Raw daughter and Disneyland

[PathLight]

My eight year old daughter and I have been raw for a month now. In two weeks she will go on a four day Disneyland trip with her Girl Scout troop. I am worried about her being able to get the fresh foods she needs. I am planning to send what I can, but I know there will be days where her choices will be limited. If she is taken to a place that only serves burgers and fries, will she get sick from eating it?

I know there are places in Disneyland where she can buy fresh fruit. And I am going to talk to her leader about this. But I don't want this to inconvenience everyone.

So I guess my real question is after a month of being raw will SAD make her sick if she eats it? I would hate for her to be sick on this trip.

[lissomllama]

As a long time Disneyland lover (my mother went into labor with me there and we've gone at least twice a year since then and hubby and I honey-mooned there) I can tell you it's really not a big deal to be raw in Disneyland.

It can be mildly annoying and give you some wicked cravings sometimes but in adventure land they have that dole pineapple stand with the fresh pineapple spears, most of the restaurants have salads, fresh fruits and veggies (especially if you go to the rain forest cafe in down town disney) and lots everywhere has bottled water.

You can also save money and time by packing a little bag with some cut up fruits and veggies and some nuts. Make the day about and less about food but you can still totally have an awesome time eating raw food there and the best part is, you'll feel light and energetic, you won't have that gross full feeling when you're trying to go on rides. You'll be satisfied, fit and glowing!

Have fun! Hubby and are are going back soon as well and I'll be happy with my raw vegan faire.

[mbf]

We are headed that way soon too. There is a Jamba juice in downtown disney area. They will make all fruit smoothies ( no milk or processed stuff) if you ask. They also have carrot juice and wheat grass. perhaps she can get breakfast or lunch there daily?

I think her returning to a SAD will be tough on her body. Some people do get sick, but I think she will suffer more from headaches and exhaustion. Most burger places have salads these days, McDonalds has a fruit platter. I would just try to encourage her to make the best choices possible.

I find the disney hotels very accomodating to special diets. If she is flying, call the airline and request a vegan meal, usually salad and fruit it was you get. Hopefully her troop leader will be supportive and helpfull. If nothing else perhaps she can stick to a sugar free vegan diet. Won't be as bad as burgers and fries.

Good luck, hope she has fun!

Mara

[emily]

I was just in Disneyland a month ago, and I was amazed at how many fresh fruit and vegetable snacks they have in their stands now! Of course, there's a lot of junk, too, but at least there will be places all through the park where she can get raw food. If she finds herself in a situation where she has to eat SAD food, you could talk to her about some good choices that won't make her feel sick (i.e. not hamburgers and fries :)).

[dreamrawalwz]

i havn't been to disney in a LONG time so I'm not sure about that, but I'm sure those above have good ides :) the first thing when I read this that came over me was worry. Not about your daughter, but that she's young, without you (i assume) and with other adults. Do they know she's eating raw and it's healthy? If not, they may freak out and or be very concerned that she isn't eating what is "norml." I just wnted to express my concern :) I hope she has a great time!

[PathLight]

Thanks for the replies and ideas.

Yeah, if I were going with her I wouldn't be very concerned. I am going to have a good talk with her girl scout leader probably tomorrow. I wanted to get a feel from you more experienced raw food eaters first.

I'm sure I can make a big deal for her leader to make sure she gets a raw diet--but at the same time I don't want to terribly inconvenience them. But if there are as many fruit stands around as some of you think, that would definitely help. Still, only whole fresh fruit for four days straight might be hard on her too. She is used to a lot of smoothies and green drinks, and fresh veggies cut up, along with her whole fruit.

So if she does have to choose from SAD food, what might be the easiest on her stomach? Not burgers, I'm sure......

[SmilingRawDancer]

I live right by Disneyland, and I have a pass...so I must say:

Jamba Juice. Saved my life many a time :)

Just ask for a pure fruit smoothie, and even throw a wheatgrass shot IN the smoothie to make it a bit "greener"....Ahhh

[Apasaraw]

Tiki room has fresh pineapple and there is a fresh market full of wonderful fruits near the Tarzan tree near Alladin and Raiders...

All the restaurants offer great salads...and also had whole basic fruits like oranges, apples, bananas...

Jamba Juice is great in a pinch isn't it? Mango Madness here....

:)

Hope she has a super time!

[dreamrawalwz]

btw, how is your daughter enjoying raw? has she seen any benefits/healing from it? :p

[emily]

Well, she could of course choose salads, but I don't know how old she is - some kids have a hard time with the textures and flavors in salads. As for SAD food - I would think a vegetarian sandwich or wrap wouldn't be too hard on her, without cheese or mayonnaise of course. Does she like nuts? You could give her a bag of trail mix to take along. I so hope that her scout leader is understanding! It will probably be hard, I don't know that there's anyway around that unless she's an unusually strong-willed kid. Still, it could be a really great opportunity for her to gain strength and strengthen personal conviction regarding her eating choices - she will have to make choices and experience the results of her choices, emotionally and physically. That could be really good! And she may make some choices that will make you sad or concerned, but then you two can talk about it when she gets back, and she will have that experience of thinking about and discerning her relationship to food, especially when others around her are eating food that is not good for the body. This could be a really helpful experience, even if she does eat pizza or cotton candy, b/c of what she will learn and the ownership of lifestyle she will gain. Peace and joy to you in this.

[PathLight]

Thanks for all your good ideas and support. I'll post again about this after her trip. Of course, feel free to keep adding ideas that you may come up with. :D

My daughter is really liking doing the raw. I started an introduction thread under the "Who are You" forum. I'll add more details about how we are doing and my daughter successes there.

[luna99]

I believe Disney is trying to make healthier food choices available to people in the parks and restaurants now.. so much so that they are taking away some of the old favorites and some people are getting upset.. lol.

anyway.. good luck.. I love disney and am getting married there in seven months!! I haven't really given much thought to how I"m going to stay raw there.. I'm sure there will be lots of fresh fruit around for breakfast and I'm going to have to start looking at menus to pick the restaurants I choose the four nights I'm there.....

I hope your daughter has a great time!! :D