Theme parks lean into healthy fare, larger menus

Thrill seekers can often expect heaping piles of funnel cake and cotton candy when visiting a theme park, but Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, N.J., is hoping to boost its appeal with visitors who don’t want traditional fair fare.

“People are looking for healthier options, gluten-free, vegan cuisine,” Culinary Services Manager John Heitzenroeder told the Asbury Park Press. “So, we’re trying to expand our menu to add some locations to try to fit everybody’s tastes throughout the park.”

The park’s Go Fresh Cafe offers a variety of health-focused items like vegan chicken strips and a Greek flatbread sandwich that takes notes from the standard gyro. And the cafe’s vegan black bean burger became so popular that Great Adventure added it to five different locations throughout the park, the Park Press reports.

In addition to satisfying healthful cravings, Great Adventure added a cantina-style restaurant that encourages guests to stay awhile. At Macho Nacho, wait staff bring items such as quesadillas and beer to the table while diners watch the latest sporting events.

“We pride ourselves on having everything from sushi all the way to pizza,” Heitzenroeder said, noting that the added variety helps accommodate season pass holders who may visit the park on a weekly basis. “You name it, it’s in our park.”

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Great Adventure is one of many theme parks shifting their culinary offerings to capture a wider audience and entice visitors to stay for longer stretches. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., offers large portions without the price of park admission, as the restaurant is situated just outside of the park’s gates.

Restaurateur Mario Batali is also looking to get into the theme park business. Batali recently told ABC News that he and his team are working on a “green gastronomic theme park” in Italy that may come complete with rides.