How to Make Healthier Choices When Eating at the Commons

Are you having a hard time figuring out some healthy options when you go eat at the Commons? Here is a guide to help you make healthier choices in a sea of unhealthy options.

Breakfast

I’m sure you have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is true! When you eat breakfast, you then have food in your stomach to burn. Sometimes you may not feel like you have time to eat at the Commons in the morning, but if you can squeeze it in, it will make a big difference.

What to Eat

Some healthier options to have for breakfast include:

• Yogurt with granola
• Fresh fruit
• 1 cup of cereal with skim milk
• Omelet, especially with lots of veggies

What NOT to Eat

These are some options you want to avoid:

• Donuts
• Muffins
• Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch and Dinner

If you hit the lunch or dinner rush, you will often find the Commons to be crazy busy! However, it is worth it in the long run if you wait in a little bit of a longer line to have a healthier meal instead of a shorter line with unhealthy options.

What to Eat:

Here are some options that are healthier, and some depend upon what days they offer the station:

• Deli
  • 12 Grain Bread, Wheat Bread, Spinach Wrap, Meat, cheese, and pretzels. Then for extra flavor add lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and any other veggies you like. Make sure to try and avoid the dressings, they have hidden calories! However, vinaigrettes are a healthier option if you still want to add some flavor to your sandwich. One healthy combination you can make at the salad bar is oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Tacos and More
  • Whole wheat soft shell, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, olives and cheese
• Grill
  • Grilled chicken without the bun is a great source of protein. It’s even better when used to create your own chicken salad with options from the salad bar.
• Pasta Stop
  • Whole grain pasta with meat or marinara sauce, 1 or no breadsticks
• Du Jour
  • Orange chicken with veggies and rice
  • General Tso Chicken with veggies and rice
• Salad Bar
  • Any mixture of veggies, but watch the dressing for hidden calories. Again, look at choosing a vinigairette instead.
  • Fresh fruit
• Drinks
  • Milk
  • Water
  • Orange juice, it contains beneficial vitamins, just watch out for the excess sugar.

What NOT to Eat

You can have these foods every now and then just not on a regular basis. Never deprive yourself of a certain type of food or you will binge eat.

• Grill
  • Hamburger and Fries
• Blue Devil Pizzeria
  • Pizza
• Drinks
  • Soda
• Dessert
  • Ice cream and pretty much every other dessert they have. However, treat yourself about 2-3 times a week to satisfy your cravings. Healthier options to satisfy your cravings including fresh fruit or a small yogurt parfait.

Hopefully these tips will help you choose healthier options the next time you go to eat at the Commons. It may be hard sometimes, but it is certainly not impossible.

• food
• health
• Heidi Brander
• nutrition
• UW Stout