Meat Free Mondays: Vegetarian Options at EPCOT

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Although we have talked about healthy options at Disney World before, we did not touch on EPCOT nearly enough. When it comes to eating, EPCOT is, by far, my favorite park to visit. Whatever food you are interested in, chances are you can find multiple options at EPCOT. What is even better about foods at EPCOT is the higher amount of healthy[er] food options found there, and at all price ranges too. These are some of my favorite places to eat when it comes to vegetarian noms. 

Counter Service

Sunshine Seasons

This counter service option is one of my favorites in EPCOT for so many fantastic reasons. First off, there are four different food counters to choose ​from and each serves completely different foods. You pick which food you want, go to that counter, get the food, then return to the rest of your party at checkout. This is genius for large families or picky eaters.

The four counters include a delicious dessert counter, a salad counter filled with great, fresh salads, a dinner counter with home-cooked meals, and an Asian counter with the most amazing sesame chik'n nuggets ever. Seriously, if you are a vegetarian who enjoys Chinese food, you must get the sesame chik'n.

Sunshine Seasons is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ​

Tangierine Café

This cafe is located in EPCOT's World Showcase at Morocco. ​Every time I go past this country, I have to stop and smell the amazing food. Thank goodness, the Tangierine Cafe has more than the lamb and beef they are known for. If you like tabbouleh or hummus, this is a stop you need to make. There are two vegetarian options on the menu, one is a vegetarian wrap and the other is a vegetarian platter. Both come with tabbouleh to share, but the platter comes with hummus and veggies as well. The wrap also comes with one of my personal favorites, lentils. 

The cafe serves lunch and dinner for the same price and has optional pastries for dessert. ​

Katsura Grill

The Katsura Grill is one of the most relaxing counter service options in the entire Disney World Resort. It is situated in the Japan Pavilion at the World Showcase. The restaurant has recently gone through a massive renovation and is now in the middle of an elevated garden with beautiful views of Japan and EPCOT. Just like most Japanese restaurants, this one has udon noodles, edamame, and sushi. Katsura Grill also has yummy dessert cakes, sake, hot tea, and a few other specialty drinks found in Japan.

This place is open for both lunch and dinner. If you are wanting an inexpensive and extremely calm, relaxing meal, this place is not one to miss. ​

Sit Down

Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room

Located in EPCOT's UK Pavilion, the Rose and Crown has all those traditional British eats with a stellar view to boot. Last time we visited EPCOT, we were able to eat here with a table right on the water for the fireworks display. Goodness, this was incredible. We walked up with no reservations hoping to get in anywhere, were told it would be a twenty minute wait, then called after five minutes. The hostess was so happy to tell us that another party had just cancelled and we were going to be at their table on the water. It was epic. 

The food is fantastic and has two vegetarian options on the menu. Most people get the fish and chips here, but the vegetarian options are great as well. The restaurant also has a private firework viewing area for patrons to sit at during the show, although all the tables outside have fantastic views without moving. To add to the fun, one of the firework launchers is directly outside the restaurant. As I said, epic. ​

The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room is open for lunch and dinner, although I would highly suggest dinner with reservations and an outdoor request. If you like desserts, I would also recommend the Jaffa Cakes. So yummy. ​

Character Dining

The Garden Grill

Like any other character dining location, you will want to bring a full wallet to this one. Thankfully, The Garden Grill has something extra that makes you feel a little better about the $30+ per person. Some of the food served at The Garden Grill is from the LAND's hydroponics greenhouse. This restaurant also rotates and gives views from the Living with the Land ride below.

The Garden Grill is a buffet styled restaurant with unlimited seconds. Since it is a buffet, all food preferences will be quite happy with the meat, veggie, sides, and dessert options. If you wish to eat here, be sure to make a reservation since this place rarely takes walk-ins. Once in, you will be able to eat tons of fresh food with an always changing view and super fun Chip n' Dale characters!

Fibromyalgia Workout

Someone recently requested that I do a workout for those with fibromyalgia. ​Although I did not know much about fibromyalgia at the time, this girl can never pass up a request. Since then, I have researched the junk out of fibromyalgia and what exercises are best. If you are like me and do not know what this is, fibromyalgia is a disorder most known for chronic pain throughout the musculoskeletal system. Other symptoms include problems sleeping, mood disorders, and fatigue. As hard as it can be for those with fibromyalgia to exercise (painful senses are amplified), doctors believe that exercise can decrease the symptoms and possibly cure fibromyalgia. 

Most doctors and researchers recommend starting exercise very slowly and with minimal impact to joints. Walking, swimming, Pilates, and yoga ​are all great places to begin. Swimming is especially great since you can get an intense cardio workout with very little impact or pain on the joints. When you begin, you may feel muscle soreness, this is normal but intense pain is not. There is no reason for anyone to push themselves to the point of pain during a workout. Start slow, after time, doctors say those suffering from fibromyalgia can increase their workouts to a complete normal workout routine.

This workout has light cardio mixed with some yoga and Pilates poses. To complete the workout, warm-up by walking in place for two minutes, then complete each exercises for one minute​. Once completed, walk in place for one minute then do all exercises again for thirty seconds.​ The entire exercise should take no more than fifteen minutes. Once comfortable doing this, increase the second circuit time to one minute.

Assisted Down Dog

Assisted down dog is much like the usual down dog, except a chair is used to balance your arms on. For this exercise, start with legs hip width apart and straight. Bend forward and walk hand out to the chair (about two feet away). Place the forearms on the chair and keep the abdomen tight while the back is straight. Hold for one minute. ​If having knees straight hurts, bend them slightly while still trying to keep feet flat on the floor.

Bicycles

These are great for the abdomen and thighs! Lay on your back with your hands or a towel under your pelvic bones. Keep your neck on the ground and eyes looking towards the ceiling. Lift legs off the ground six inches (advanced) or 45 degrees (intermediate). Begin moving legs like you are riding a bicycle and continue for one minute for the first circuit, or 30 seconds for the second. This movement should be slow and precise, faster is not always better. ​

Toe Touches

Remain on your back with the towel under your pelvis and legs out straight on the floor. Rest arms on the floor straight above your head. In one fluid movement, sit up and bring hands as close to your toes as possible, the goal is to one day touch your toes. Hold, then return to starting position. Be sure to keep a straight back the entire time. If this is too painful, complete the exercise vertically instead of on the ground.

Arm Curls

Doctors recommend weight training for those suffering from fibromyalgia. Work your way up to weights with a low resistance exercise band. Stand straight up with legs hip width apart and the resistance band evenly under your feet. Hold each end of the resistance band in your hands and bend your elbows slightly. ​Slowly lift both fists towards your shoulders while keeping the back straight and shoulders down. Bend the elbows as far as you can without pain. Hold, then return to starting. Complete as many as possible.

Mermaid Pose

Sit on the floor with legs crossed and back straight. Bend the right arm so the palm of your hand is facing up and your hand is barely touching your stomach, just under your belly button. Raise the left hand over your head with a bend elbow and palm facing down. Bend your torso to the right while trying to extend both arms out ​in opposing directions. Hold for 5-10 seconds, then return to starting. Alternate between the right and left side. Be sure to keep shoulders down during the entire exercise.

Bridge Pose

Lay on your back with arms out to the side. Bend knees so they are at a 90 degree angle, then lift the pelvis off the ground. ​If you can, tuck your shoulders under so nothing below your shoulders is touching the ground (except feet). Hold this position for 20-30 seconds then un-tuck the shoulders and lower. Rest in the lowered position for 5-10 seconds, then raise pelvis back up for the remaining amount of time.

I found this article helpful in understanding what those with fibromyalgia go through. ​

Assisted Down Dog

Bicycles

Toe Touches Part I

Toe Touches Part II

Arm Curls Part I

Arm Curls Part II

Mermaid Pose Part I

Mermaid Pose Part II

Bridge Pose

Thrifty Girl: Ways to Save on Produce

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Sometimes, when I talk to people about adding more fruits or vegetables into their diet, their biggest concern is the price of good produce compared to the price of meat or carry-out. Budgets are important and I think we all can understand wanting to keep budgets in-line, no matter what "in-line" is. Of course, the fact that produce is the number one wasted food in the house does not lessen concerns of throwing away money.

Since budgets are something this family is concerned with as-well, I have a few tricks and tips up my sleeve that may help those concerned with spending extra money on produce. If your bigger concern is carry-out vs. home-made, I suggest watching this Jamie Oliver Food Revolution episode. In it, he helps a low-income family make a completely healthy, large, and well rounded meal for less than they spend at McDonald's; it blew my mind!

Shop in Season

Yes, there are some foods like broccoli and bananas that seem to never be out of season, but most other vegetables have times when they are locally grown and times when they are shipped in. The difference in price for locally grown foods compared to imported foods is substantial. With imported foods, you are not just paying the farmer, his workers, and the grocer for your goods, you are also paying a (possibly) hefty transport fee. To taint the transport biz a little more, foods that are transported over long distances are harvested before ripe so they do not spoil before delivery. This means that we are getting shorted out of taste and nutrition- and paying more for it! 

Wisebread.com​ has a great list of in season produce for those living in the northern North American states. This list is fantastic for knowing when to plant and harvest depending on climate zones, gotta love that!

Buy Local

Buying from one go-to store is quite a bit easier than specialty grocers for produce, meats, baked goods, and everything else on your list. Although this option may not be for everyone, buying directly from local farmers at farmer retail stores pays. ​Some of these stores even co-op with local cattle, dairy, poultry farmers, and bakers to sell it all under one roof. One of the greatest perks of buying locally is the support of mom and pop businesses. Buying local save on our environment and help boost our local economy. Talk about a win-win-win!

If you live near a local farm, opting to buy directly from the farm instead of the local farmer retail shop can get you some major savings. Farmers tend to give good deals if bought directly from them, since you are not having to pay transport or grocer employees at all. ​

Grow Your Own

Of course, growing your own produce is the least expensive way to purchase fruits and veggies, by far. Whether you live on the middle of a perfectly soiled property or a concrete jungle, some portion of food can be grown on your own. If you have the ability to start up a kitchen garden (which I am completely jealous of)​, there are some great starter guides to take a look at. Earth Easy has a great starter guide for getting a kitchen garden ready for planting.

If a back yard garden is not quite what you are ready for, an indoor herb garden may be a great option. Herbs, for some reason, seem to be one of the priciest produce options. Growing your own on a counter or near a window could save tons and keep herbs around for much longer. A few years ago we got an AeroGarden for Christmas. If growing plants is not your forte, you will love this. Follow the directions and in a matter of weeks you will have your own sustainable garden!

Shape Magazine Workout Review: Your Beach Body

The May edition of Shape Magazine is on the stands and I am so excited. This issue is bubbling with fantastic workouts, one being a new Jillian Michaels 90-day plan. To kick-off Michaels' new Hardbody workout DVD, she has done a beach body workout for Shape Magazine- and just in time! ​

The workout is part of a three month plan that I can only assume will be continued in the next two issues of Shape Magazine. There is also a complete diet to go along with the workout and it seems pretty simple. Although I am not doing the diet plan, it seems pretty great with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few snacks. I was pretty surprised that the diet is not low on calories either! But, back to the workout... The whole workout is comprised of six exercises done in a circuit three times. Jillian Michaels recommends doing this workout three times a week with two days of cardio mixed in. 

The Review

​The workout was fantastic! The entire workout took about twenty minutes including a one minute warm-up and cool down. This is a circuit workout, but the directions did not say anything about a break between circuits. Jillian does not do too many breaks between circuits when the workout is so short, and I love it. The circuits feel more intense and if the entire exercise is so much more entertaining without breaking every six minutes.

I would completely recommend doing this workout. In fact, I enjoyed the workout so much that I will be purchasing the Hard Body DVD. The only downside I can see to this workout is the weights. I do not have weights at home and know very few people that do. Because of this, I tried using a resistance band for the exercises that called for weights. It did not work. The weights are definitely needed to get everything you can out of the workout. ​

My bum, lower legs, and abs were quite sore the next day and I burnt a total of 138 calories. Although I do not see myself doing this workout twice a week for the next four weeks, I did enjoy it and will be trying it again! ​