Universal offering healthy food choices at US parks

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

[Ed. note: The following is an unedited press release. -J]

Beginning December 24, adults and children will find a healthier approach to eating at Universal's U.S. theme parks. Healthy side dishes and trans-fat-free foods will be widely available throughout all the theme parks.

Universal’s theme parks will now offer healthy side choices for both adults and children at most of its food units. Kid’s meals come with a choice of fruit or trans-fat-free fries and adults will be able to select from either a side salad or trans-fat-free fries. Healthy beverage choices are also available at many locations throughout the parks.

Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios theme parks and Universal Studios Hollywood will also begin cooking and frying with 100 percent trans-fat-free oil throughout most of their facilities. Universal will also work to make nutritional information about its foods available to guests, and is targeting the end of 2007 to be entirely trans-fat free for all its food offerings.

“Providing our guests healthier options and trans-fat-free cooking is the right thing to do,” said Universal Parks & Resorts executive chef Steven Jayson. “We want our guests to feel good about the food they eat when they visit our theme parks. And we know choice is important to them. That’s why our program is about choices rather than absolutes.”

Universal has spent months searching for the right ingredients, testing foods and recipes and getting guest feedback on its new program.

“We did not want to sacrifice taste or quality,” Jayson said. “It’s important for our guests to know that healthy food can taste good.”

Information related to these healthy options can be found on park map guides and at the company websites.

Related parks

Following Disney's lead, no doubt.

And worthy of a "bravo" just the same.

After being in both places, I thought Universal already did this. I mean, they have carts that just sell fruit.

I agree, this doesn't seem to be a change at Universal -- I've never had a problem finding healthier options there.

Still, the pledge to go trans-fat-free is good to see, and something I'd like to see more of (as a VOLUNTARY thing -- NYC has gone off the deep end, but that's a different topic...)

*** This post was edited by GregLeg 12/20/2006 10:00:40 PM ***

(as a VOLUNTARY thing -- NYC has gone off the deep end, but that's a different topic...)

Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! :)

I couldn't agree more.

I'm sure most of us are wondering WHEN Geauga Lake is going to do this!?!?

I heard NYC is contemplating requiring all residents to walk a mile a day...it's healthy! ;)

Food *options* is one of those subjects where I'm pretty much in total agreement with Gonch....the market can decide just fine...(food PRODUCTION is another argument for another topic, LOL).

It's a sore spot for me. As conservative as I often appear, the 'choice' thing is a huge issue for me.

I don't dig the smoking bans, the food decisions (and this is just starting - it's the new anti-smoking...wait and see), the seat belt laws, suicide, abortion, legal/illegal drugs - you name it. If someone is telling me how to live (or worse, forcing it), I have a problem with it.

^ Remember when "conservative" meant that the government would let YOU make those choices for yourself, and "liberal" meant government intrusion into your personal affairs...when liberals taxed and spent, and conservatives did neither...

Hard to tell who's who without a scorecard these days... :)

Yeah gator, I was just about to say the same thing. Truth is, Gonch (from what I can tell) is a more *true* conservative than any of the butt-nuggets that get on TV and claim they are. I think all the *real* conservatives have become Libertarians (aka Republicans who like to smoke weed).

On topic: I've never found it that hard to find "healthy" food options. Granted, I'm more likely to seek out table service than grab something from a cart. But yeah, if the resorts are out to keep you captive for a week, at least they can offer variety of eating choices. Still, @ Universal, I'm more likely to eat at CityWalk than inside either park.

^^^ The trouble is that not only do people want their "choice" in (fill in topic name here), they want other people to pay for that choice or whatever consequences follow as a result of that choice. (Example, you can't tell me to wear a helmet when I ride my motorcycle, but when I smack into the back of a semi you have to pay my medical bills.) I shouldn't have to foot the bill for other people's "choices."

Definition of a conservative: government should keep out of the things I want to do, government should financially support the things I want, government should crack down on those who don't agree with me.

Definition of a liberal: government should keep out of the things I want to do, government should financially support the things I want, government should crack down on those who don't agree with me.

^That's why I am a middle-of-the-road Libertarian. ;) The government should just keep out of my personal choices and decisions, period! Get our guys and gals OUT of Iraq, support our small businesses, help those in NEED who DON'T abuse the system and stop worring about whether I am going to have an abortion or smoke a joint or play a violent video game. Don't worry about who I want to marry. Don't tell me who I can worship or whether I can own a gun or not. Abolish "death row" and fry the "real" criminals the same day they are convicted of rape, murder, child molestation, etc. Stop making us pay for THEIR education and free meals. Legalize prostitution so they can pay taxes. Keep religion OUT of politics. Don't clutter my cell phone voicemail with political bull***. Legalize pot for crying out loud. It could PAY for a lot of this country's debts.

Get a REAL, much smaller government that wants to do all these things and stop being d****.

Most of all, don't dare throw those stones sitting on that nice, pretty glass house. ;)

Don't get me started on the political stuff. ;)

As far as the healthy choice thing I am all for it. I like my healthy stuff but I also like my not-so-healthy stuff. What I want to know is whether these things will be included with Universals $20 something all-you-can-eat ticket that I found at Universal Hollywood? THAT was the bomb! Remember that Bill? We ate about 3 or 4 huge meals that day....just because we could. :)

-Tina

*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN 12/21/2006 8:58:21 PM ***

Healthful.

/grammar nazi

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