For busy college students, eating healthy can sometimes be a challenge. The USDA recommends a balanced diet from five main food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy products. While it might be hard to incorporate these groups into a daily diet, it’s not impossible. Healthy meals can be found in many locations on campus if a little effort is made, even in the most unexpected places.
Au Bon Pain
There is an abundance of healthy meals here. For breakfast, a small apple cinnamon oatmeal along with a whole-wheat skinny bagel is a quick, easy and healthy meal to start the day. For lunch or dinner, salad choices include the caesar asiago, the Mediterranean chicken or the Thai peanut salad. You can also build your own salad, and pick from a selection of low-fat dressings including light olive oil vinaigrette and fat-free raspberry vinaigrette. Low-calorie soups, sandwiches and wraps can also be found here.
Denny’s All Nighter
You might be surprised at some of the healthy options Denny’s offers. For breakfast, egg whites and turkey bacon strips make a healthy combination. Low-fat yogurt and veggie-burgers can also be found. Whatever you do, if eating healthy is your goal, you probably want to stay away from the 1,520–calorie Grand Slamwich.
Chick-fil-A
While the fried chicken nuggets here may be delicious, try to steer toward grilled chicken as a healthier option. For lunch or dinner, try the chicken caesar cool wrap with a fruit cup instead of waffle fries. Healthy salads include the chargrilled chicken garden and the chargrilled chicken and fruit salad. Low-calorie dressings are light Italian and fat-free honey mustard.
Lupton Deli
An array of healthy lunch options can be found here, including the veggie sandwich with hummus, and the Aubie on white sub with roast beef.
Perfect Pasta at The Village
The whole-wheat penne pasta, or the grilled shrimp are healthy but filling options.
Outtakes
While bags of chips, candy and soda can be found in abundance, healthy snacks and even meals can also be found. Fresh sushi as well as wraps and ready-to-go salads are all available. A combination of hummus and pretzels plus yogurt, can serve as a great healthy snack between classes.
Joann’s
Scrambled eggs are offered for breakfast, and for lunch, you can never go wrong with vegetables. Try the vegetable medley, which includes an array of lightly seasoned vegetables. A second healthy option is the tofu marsala, which includes lightly grilled tofu in a wine and mushroom sauce.
Nathan’s
For vegetarians, and those looking for a healthy option at Nathan’s in Terrell, a veggie burger is offered.
AU-Some Salads
Ordering a salad is always a healthy choice. AU-Some salads, located in The Village, allows you to build your own salads. After building your salad, try to stick with a low-fat dressing to keep the meal as healthy as possible.
AU Smokehouse
For a healthy lunch choice, try the grilled tofu with fresh ginger and sesame seeds, along with a side of green beans or lightly seasoned broccoli.
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