While working in the culinary department here at Sesame Place, I always had guests asking me about healthy or alternative meal options throughout the park. Though each guest had different needs (we’re talking gluten allergies, to vegan diets, to kosher meals), I found that Sesame Place was always able to accommodate them. Now, although I’m proud to have been able to make our visitors with special dietary restrictions happy, this got me thinking—do the majority of our guests know enough about our park menus to make the best out of their Sesame Place mealtimes?
In order to spread a little bit of healthy-eating love, I prepared a list of ten tips to help guests eat better when inside the park. The tips often illuminate vegetarian options and gluten-free food, but overall, they are just plain good for you. Here’s what we’ve got:
1. Ask for a Veggie Burger. Sesame Cafe is well-known for their fabulous burgers, but not many guests know that any meat patty in the park can be substituted for a made-to-order veggie burger. They’re available at Captain Ernie’s too!
2. Substitute apple slices for fries. Burger combos come with French fries, but apple slices are available upon request.
3. Try our gluten-free and allergen-free snacks. These little packs are a great resource for guests with allergies, but also offer a nice alternative to some of our other ‘theme-park snacks.’ Our “At the Park” pack includes a protein-rich sunbutter bar, apple fruit crunchies, a pear fruit bar, chocolate chip cookies and a mint. Buy them at our Starbucks location, Snuffy’s Snack Bar, or select snack cart locations.
4. Look for whole-wheat options. Our yummy individual pizza pies and chicken wraps are made with whole-wheat crusts and tortillas. Check them out at Elmo’s Eatery and Captain Ernie’s.
5. Order a Healthy Kid’s Meal. Each one of the park’s cafe-style restaurants has an alternative Kid’s Meal option available upon request. This gluten-free meal comes with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, apple slices, and a souvenir Elmo plate.
6. Choose juice. Each Kid’s Meal comes with a souvenir cup, but you don’t necessarily need to fill it with a fountain beverage. Grab a bottled juice and ask for a substitution when you get to the register. You still get to keep the cup!
7. Have fruit for dessert. Watermelon, grapes, and strawberries are all refreshing ways to top off a summer meal. They’re available at all three of our cafe style restaurants.
8. Cool down with dairy-free frozen treats. Our Fruit Punch Water Ice Mini Melts are a refreshing way to keep cool and dairy-free in the summer heat. Buy this fun snack pre-packaged at Cone Corner or stop by our Sunny Day Carousel and Twiddle Bug locations for hand scooped portions.
9. Buy a sports cup and fill it up with water. Sport cups are a great way to take a little piece of Sesame Place home with you while being eco-friendly. Choosing to refill with lemonade or fruit punch is always a good choice, but refills of water are completely free! You can fill up a sport cup at all of our cafe style culinary locations and any of our snack carts.
10. Book a meal at Dine With Me! This equity dining location a great place to have a healthy meal. The oven-roasted chicken, vegetable medley, and mashed potatoes are popular, fresh choices among the wide variety of meals available in this buffet-style facility.
