Walt Disney Parks And Resorts Expands Well-Balanced Meals
Burbank, CA - As part of The Walt Disney Company's new food guidelines to promote healthier kids' diets, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts recently announced that well-balanced meals for children will now become the standard offering at Disney-operated restaurants and kiosks at its U.S. parks. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced a plan to eliminate all added trans fats(a) and improve the nutritional value and enhance the taste of most of its food offerings for kids and adults by the end of 2007.
The Walt Disney Company's new food guidelines, which were announced on October 16, are aimed at giving parents and children healthier eating options. The guidelines will govern Disney's business partnerships and activities in the U.S. on a going-forward basis and will be adapted internationally over the next several years according to the company. In addition to the efforts at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Consumer Products has already begun to offer many licensed products that comply with the guidelines.
Well-Balanced Kids Meals
According to the company, nutritious and revised kids meals have been available since the beginning of October. They include a beverage choice of low fat milk, 100 percent fruit juice or water and a side dish such as unsweetened applesauce, baby carrots or fresh fruit.
Other New Items on the Menu
According to Disney they will be removing all added trans fats from foods served in the parks and resorts over the next 12 months, including low fat and vegetarian options other changes include:
- Introducing a new Guest-tested hamburger formulation with fat content not to exceed 20 percent and hamburger buns with 10 percent whole wheat
- Testing new pizza offerings with lower bread and lower-fat cheese content
- Working with manufacturers in reformulating recipes for candy, packaged foods and bakery items sold at the parks or identifying replacement products and
- Ensuring compelling packaging for the more nutritious food offerings as well as portion-controlled snacks and treats.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, "trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil, a process called hydrogenation. Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. This process increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods that contain these fats. Like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, trans fat raises the risk of heart disease."
SOURCE: Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts