Orlando Sentinel - More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney parks on Tourism Central Florida

Whether by default or by choice, it appears Disney’s theme-park guests are opting to feed their kids healthier foods while eating in the parks.

Since Disney’s theme-park restaurants in 2006 overhauled their kids-meal menus to make healthier dishes the default selection for both side orders (ie: apple slices instead of French fries) and drinks (milk instead of soft drinks), Disney says the majority of its guests are picking the nutritious options.

According to company data, 65 percent of guests at Walt Disney World and Disneyland ordered the healthier side dish and 68 percent ordered the healthier drink last year during Disney’s fiscal fourth quarter, which runs July through September.

Guests at Disney’s international parks were even more nutritious. In Hong Kong, 98 percent chose the healthier side and 96 percent chose the healthier drink. And in Paris, 85 percent chose the healthier drink – though just 15 percent picked the healthier side.

The data were culled from 485 Disney-operated restaurants.

Orlando Sentinel - More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney parks on Tourism Central Florida

So, what do you order for your kids when you are at Disney? I'd say it's about 50/50 for us. I think it's partly the hot weather, the lack of variety for kids, and a need for fiber in their diet (our kids seem to have trouble with regularity when traveling) rather than "healthy" per se. I can't say we worry about being healthy all that much when we are on vacation.