A culinary ride in Disney World, Florida
Disney helps dispel the myth that all American food is burgers, pizzas and hotdogs for Jane Tyler.
One of the things us Brits are guaranteed to return with after a trip to the United States is a few extra pounds – and not of the sterling variety.
Along with the duty free and suitcase full of cheap shopping, everyone I know has wobbled back from America fatter than when they left.
And it’s not rocket science to see why. Anyone who’s been across the pond can testify to the huge portions.
Sometimes I marvel that there are any slim people in America at all, given the type of food and quantities they consume.
So it was with a sense of trepidation – and an emergency pre-trip diet and exercise programme – that I planned for my trip to Florida’s Walt Disney World.
And what made this trip more daunting scales-wise was that it was billed as a “food and drink extravaganza”. All I could see ahead of me was five days of gluttony, too-tight waistbands and a month of starvation and round-the-clock exercising when I returned.
But I was pleasantly surprised. Yes I put weight on (4lbs in five days, not bad going compared to previous trips), but the food responsible for that extra spare tyre was some of the best I’ve tasted.
Disney markets itself as an ideal family holiday destination and yes, the resort ticks every box in this respect – apart from the food which is hardly nutritious or suitable for a growing child.
But on my trip, that stereotype was quashed.
We were staying in the lovely Disney Beach and Yacht Club Resort which was luxurious and spacious.
As we explored the various parks we had to take pit stops and re-fuel at regular intervals (well, all that walking takes it out of you) and I was amazed at how well we ate.
I assumed it would be burgers, chips, pizzas and hot dogs all the way, but that was not the case.
We were on a plan which involved eating only at food outlets within the Disney resort.
Our first meal was an hour after landing and, to be frank, eating was the last thing my stomach wanted. A nine-hour flight had involved three stodgy airline meals, so when we arrived late afternoon US time (early hours of the morning UK time), I was not remotely hungry.
