News Walt Disney World restaurants to begin expanding plant-based menu options

[ynahtebwdw]

I eat a very healthy diet - high in vegetables, fruits, nuts and try to be sure that the animal proteins I consume are lean or of the correct fats as in salmon - and I don't consume them in massive quantities.
What I don't understand are vegans who won't eat meat - but will consume some highly processed meat alternative that's supposed to taste like meat.
What's the point?
It reminds me of former drinkers that make themselves non alcoholic cocktail that mimic the real thing.
If you're not going to eat meat, why pretend that you are?
Particularly if you are eating an alternative that is some highly processed concoction.
I like what Jack LaLanne said: "If man made it, don't eat it!"
I don't adhere to this 100%, but the general principal is sound.
Eat foods that look as close to their natural form as possible, and don't prepare them in ways that alter them too far from that.

Well, I think a lot of people (myself included) who eat a vegan diet choose to do so in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Therefore, it is more sustainable to eat these processed meat-imitation foods than it is to eat the real thing. For me, I choose to buy imitation meat when I have guests to cater for, so that I can cook dishes that they are more familiar with as meat eaters. The rest of the time, I tend to steer clear of them, apart from when I want an easy 'comfort food' meal.

Also, here in the UK, we have a great imitation meat brand called Quorn, which is actually a lot cheaper than beef. So there's that to consider. I would also dispute the 'processed' claim here, as imitation meat often contains fewer chemicals than actual meat and definitely contains fewer antibiotics.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

As a meat eater and one who hunts and eats venison and feral hogs and fishes I must be OK with militant vegans--- the meat I eat is all natural no chemicals

I have known environmental vegetarians in my time who would be fine with what you describe. In Australia, there were always some who would make an exception for kangaroo as it isn't farmed and numbers exploded after the arrival of Europeans so it's considered an environmentally friendly meat. So, "kangarootarian" was a thing!

Not so sure there are people who are fully vegan for environmental reasons.

 

[James J]

Also, here in the UK, we have a great imitation meat brand called Quorn, which is actually a lot cheaper than beef. So there's that to consider. I would also dispute the 'processed' claim here, as imitation meat often contains fewer chemicals than actual meat and definitely contains fewer antibiotics.

You can get Quorn in some US stores now too. When I was in South Carolina a couple of months ago I noticed it in Food Lion and I think Walmart. It was useful to know ahead of flying out there in October with my vegetarian parents for the first time!

 

[bclane]

I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian since 1992 and I am so happy about this news. Bravo Disney! Can't wait to start trying out all the new plant based dishes!

 

[matt9112]

Im not apposed to this. Sometimes i want something lighter. I have no special diet and love meat but sometimes i say you know variety would be nice.

 

[Lilofan]

Breaking news - McDonalds getting on the train and will start testing plant based burgers in Canada so later on McDonalds by WDW All Star Resort will get them too!

 

[larryz]

Well, I think a lot of people (myself included) who eat a vegan diet choose to do so in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Therefore, it is more sustainable to eat these processed meat-imitation foods than it is to eat the real thing. For me, I choose to buy imitation meat when I have guests to cater for, so that I can cook dishes that they are more familiar with as meat eaters. The rest of the time, I tend to steer clear of them, apart from when I want an easy 'comfort food' meal.

Also, here in the UK, we have a great imitation meat brand called Quorn, which is actually a lot cheaper than beef. So there's that to consider. I would also dispute the 'processed' claim here, as imitation meat often contains fewer chemicals than actual meat and definitely contains fewer antibiotics.

I wonder how much carbon dioxide is produced in generating the energy required to process all those vegetables into a patty that looks and tastes like meat...

 

[bclane]

I wonder how much carbon dioxide is produced in generating the energy required to process all those vegetables into a patty that looks and tastes like meat...

Unclear, but based on anecdotal evidence, I'd guess that it's less than the green house emissions produced by this week's bean burrito lunch in my school's cafeteria.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

This is awesome. As vegetarian passholders we have noticed the increase in recent months.

We are currently at Shanghai Disneyland and it is the opposite here. The quick service options are impressive, but we have found only 4 vegetarian quick service meals in the park and 2 are at places that are currently closed. Mickey’s Marketplace has 18 (!) different combo meals and they are all meat. Different market here.

 

[MotherOfBirds]

The word "chemical" is meaningless in the context of food. Table salt is a chemical. If there is a compound in IB that is carcinogenic or is distinctly harmful to humans, I'd be interested to hear it.

 

[Voxel]

The word "chemical" is meaningless in the context of food. Table salt is a chemical. If there is a compound in IB that is carcinogenic or is distinctly harmful to humans, I'd be interested to hear it.

All I can think about is a quote by the comedian Tim Minchin:
"This frustration of reading the tabloid press… it would easy to become convinced that the human race is on a mission to divide things into two clean columns… Good or evil, healthy or deadly or natural or chemical… everything organic and natural is good, ignoring the fact that organic natural substances include arsenic… Everything chemical is bad, ignoring that fact the everything is chemicals. Everything is chemicals! The day they discover yoga mats are carcinogenic will be the happiest day of my life."

 

[Voxel]

I would also like to point out that I try to be very environmentally aware and friendly, I have been working with my Works Green organization to get waste management of Florida to tell us what they exactly they do with their recycling. We can't get a straight answer, atleast publix tells us what they do with our plastic bags. That being said, there is no clear cut solution to carbon production, if you stop eating a meat but have dogs/cats than your still adding to the carbon release. Most studies show that pets contribute around 25% carbon release by agriculture. Many studies show that a dog has larger carbon footprint than a SUV, but yiou don't see people getting ride of their dogs. I'm not saying that being a vegan to decrease your footprint is wrong, I'm just trying to show how Not black and white the agricultural release of carbon is.

Honestly I will be the first to say, I wish we were better about our recycling process but its gonna take more law, it needs a soceity change. Having seen the recycling effort in Japan, its a community effort. You put out the wrong item on the wrong day and you'll find yourself getting a visit from your neighbor trying to help you understand what you did wrong and help you not make the recycling mistake in the future.

I have coworker who recycle, which is great. But everything they recycle is pizza boxs or plates that are still covered with food. Which in Waste Management's recycling process means that bag is contaminated and is now trash. Sadly if you tell these ppl they get angry at you.

Okay I'm gonna stop my rant now before I go completely off track... Thank you for listening.

 

[John park hopper]

The world population is ever increasing project to go from current 6 billion to 9+ billion by 2050 as the cartoon Pogo (from 1970's earth day) published "we have meet the enemy and he is us" Save the planet get to the root cause --too many people

 

[Voxel]

The world population is ever increasing project to go from current 6 billion to 9+ billion by 2050 as the cartoon Pogo (from 1970's earth day) published "we have meet the enemy and he is us" Save the planet get to the root cause --too many people

This is why some cities are only allowing people to build up not out. We (all people) need to be concious about land usage, develop farming technologies (3D Farms, and hydroponics), Lab Grown meat. Honestly, that is the only way people can make it to 9+ Million with out killing the planet and our selves in the process.

But I think your starting to see these changes occur. Alot of old Warehouse and City roof tops are transitioning into farms in some cities to much success. I've looked into a small hydroponics system for my house to grow the basics. Lab Grown meat, while still not ready for mass consumption has come a long way but it's not an end to cattle or cattle breeding. You need genic variate in the Samples to prevent terrible mutation or vulnerably to disease. I mean look at the banana, it's based on one culture sample and we are slowly losing the ability to grow it do to disease.

 

[MotherOfBirds]

So back to the topic at hand, it's super nifty that vegans, vegetarians, and people with food allergies have more options white they're on property. Vacations are so much more difficult when you have a dietary restriction to work around. 15 years ago, you just had to bring your own food. My SO had to stay at Ft. Wilderness as a child because he couldn't eat nearly anything on property. Nobody was aware of celiac at that point, and they weren't nearly as careful about allergen cross contamination. And let's not forget those with life-threatening allergies. A trip to Magic Kingdom should not include the possibility of death by cupcake.

As someone with a food allergy that also has a number of vegan/veg friends, I'm glad that there are alternatives being offered with real thought put into them. Too many restaurants think that the solution is to give you a plate unseasoned steamed vegetables or tell you "Well...we have fries...and rice...and guacamole..." Just showing that they give a rat's posterior goes a long way.

 

[Incomudro]

The word "chemical" is meaningless in the context of food. Table salt is a chemical. If there is a compound in IB that is carcinogenic or is distinctly harmful to humans, I'd be interested to hear it.

Yes, but some meatless options - like that incredible burger, synthburger or whatever they call it - have more sodium and more saturated fat than their mammalian counterparts.
Plus who know what else?
Certainly nothing is gained in the health column when going that route.
That concoction is only useful for those eco-vegans, or I don't eat food that had a face vegans.
I'd like a plain grilled chicken option, hold the mayo.

 

[MotherOfBirds]

Yes, but some meatless options - like that incredible burger, synthburger or whatever they call it - have more sodium and more saturated fat than their mammalian counterparts.
Plus who know what else?
Certainly nothing is gained in the health column when going that route.
That concoction is only useful for those eco-vegans, or I don't eat food that had a face vegans.
I'd like a plain grilled chicken option, hold the mayo.

There are plenty of foods with just as much if not more sodium and saturated fat per serving. Like everything else, you're supposed to eat these things in moderation. Vegan diets are not automatically healthier (some I know subsist mostly on fries and oreos), but neither is any other diet. The whole point of IB is to provide a meatless burger with a very similar experience to beef. It's not intended to be a staple of a veg diet any more than a beef burger is for an omnivore.

 

[unmitigated disaster]

Vegan and vegetarian choices are a welcome addition. Plus, some days you just don't want meat even if you eat it.

I say pakoras, vegetarian samosas and aloo gobi in every Park.

 

[Lilofan]

CBD oil is trendy. Coming to a theme park and mixed into those brownies to calm down those hyper guests? That's plant based.

 

[Incomudro]

There are plenty of foods with just as much if not more sodium and saturated fat per serving. Like everything else, you're supposed to eat these things in moderation. Vegan diets are not automatically healthier (some I know subsist mostly on fries and oreos), but neither is any other diet. The whole point of IB is to provide a meatless burger with a very similar experience to beef. It's not intended to be a staple of a veg diet any more than a beef burger is for an omnivore.

The whole point of the IB is to make money.
I don't understand why a vegan would want a similar experience to meat.
That is unless, they love meat - but stopped eating it for health reason - the main factor there would be saturated fat, but the IB is loaded with that, plus more sodium than they would put on a beef burger unless the cap came off of the salt shaker.