies with a side of fresh fruit. You might find a good salad with chicken or steak on top, but check dressings, sauces, marinades and spices. When in doubt bring your own salad dressing! Yup - put it in a small container (no glass) and bring it along. Request that any meat or veggies be cooked in olive oil rather than canola oil. You can also request olive oil and fresh lemon wedges in place of salad dressing — it’s delicious and refreshing, too! Before you GO:
1) Read THIS information on the Disneyland website
2) From Disney: "For questions/requests related to food allergies, intolerances and other special dietary needs, contact us at Special.Diets@disneyland.com"
3) Look at menus online and book a reservation
Before you ORDER:
- Make sure your server knows about your special dietary needs. Do not hesitate to repeat yourself, and make sure your server understands.
- Ask a million questions until you feel confident that your server understands what you can and cannot have, but please be nice.
- Read the entire menu and get creative! Ask your server what they recommend based on what you can and can’t have, and even ask to speak to the chef, if need be.
- Look for a protein, veggies and a side of fruit.
- Reiterate what you can and cannot have.
I have done lots of the research for you below, but with menu changes, new chefs, seasonal menu items and just the fact that ingredients can change, it’s always good to follow the steps above, by talking to the chef and alerting your server about your dietary restrictions or special dietary needs.
B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Snacks)
Did you know you can bring your own food, drinks and snacks with you to the parks? You just can’t bring glass or alcohol. Here are some great snack ideas to keep with you at Disney. Remember these are not to graze on, but to use in case you have a long window in between reservations or maybe to accompany a meal if your choices are limited. For example: Ordering a steak with a side of veggies and fresh fruit, perhaps it’s not the biggest portion… consider eating a handful of almonds or cashews with your meal. Are you eating dinner at 5pm but plan to be at the parks until midnight? You will probably be hungry later in the evening for an RXBAR or some nut butter. See the list for snacks you can purchase and snacks you can bring down below.
Now, let’s talk about specific Whole30 Meals at Disneyland & Disney’s California Adventure. Honestly — everything was delicious, and I would order it all again in a heartbeat!
SIDE NOTE: Just because there is meat on the menu doesn’t make it compliant. At Paradise Garden Grill they serve kabobs (meat on a stick). They put SUGAR on the meat. Always ask to see the list of ingredients. The famous Turkey Leg is seasoned with brown sugar. There are more hidden sugars than hidden Mickey’s!
BREAKFAST: There are no breakfasts on this list, however, your best bet for breakfast will be eggs cooked in olive oil or poached with a side of roasted potatoes and sautéed spinach. Stay away from the bacon as it probably has sugar on it. If you prefer an omelet, make sure there is no pancake batter (yes, you read that correctly) in the scrambled eggs. Request lots of veggies in your scrambled eggs or omelette, and ask for a side of roasted potatoes with just black pepper and sea salt.
DISNEYLAND
Carnation Cafe (Main Street U.S.A.)
(reservation recommended)
Catch of the Day (Salmon + broccoli)
This salmon was very tasty, and the broccoli was really good, too! We both enjoyed this meal. Request outside seating during a parade for a little dining entertainment.
Cafe Orleans (New Orleans Square)
(reservation recommended)
Steak, Veggies & Potatoes
We spoke to our server to clarify some ingredients, and, after a few unconfident answers, we asked to speak to the chef. He made this delicious meal for us. Steak, Brussels sprouts, broccolini, carrots and lots of fresh garlic. One of our favorite meals!
Bengal Barbecue (Adventureland)
Chicken & Beef & Veggies Skewers
This one is tricky, and, though it’s a quick service food option, it still took 20 minutes because of the special requests. It's totally worth it! You have to say: NO SALT, NO OIL & NO MARINADE. It is pretty plain, but also really good. There is sugar and gluten in the marinades and also in the seasonings. While, technically, iodized table salt is O.K. on Whole30, I still avoid it. With seasoning you also never know if there is sugar in the mixture, so I just say NO to their seasoning and spices on the meat. Read more from the Whole30 Rules.
Order the Chicken, Beef & Veggies (but avoid the bacon wrapped asparagus). Remember to say no seasoning, salt, canola oil and no marinades or sauces. It will take 20 minutes, but it will be worth it!
Starbucks
Black Iced Coffee - you can order hot coffee as well. Starbucks locations are located in each park as well as 2 locations in Downtown Disney.
DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Carthay Circle (reservation recommended)
(Buena Vista Street)
Berry Spritzer
Want a fancy drink? Order some club soda with muddled berries. Ask that it’s just fresh berries and not a syrup or pre-made mixture. PS - I made the name of this drink up.
Chicken with Apple & Squash Salad with a side of Green Beans.
Remind them that you would like no dressing on the salad and perhaps a little lemon juice and olive oil on the side.
Salmon + Broccoli & Roasted Fingerling Potatoes.
Request that the salmon be cooked in olive oil and the veggies be steamed or roasted with olive oil.
Green Beans & Roasted Fingerling Potatoes.
We were hungry for more veggies so we ordered another side of green beans and fingerling potatoes. Out of this world! Just a little olive oil, garlic, black pepper and sea salt.
Wine Country Trattoria - Golden Vine Winery Area
(Pacific Wharf)
Chicken, Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans
Amazing! The chicken wasn’t dry and the sides were tasty! My hubby and I each ate half of the steak and chicken and shared them both.
Rib-Eye Steak, Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans
Absolutely delicious meal here! I would a million percent order this again and again!
Snacks Around Disneyland & Disney's California Adventure:
You can find WHOLE30 snacks all around both parks. Apple slices normally come with caramel, so look for apple slices WITHOUT caramel or toss the caramel sauce. Some of the veggies come with a ranch dip or hummus… you know the drill — throw the dips away. You can save money by bringing your own fruits and veggies OR looking for fruits and veggies that do not come with a side of dip. Do what is best for you.
Fresh Fruit:
Watermelon
Apples
Cuties
Pineapple
Grapes
Mangos
Carrots
Celery
Broccoli
B.Y.O.B. - Bring Your Own Snacks
- Nuts and Seeds (I prefer Barukas) (use code KRYSTENSKITCHEN)
- RXBARS (compliant flavors include the chocolate sea salt, coconut chocolate, mint chocolate, mixed berry) - NOT TO BE USED AS DESSERT or for a SWEET CRAVING
- Medlie Organic Veggie Drinks
EXTRA: The little KOR shot is filled with homemade cashew sour cream (see recipe here) to put on a salad as dressing. You don’t NEED to bring your own dressing, but YOU CAN.
B.Y.O.D. - Bring Your Own Drinks
Bring a small cooler with an ice pack. Carry it with you or put it in the lockers. Pop a drink out during your meal or whenever you are thirsty. You can also bring water bottles, or you can ask for ice waters at any soda fountain.
Waterloo Sparkling Water
Spindrift
LaCroix
Genius Juice Coconut Coffee Smoothie
Tea Bags - ask for hot water at Starbucks
