We all have those days where we crave the one thing we shouldn’t– whether it be a Chipotle burrito with an
endless amount of chips and guacamole or an extra large cream cheese pizza from Pizza Shuttle. Although we may think these cravings are crazy and that we cannot possibly eat at places such as these while watching our weight, we can! There are in fact healthy options at common restaurants that we tend to crave from time to time; we just have to be aware of what they are.
The Chicken Breast or Turkey Pita at Pita Pit
Located conveniently in between 10th & 11th on Massachusetts Street, Pita Pit offers filling meals for a low calorie intake. The restaurant offers a variety of options of meat as well as vegetarian pitas. However, the healthiest options they offer are the Chicken Breast or Turkey Pita. For a small 290 calories, you can get chicken breast or turkey with vegetable toppings all inside a wheat pita, for only $5.79. With only 4 grams of fat, the Pita Pit offers a balance between a protein and vegetable full meal while still having a small amount of calories.
We all love Panera for there delicious bakery treats, and don’t even get me wrong, I love a big Cinnamon Crunch Bagel. However, these yummy treats are not their most healthy option. Although some food consumers may believe Panera only offers a carbo load, the restaurant really does offer healthy alternatives than just bread on bread on bread. Panera truly does offer some very tasty, but still healthy salad options, such as their Greek Salad. For only 370 calories, you can have a mouthful of romaine lettuce, red onions, fresh tomatoes, black pepper, feta crumbles, pepperoni, kalamata olives and to top it off – Greek herb vinaigrette dressing. While most of us want to choose the bread or chips as our side option, the healthier alternative is the apple. Panera offers more than just bread despite what some must say, you just have to pick the healthier alternative. (Even though their Pumpkin cookies do look pretty amazing)
The Japanese Pan Noodles and the Bangkok Curry at Noodles & Co
While trying to eat pasta, we are continuously bombarded with not only a carbo overload, but also a high calorie count. Especially with dishes such as the Wisconsin Mac N Cheese or the Bacon, Mac & Cheeseburger whose regular sized dishes exceed over 1000 calories, we tend to think Noodles & Co is a place we need to avoid. However, Noodles & Co does offer some healthier options while still getting our pasta fix. First things first – stick to the smaller sized portion. The bigger the portion of pasta you get, the unhealthier it will be. Although this may seem disappointing, the smaller portion at Noodles & Co is still a fairly large amount. The best options for the smaller portions at Noodles are the Japanese Pan Noodles and the Bangkok Curry. The Japanese Pan Noodles offers caramelized udon noodles in a sweet soy sauce, broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, Asian sprouts, black sesame and cilantro for only 320 calories; not to mention the fact that they are delicious. In addition, the Bangkok Curry offers a sweet coconut curry, broccoli, carrots, red pepper, onion, mushrooms, a light portion of rice noodles, served on cabbage with black sesame for only 240 calories. Located on 8th and Massachusetts, Noodles & Co offers you the perfect opportunity for a low calorie pasta dish to satisfy your carbo fix.
Salads at Ingredient
If you are looking for a good salad, Ingredient is by far the best place to go. Ingredient offers prearranged salad options, as well as the opportunity to make your own custom salad. Although the prices may seem a little daunting at times, there is in fact hope – they offer half sizes. Whether you want half or full of a prearranged or custom salad, you can choose whatever you’d like. With various vegetable, fruit, and meat options, if you are looking for a healthy salad to avoid consuming any more carbohydrates, Ingredient located on 10th and Massachusetts is the place for you.
Whole Wheat Pizza at Wheat State Pizza
It’s late and all you can think is – pizza. You are trying to talk yourself out of ordering it because you think it is completely unhealthy. Lucky for you there are better, more healthy options. Although Pizza Shuttle seems like the go to place to order from, try Wheat State Pizza! Unlike most pizza places in Lawrence, Wheat State offers 100% whole-wheat hand tossed and thin crust with no sugar. So next time you and your friends are conflicted between ordering pizza or eating something from your dorm room, you can try a healthier alternative to just any regular pizza.