We all face it. From the freshman swiping into the dining hall the first day of classes to a senior picking up a quick snack in between classes- how do we balance the ease of on campus dining while keeping our waistlines intact?
Fortunately, your friends at Her Campus UNC to help you keep your wallet, your waistline and your need for food all perfectly balanced. Here we list the options offered on campus, with tips to still fill up without feeling guilty.
1. Wendy’s
We might as well start with the most recent culprit to our pocket and waistline: Wendy’s. The chain seems to be the close cousin of those waistline culprits McDonald’s and Hardee’s, but it must be the ugly stepsister since it has several healthy options compared to the other fast food giants.
Check out the value menu. A lot of these items are portioned smaller than the regular menu portions, but are still pretty filling. Therefore, you save calories and money. Doesn’t sound too bad right?
- Meal Idea #1: Pair a small chili with a side salad. The protein in the chili will help keep you full and a side salad from Wendy’s (without dressing) is only 25 calories. Add a packet of Classic Ranch dressing for 100 calories. TOTAL: 330 calories.
- Meal Idea #2: Instead of a cheeseburger (a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is 400 calories) , try the crispy chicken sandwich (380 calories) or the 5 piece chicken nugget with BBQ sauce (270 calories). Add a value fry (230 calories) and you have a meal that will get you through class and meetings.
2. Alpine Bagel
Great breakfast, great bagels, great location- Alpine pretty much has it in the bag. But great nutrition? Ehh…not so much. But there are ways to enjoy that bagel while enjoying the way your pants fit too.
- Meal Idea #1: Instead of a Good Morning Camper with sausage and cheese (598 calories), start your mornings with a Rise and Shine with cheese (438 calories). Save that extra hundred calories to treat yourself to a latte.
- Meal Idea #2: Instead of a Mile High Club (510 calories) try a Presidential Pardon (382 calories) or a Jerry Garcia (336 calories).
3. Bottom of Lenoir
There are plenty of options on Lenoir Mainstreet. Freshens, Chick-fil-a, Subway, Pizza and Med Deli, but often it’s hard to choose a healthy option in the bustle of it all.
- Meal Idea #1: Instead of grabbing a slice of pepperoni from the Pizzeria (417 calories) grab a Greek Salad crepe from Freshens (370 calories) or Falafel from Med Deli (206 calories).
- Meal Idea #2: Instead of grabbing a chicken sandwich and a medium waffle fry from Chick-fil-A (830 calories) try a chicken caesar cool wrap (470 calories).
4. Dining Halls
Ah, the ubiquitous dining hall. Always there when your funds run low; always there to tempt you with freshly baked cookies. It’s hard to stay on a diet after walking past the bakery section in either Rams Head or Lenoir, let alone once they start making french toast and pancakes.
- Tip #1: Before you visit any other food area, grab a salad (with plenty of leafy greens!) and chow down on it. The fiber will help you fill up so that you won’t need to gorge on the other options available. Likewise, sitting down and drinking a glass of water before you head to the serving sections will help you fill up so you can make healthier choices.
- Tip #2: You all hear the lectures on fried foods and gravies and sauces, and the dining hall is the perfect place to put your knowledge into practice. Fill that plate up with veggies and complex carbs (like whole-grain items, potatoes and other foods with fiber) instead of greasy foods like pizza and fried chicken.
Above all, don’t torture yourself. We all see those cookies and cakes on display, and there’s no reason why you can’t have a taste. Just remember, everything is best in moderation! You deserve a treat everyone in a while. Whether it’s the cheesecake at Lenoir, a scoop of Sweet Frog or just a little extra whipped cream on your latte, let yourself have a break a day out of the week. You’ll thank me later.
Happy (and healthy) eating!
More nutrition facts: