Posts Tagged With: Nutrition

Staying fit and eating healthy doesn’t have to mean cooking in your room every night.  This is college –  you’re supposed to go out, celebrate birthdays, hang out with friends after a long week of exams, support benefit nights and any other reason you find to eat at a restaurant on Franklin Street!

Eating out is not always the healthiest option though, but it’s inevitable.  Living a healthy lifestyle does not mean you have to trap yourself in your dorm room every night.  Below I’ve listed some restaurants on Franklin Street with smart options.  Many of their websites provide nutritional information so you can decide what to eat before you get there, read the menu, get overwhelmed and decide to order the unhealthy cheese fries.

• Pita Pit – This place is like Subway, but in pita form!  You have all the veggies and lean meats to choose from.  Have yours in salad form or on a whole wheat pita!
• Sweet Frog/Yogurt Pump – Okay, so frozen yogurt can be filled with tons of added sugar.  These places almost always have one or two “No Sugar Added” options to choose from.  Add some fresh fruit or nuts as a topping and you’ve got a low-calorie treat.
• Qdoba/Chipotle – I always avoid chips and tortillas (i.e. burritos, quesadillas, etc.).  But if you get a burrito bowl – that is, all the meat, veggies and salsa of a burrito without the tortilla – you’ve got yourself a great, filling meal.
• Caribou/Starbucks – Coffee places can be tricky, but if you show up prepared, you can easily get an under 100-calorie drink.  If you don’t have time to look at the menu, you can always go for a plain ol’ cup of joe.
• Bandido’s Mexican Cafe – Again, don’t even look at those chips.  Once you eat one, you won’t stop.  But at Mexican restaurants, you can always enjoy a taco salad (I just don’t eat the shell) or split fajitas with a friend.  Plus, at this place, they have a salsa bar – that means all-you-can-eat tomatoes!
• Med Deli – Hummus made out of chickpeas?  Olive oil covered tomatoes?  Lean meats?  What more could a health conscious person ask for?  You’re bound to find a fresh choice at this infamous restaurant.
• Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe – I try to avoid the M&M pancakes (although it doesn’t always work out).  Getting an omelet with lots of veggies or some whole wheat toast and fresh fruit is a great option if you’re ever craving a breakfast out!
• McAlister’s/Panera – These places are known for being healthy, but always be sure to check the nutrition information before ordering.  While there are a handful of healthy salads, sandwiches on whole wheat bread and low-calorie soups, some are loaded with fatty, high-calorie dressing or mayonnaise-based spread.  Like some other Franklin Street places, if you come prepared, there are many great options to choose from.