Heading to the Disneyland Resort is a favorite pastime in my family (we are Annual Passholders). Planning our food includes a 6-hour car ride, and our days in the park. Eating well doesn’t happen 100% of the time, but I’ve learned that there are a few things I can do to make better choices and sometimes, even save money. Today, I am going to discuss great snack options to keep you on track!

The drive to the park:

Stopping at gas stations for food not only takes extra time, but costs money . Not to mention, this option doesn’t include a lot of healthy choices. Our family works to prep healthy snack and drink choices for the drive. Some of our favorite choices are:

HOMEMADE BEEF JERKY:

I prefer grass-fed beef for my jerky. I marinate the beef for at least 24 hours in a mixture of apple juice, Worchester sauce, coconut aminos or soy sauce, and seasonings like garlic and pepper. I dehydrate for 5-7 hours to get the right jerky texture in a basic dehydrator (I found one for $40 on Amazon). To make the process much easier, I ask the butcher to slice the beef to ¼ inch thick.

HOMEMADE DRIED APPLES:

This one is super simple! All I do is slice the apples (by hand or using a mandolin) and soak in 100% apple juice for about 5 minutes. From there, I can dehydrate for about 8-12 hours for perfect dried apples.

PROTEIN BARS:

I love the Isagenix IsaLean meal replacement bars. With 18 grams of protein and no artificial ingredients, they are a no-brainer. My favorite flavors are Nutty Caramel Cashew and Natural Oatmeal Raisin.

NATURAL SPORTS DRINK:

I prefer Isagenix Replenish. This is an excellent choice for adding to our many packed water bottles. 2 scoops of the powder in your water is delicious, delivers B vitamins and Vitamin C, and is only 35 calories.

HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX:

High in protein, and kiddo approved, trail mix is a great go-to. You can buy a pre-made variety but to save money and pick the right ingredients, make your own. Some great ideas are found here: http://greatist.com/health/21-healthier-trail-mix-ideas.

Park Days:

One of the best parts of eating at Disneyland is that you can bring your own food and snacks. I don’t bring enough for meals, but I do love packing snacks. You can use all of the same things you brought for the drive. Some people might carry a backpack with snacks, and others might utilize a locker and check-in to refuel.

While in the park, there are also some smarter choices you can make for your snacks. Some of my favorite snacks are:

FROZEN BANANAS:

Dipped in chocolate, these bananas are available at almost every snack cart and a great way to get the kiddos to make healthier choices.

SABRA HUMMUS AND PRETZELS:

Many of the snack areas throughout both parks provide this option. Fairfax Market in Disney’s California adventure carries these packs, as does a snack stand on the way to Splash Mountain. The hummus is a good source of healthy fats and protein. The pretzels will give you a good boost of energy. This snack will give you 9 grams of protein!

PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP:

In Disneyland, near the Tiki Room entrance, you will find this popular snack. The Dole Whip is a great choice because it is not only a healthier choice (a blend of sherbet, frozen yogurt and fresh pineapple) it is a delicious treat! It’s so good, that some people come to the park just to have it. Save yourself some line time by heading into the Tiki Room Attraction and ordering on that side.

BENGAL BARBEQUE:

In Disneyland Park, across from the Jungle Cruise, this is one of my favorites. Each of the options on the menu are great for a protein packed snack. When I followed a paleo diet, this was a staple stop! You can get vegetables, beef, or chicken on a skewer. While bacon may not be on everyone’s “healthy” list, it gets an upgrade when wrapped around asparagus.

TURKEY LEGS:

Available in a few locations throughout both parks (at the pier in Disney’s California Adventure, and in Adventure Land and by the Matterhorn in Disneyland), this is a big serving of protein. As a snack, plan to share this mammoth leg with a few people. Others might even use it is as a meal; it’s certainly big enough.

CORN ON THE COB:

A great pairing for your turkey leg, and you can find it throughout both parks at various snack stands. If you want to try some with more flavor, check out Edelweiss snacks in Fantasy Land at Disneyland. They have a chili lime corn on the cob that is delicious and a good choice.

Now that you have made all of these great choices, don’t forget to enjoy your Churro as well! You’ve earned it!

In my next post, we will explore some healthy meal options at both parks.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HEALTHY PARK SNACKING TIPS?

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.