While there are plenty of delicious food options at UNC, it’s not always easy to eat healthy when you’re surrounded by a bunch of easy, cheap, fast food and you don’t have a lot of time. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or not, eating healthy has a huge impact on the way we feel and think. Instead of feeling sluggish and tired, see for yourself how making a few easy food swaps at your favorite campus locales can leave you feeling energized and alert all day. If you’ve been going to the gym but seeing no results, a few simple changes may make the difference. You don’t have to deprive yourself or start skipping out on lunches with friends. Plus, this way you can indulge in that 2 a.m. Qdoba stop on Friday night totally guilt-free! What’s not to love?
Chick-Fil-A
A perennial favorite for grabbing a bite between classes, it can be hard to kick that Chick-Fil-A addiction when it’s so convenient and delicious. Thankfully you don’t have to! Instead of a fried sandwich, make the switch to their chargrilled option. While it’s not out for you to grab, just go up to the counter and ask. They’ll make one for you in about two minutes (plenty of people do it, I promise.) Not only do you save over 120 calories and a whopping 14.5 grams of fat compared to the fried version, this sandwich actually tastes amazing! It’s really flavorful and the wheat bun has fiber, which helps keep you feeling full. By eating a grilled sandwich for lunch, you’ll feel satisfied and ready to get down to business — instead of feeling like you need to take a nap.
Wendy’s
I’m the first to admit that I’ve spent more than a few long nights during finals week holed up in Wendy’s with only the promise of dollar menu fries to motivate me. While I’m certainly not saying you should give that up altogether, there are a few easy ways you can make your trips to Wendy’s way healthier without spending more money or leaving hungry. Their salads are flavorful and filling, and you can get them in a half-size portion. My favorite is the Baja Salad, which among other things comes with guacamole (!), and an entire small size serving of chili. Forgo the tortilla strips and you won’t even miss them. In fact, once you get over being that girl who orders chili at Wendy’s, it’s easy to see why they’ve kept it around all these years. It’s full of protein and fiber, plus it’s delicious and relatively low-cal at 270 for a large. The flatbread grilled chicken sandwiches are great options too. Try one of those instead of succumbing to the stress-induced instinct to buy a few dozen dollar menu items to fuel your next all-nighter. You’ll be able to focus and you’ll thank yourself later!
Alpine Bagel
A Carolina favorite, this Union spot is many people’s go-to for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Maybe you’ve even eaten there twice in one day (or three times. Whatever.) No matter what your signature order is, I’m sure it’s delicious. But if you’re looking to cut calories and not give up your beloved Alpine, there’s a few simple swaps that can reduce your daily total by hundreds without sending you into withdrawals. For breakfast, consider a bagel of your choice with lite cream cheese instead of the cheesy and bacon-laden Good Morning Camper. For lunch, try the greatest unsung hero of the Alpine menu — the Presidential Pardon. It’s so tasty that the nutritional benefits are really just a nice coincidence. At only 382 calories, it has a ton of lean turkey and 26g of protein so it’s super filling and you won’t be tempted to snack again between meals. Bonus points if you get a wheat bagel.
Bottom of Lenoir
When nothing else is really cutting it, sometimes you just need to have that gigantic lunch at the bottom of Lenoir. If you’re torn between satisfying your devastating hunger and facing the aftermath of consuming a huge platter of fried Chinese food, there are plenty of options that number lower in calories but high in flavor and quantity. Med Deli, recently returned to Lenoir, has huge chicken and beef gyros that anyone would be hard-pressed to finish in one sitting. They basically pile a whole lot of meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce on top of fresh pita, and it’s delicious — not to mention low in fat and and only around 400-450 calories. Subway is well known for their waistline slimming possibilities, and 1-5-0 often has healthy, local offerings.
The Pit Stop
When you’ve resorted to the Pit Stop for a snack, you must be either very low on time or just very desperate. We’ve all been there. While it can be tempting to gravitate towards the glow of stale donuts, there are actually a few better options out there that will fill you up without slowing you down. Grab some string cheese (hear me out) from the refrigerator section. String cheese is highly underrated as a college-friendly snack. Not only is it cheaper than that donut, it has protein and calcium and takes longer to eat — all for only 80 calories. The refrigerator actually contains many of the Pit Stop’s best selections, including yogurt and some pre-boxed Med Deli sides. There is a huge granola/protein bar selection in the back, but be wary as some of them are high in calories and nutritionally void of anything good. There’s also some fruit to the left of the counter and vegan soy jerky if you’re feeling adventurous.
The Dining Hall
If there’s one thing the dining hall does right here at UNC, it’s the potato products. Between the fries, tater tots, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, and on a few glorious days a year even waffle fries, it can be hard to tear yourself away. Instead of falling into the freshman 15 trap of eating a plate of fries on the (many) days nothing excites you in in the dining hall, try to have a few healthier fallbacks. Look at the menu online beforehand to get an idea of what’s in store, and if nothing catches your eye, head to the sandwich line for an old favorite like tuna or turkey on wheat. The salad bar is always there, and I’ve been known to add whatever roasted chicken dish they’re serving at another station to my salad to liven things up and get some protein. Be innovative. Use the panini maker to heat up some pita wedges and dip them in salad bar hummus with olive oil — genius. The most effective thing you can do for yourself is to make the fries and cookies a treat instead of an everyday occurrence.
Whether you want to slim down or just eat healthier and have more energy, it’s easy to do at UNC. Did we miss any of your favorites? Tell us in the comments below!