The end of the semester is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of year. Between final projects, papers and exams, end of the year celebrations and finalizing summer plans, it can be hard to find time to cook.
While I love the recipes in the Jump Start Diet, sometimes it’s just too hard for me to find time to spend in the kitchen, or for that matter, in my apartment at all. I’ve had to turn to Green Street for some meals-on-the-go, but I’ve been trying hard to stay healthy too.
The Jump Start Diet allows for about 450 calories for lunch and 400 calories for dinner. And a lot of places on Green Street have low-calorie options that fit within this budget. Here’s a quick guide to some of my favorite places on Green Street that help me stay healthy with my busy schedule.
Potbelly’s: Potbelly’s is by far my favorite place to eat on campus when I’m on the go. The subs are toasted and delicious, and there are several healthy options. I’m a big fan of their “skinny’s” which are about 300 to 400 calories each.
My go-to order is the TKY on multi-grain wheat bread with mustard, lettuce and tomato (305 calories). And I always add a cup of chicken noodle soup (only 91 calories). For 396 calories I’m more than satisfied.
See how many calories your order has here. More than what you expected? Try to make it healthier by cutting ingredients like mayo, bacon or cheese.
Tip: Avoid the shakes. Just one of these 16-ouncers can have anywhere from 600 to 750 calories. Yikes! I’ll stick with water.
Panera: If you’re not careful, a trip to Panera can completely wreck your diet. This restaurant has the appearance of being healthy, but many signature items are packed with calories and carbs. My favorite sandwich, the Bacon Turkey Bravo, is 800 calories! A half order is still more than most meals on the Jump Start Diet. Stick with half orders of soups and salads. Ask for dressings on the side and skip the bacon.
My go-to order is a You Pick Two – Low Fat Chicken Noodle Soup (100 calories) and Chicken Cobb Salad, no dressing (250 calories), with an apple as a side (80 calories). This adds up to 430 calories, about the same as a half Bacon Turkey Bravo, but much more filling!
Most Paneras post calories directly on the menu, but if you can also see nutritional information here.
Tip: Avoid the bakery all together. The bagels, pastries, cookies and muffins can be irresistible, and many are between 300 and 500 calories with few nutritional returns.
Chipotle: I’ve been avoiding my favorite pig-out place during my attempt at losing the Freshman 15 (I’ve only eaten there once in the past 7 weeks!), but I cant ignore the fact that this restaurant definitely ranks high among student-favorites. If you’re lucky enough to get there at a time when the line isn’t an hour long (the Champaign Chipotle has the slowest service of all time ever), then you can enjoy a few quick, healthy options. I wouldn’t indulge too often, however, because a lot of the ingredients are high in sodium.
My go-to order is a burrito bowl with cilantro-lime rice (130 calories), chicken (190 calories), fajita vegetables (20 calories) and tomato salsa (20 calories). Only 360 calories! This is much healthier than my pig-out order — by skipping the tortilla, cheese, guacamole and sour cream I avoid 660 additional calories!
You can calculate your nutritional information here. Just remember that most Chipotles are generous with their servings, so this could be an underestimation.
Tip: Skip the chips. Tortilla chips are just fried tortillas and 4 oz. comes in at 570 calories. And Guac adds 150 calories. 720 calories in addition to your meal? So not necessary.
Salivating for guacamole,
Samantha