Low-Carb Dining

by Paula Estes

Whether or you are embarking on a low-carb diet for the first time, or simply maintaining a low-carb lifestyle, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy your vacation. Armed with a few tools and some concise information, finding palatable low-carb fare can be easy and fun. Periodically, I’ll visit a different Disney theme park and report back with relevant information. This week I visited Disney's Hollywood Studios. I know you can view all of the menus on the site, however, asking questions in person I was able to glean a little more information.

Let’s start with what I found to be the Mecca of low-carb dining at this park. I know you’ll be surprised as I was, but Mama Melrose's is your best bet, hands down.

Here is a modified low-carb menu I’ve put together, with my comments:

Mama Melrose

Appetizers

Mama's Antipasto for Two - selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables $14.99

Fresh Mozzarella and Vine-ripened Tomatoes - with marinated sweet onions, balsamic drizzle, basil-scented olive oil and fresh sweet basil $7.99 – careful with the onions.

Caesar Salad - with crisp romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing and herb croutons $5.99

Of course, don’t eat the croutons, and I like to ask for real bacon pieces instead.

Entrees

Seafood Cioppino - fresh clams, shrimp, calamari, and mussels tossed with fregola pasta and a flavorful tomato seafood broth $21.99

Probably the safest low carb/high protein choice, and my personal favorite.

All of the dishes below can be modified to meet low carb standards. I spoke with the chef, who assured me that all of the grains, potatoes, and pasta can be substituted for a variety of vegetables. The selection of vegetables is substantial, and there is NO SUGAR ADDED. You can even specify the type and quantity of oils used to cook your vegetables.

Wood-grilled Tuna - over a seasonal Vegetable Risotto, warm Vine-ripened Diced Red and Yellow Tomatoes, and Olive-Caper Butter $21.99

Charred Strip Steak - with five-cheese baked macaroni, aged balsamic-shallot butter, and Chianti Wine Reduction $28.99

Chicken Campanelle - wood-grilled chicken over Campanelle pasta tossed with four-cheese sauce with broccoflower, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach and sweet onions $18.99; with Shrimp $19.99

Careful with the sweet onions, they’re high in natural sugar.

Pork Milanese - over roasted fingerling potatoes tossed in a pancetta vinaigrette with a grilled lemon $21.99

Also be careful of citric acid. If you’re doing a ketosis diet, citrus set you back.

Piccata di Pesce - fresh fish sauteed in a white wine lemon butter sauce with caperberries, spinach, and whole wheat pasta $20.99

Desserts
No Sugar Added Mascarpone Pound Cake - with limoncello-macerated berries and fresh whipped cream $6.49

So there it is. A complete, delicious, low carb meal is waiting for you if you know where to find it.

Here are other low carb dining options:

50’s Prime Time Cafe

Aunt Annie's Seafood Salad - Lump Blue Crab, Bay Scallops, and Shrimp tossed in Citrus Vinaigrette served on seasonal Greens $9.99

Cousin Amy's Iceberg Lettuce Wedge - Blue Cheese Dressing, Bacon, and Chives $5.49

Mom's Old Fashioned Pot Roast - Slow cooked 'til fork tender, served with mashed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions $17.99 – substitute more celery for potatoes

No Sugar Added Cheesecake - topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberry sauce $5.49

Anaheim Produce

Carrot and Celery Sticks with Lite Ranch Dressing $3.69

Carrots $1.99

Pickle $1.39

Backlot Cantina

Carrot and Celery Sticks - with lite Ranch dressing $3.69

Pickle $1.39

Backlot Express

1/3 lb. Angus Onion Straw Cheeseburger - topped with cheddar, vine-ripened tomato, sliced pickle, lettuce and house spread, served with French fries or carrot sticks $9.79; without the fries/carrot sticks $8.79. Don’t eat the bun, and order carrots instead of fries.

Hot Dog - served with French fries or carrot sticks $6.79. Skip the bun

Brown Derby

Asparagus Soup - with jumbo lump crab, sweet pepper relish and sherry gastrique $10.00

Our Famous Cobb Salad - with finely chopped greens, turkey breast, egg, bacon, tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese, avocado, chives and Cobb dressing $15.00

Grilled Loch Duart Salmon - blue cheese polenta cake, and autumn vegetables sauteed with tapenade and a calamata beurre blanc $34.00 – Substitute vegetable for the polenta cake.

Roasted Free-range Ashley Farms Breast of Chicken - stuffed with serano ham, machego cheese, and spinach over a Fabada stew and tomato concasse $30.00 – Hold the stew, it has beans.

Chared Filet of Beef - glazed with a red wine reduction topped with Cabernet and Roasted shallot butter, over white truffle forest mushroom whipped potatoes 6 oz $37.00 or 8 oz. $41.00 – Hold the potatoes.

Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb -with lyonnaise potatoes, garlic buttered hericot verts and a red zinfandel sauce $36.00 – Hold the potatoes, ask for more green beans.

Catalina Eddie’s Counter Service

Caesar Salad with Chicken $7.79 – Skip the crouton, and careful with the dressing.

Fairfax Fare

I was unable to get specific nutritional information here. Please note that most of the meats are sugar cured. Also, barbeque and coleslaw can both contain high amounts of sugar. Skip the beans, of course.

Chicken and Spareribs - served with baked beans and coleslaw $14.19
1/2 Slab of Spareribs - served with baked beans and coleslaw $10.69
1/2 Chicken - served with baked beans and coleslaw $9.69
Jumbo Turkey Leg $9.19
Hollywood Scoops
Ice Cream Flavors: Fat-Free No-Sugar Added Vanilla
Ice Cream Treat Carts
Edy's No Sugar Added Strawberry Bar $3.25
Carrot and Celery $4.00
Pickle $1.50
Peevy’s Frozen Concoctions
Carrot and Celery Sticks with Lite Ranch Dressing $3.69
Pickle $1.39

Sci-Fi Dine In

Mixed Greens - With diced tomatoes and onion tossed with ranch dressing $7.49

BLT Soup - A creamy tomato basil soup, topped with herb crouton, shredded lettuce and bacon $6.99- Skip the crouton.

Ask your server to hold the bun for the following items:

The All American Picnic Burger - flame broiled Angus burger patty topped with grilled hot dog, sauerkraut, and sauteed onions, drizzled with ketchup, mustard and crowned with a pickle spear, served with a choice of cucumber salad or french fries $15.99

Grilled Chicken Sandwich - With watercress, vine-ripened tomatoes, mayonnaise, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar on a caraway salted bun, served with a choice of cucumber salad or fries $14.99

Angus Chuck Burger - flame broiled beef patty topped with cheddar or Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and crispy bacon, lettuce and vine-ripened tomatoes, served with a choice of cucumber salad or french fries $14.99.

Go for the cucumber salad.

Angus Chuck Double Bacon Cheese Burger - two flame broiled beef patties topped with cheddar or Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce and vine-ripened tomatoes, served with a choice of cucumber salad or french fries $18.49.

Again, stick with the cucumber salad.

Vegetable Burger - Vegetable patty topped with cucumber planks, vine-ripened tomatoes, grilled red onions, peppery arugula, and pickle spear drizzled with balsamic vinegar served with a choice of cucumber salad or sweet potato fries $12.49.

Definitely cucumber salad.

No Sugar Added Dessert Brownie - with Ice Cream and Strawberries $7.99.

Skip the ice cream.

Studio Catering Company

Greek Salad with Olive and Feta Vinaigrette $6.49.

Toluca Legs Turkey Company

Jumbo Turkey Leg $9.19

Toy Story Pizza Planet

Meatball Sub with Caesar Salad - $9.19 (with chips $8.99) – Skip the bun and croutons. There are a few bread crumbs in the meatballs.

Pizza Planet Chicken Salad - chopped Romaine, grilled chicken breast, cantaloupe, cucumber, red onion, tomato, green peas, fresh basil, and balsamic vinaigrette $7.49 – Skip the cantaloupe.