Fall has begun and school has started. Everyone knows what this means: we collegiettes are on a very small budget. Though this is the case, counting pennies doesn’t limit us to unhealthy foods such as McDonald’s cheeseburgers and taco pizzas from Taco Bell. To continue making healthy dietary decisions into the upcoming holidays, we need to start making the right food choices now! Here’s how to do it:
At Starbucks
Eat this: Skinny Peppermint Mocha
NOT: Spiced Pumpkin Latte
Each morning, coffee is a savior for people all over the world; however, if we keep drinking those high calorie drinks from Starbucks, we not only will be gaining the Freshman 15 (or Mizzou 22) but we will start packing on unnecessary weight before the holidays even begin! The Skinny Peppermint Mocha has only 100 calories, while the Spice Pumpkin Latte contains 380 calories.
At Chipotle
Eat this: Burrito bowl with guacamole and barbacoa
NOT: Burrito with steak and a side of chips with guacamole
By dropping the tortilla from the burrito, 290 calories are instantly taken off the plate. As unbelievable as it is, when the chips are eliminated, 570 calories disappear! Keep it simple with the burrito bowl and some healthy vegetable toppings alongside some beans and cheese.
At Noodles
Eat this: Small spaghetti and meatballs with a side cucumber salad
NOT: Regular size Wisconsin macaroni and cheese
One regular sized Wisconsin macaroni and cheese is 1030 calories. For some of us girls, that’s more than 2/3 of the calories we intake each day. Try the spaghetti and meatballs (650 calories) with a small side cucumber salad (110 calories). It takes off 270 calories and adds some vegetables to the meal.
At Panera
Eat this: Plain bagel with reduced fat plain cream cheese
NOT: Cinnamon crunch bagel with plain cream cheese
In the morning it’s difficult to roll out of bed and fill up your tummy with something satisfying. Instead of a delicious cinnamon crunch bagel with plain cream cheese (610 calories), go easy on the sugar and fat with a plain bagel coated with reduced fat plain cream cheese (360 calories). Sometimes it’s better to save the calories until later; you never know when you’ll encounter a cookie you just MUST eat.
At Cold Stone
Eat this: Cake Batter with your candy choice
NOT: Candy Land
For all the candy lovers, the Candy Land ice cream original at Cold Stone has 1,170 calories in the “like it” size. Instead of putting a mass amount of cals in your system all at one time, try the Cake Batter ice cream with one candy topping of your choice. It reduces about 600 calories!
Photo Credits:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2011/11/skinny-peppermint…
http://www.fryhole.com/2009/04/04/chipotle-carnitas-burrito-bowl/
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/noodles-company-declares-make-ro…
https://www.michigandaily.com/blog/food-wars-plain-bagel-cream-cheese
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/cake-batter-light-ice-cream-vs-cak…