Cravings. They’re probably the biggest hurdle one has to face when trying to eat healthier. You could try to cut out carbs, eat more greens, but when that enticing aroma of Wetzel’s Pretzels hits, how can you resist? While there’s nothing wrong with having a warm, buttery pretzel every now and then, they’re calorie-dense and nutritionally light. Many of the dining options in Ackerman have this problem. This guide will introduce options that will fulfill those cravings and lead to healthier options, a win-win situation all around.
1) Panda Express
Located on the Third Floor of Ackerman, this eatery will have lines stretching out of the door, as hundreds of students rush to get their fix of orange chicken. Panda Express offers a “Wok-Smart Menu” with items that contain less than 250 calories per serving. However, if you plan on getting more than a serving, make sure to view their fat content and sodium content.
Eat This:
String Bean Chicken Breast
170 cal, 1.5g sat fat, 7g total fat, 720mg sodium, 13g carbs, 5g sugars, 2g fiber, 15g protein
Broccoli Beef
150 cal, 1.5g sat fat, 6g total fat, 720mg sodium, 12g carbs, 2g sugars, 3g fiber, 11g protein
Mixed Veggies (Side Dish Portion)
70 cal, no sat fat, 0.5g total fat, 530mg sodium, 13g carbs, 4g sugars, 5g fiber, 4g protein
Avoid Eating:
Eggplant & Tofu
310 cal, 3g sat fat, 24g total fat (!), 680mg sodium, 19g carbs, 13g sugars, 3g fiber, 7g protein
Sweet Fire Chicken Breast
440 cal, 3.5g sat fat, 18g total fat, 370mg sodium, 53g carbs, 27g sugars, 1g fiber, 17g protein
Beijing Beef
850 cal (!!!!), 9g sat fat, 1g trans fat, 50g total fat (!!!!), 1,120mg sodium (!!!), 67g carbs, 29g sugars, 4g fiber, 31g protein
2) Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill
Also located on the third floor is, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, which is an eatery dedicated serving sustainable seafood dishes (and our cravings for burritos and tacos always lead us here).While seafood is generally a healthier option in comparison to other foods, the add-ons here can cause the nutritional value to plunge. Some of the general tips they provide on their nutritional menu are worth following: Choose grilled seafood instead of fried. Skip the cheese, sour cream, or white sauce. Order a side salad, beans, or rice (instead of chips).
Eat This:
Grilled Mahi Mahi Taco
250 cal, 2g sat fat, 11g total fat, 150mg sodium, 25g carbs, 2g sugar, 4g fiber, 13g protein
Chicken Street Taco
90 cal, no sat fat, 2.5g total fat, 180mg sodium, 9g carbs, no sugar, 3g fiber, 8g protein
Chicken Balsamic & Roasted Veggie Salad
250 cal, 2g sat fat, 7g total fat, 680mg sodium, 21g carbs, 5g sugars, 4g fiber, 24g protein
Avoid Eating:
Chicken Balsamic & Roasted Veggie Salad
250 cal, 2g sat fat, 7g total fat, 680mg sodium, 21g carbs, 5g sugars, 4g fiber, 24g protein
Grilled Gourmet Chicken Taco
320 cal, 7g sat fat, 17g total fat, 600mg sodium, 24g carbs, 2g sugars, 4g fiber, 20g protein
Fish Taco Especial
320 cal, 510mg sodium
3) Jamba Juice
Along with your meal you’re probably going to want something to drink. While some would believe Jamba Juice to be a healthy option (they have fruit smoothies), many times their drinks have an overabundance of sugar. Therefore, always get the smaller size available, even if it’s off the kid’s menu!
Drink This:
Peach Perfection (16 ounces): 210 calories, 42 grams sugar
Berry UpBEET (16 ounces): 230 calories, 38 grams sugar
Orange Carrot Karma (16 ounces): 180 calories, 38 grams sugar
The Strawberry Gone Bananas Smoothie(Kids size) 140 calories, 30 grams of sugar
Avoid Eating:
Peanut Butter Moo’d (original size): 770 calories, 109 grams sugar
Chocolate Moo’d (original size): 570 calories, 103 grams sugar
Ultimately, the foods you decide to eat are up to you! However, if you feel like being more health-conscious be sure to check out the restaurant’s nutritional menu page. Enjoy and relish every meal!
Gifs courtesy of giphy.com
Photography courtesy of yelp.com