As dieting has become increasingly popular, eating healthy meals is a growing concern for many college students.
Some restaurants are making an effort to provide the nutrition facts on their menus for the health-conscious diners.
“We’re trying to do what the public wants,” said Betsy Hawkins, the general manager at Bennigan’s on Bluebonnet Road. “People are eating better and are more health-conscious.”
Hawkins said Bennigan’s just recently added a low-carb menu with 6 different options. Each item on the low-carb menu comes with green beans or broccoli.
Before ordering, check to see how the item is cooked, said Autumn Douglas, a registered dietician at the University’s Wellness Education Department. Even if the menu says an item is “sauteed,” it may be cooked in butter, which will be high in fat.
The Grilled Chicken Platter and Chicken Stir-Fry meals on the healthclub section of the menu are served with rice and broccoli, Hawkins said.
When dining at Bennigan’s, dishes can be prepared without meat to reduce fat intake or to satisfy vegetarian needs, she said. Diners can also order the low-calorie Italian salad dressing to decrease their calorie intake.
The Guiltless Grill menu items at Chili’s have nine grams of fat or less, except the Guiltless Tomato Basil Pasta, which has 15 grams of fat, said Cheramie Gosnell, the general manager at Chili’s on College Drive Gosnell.
The “It’s Your Choice” menu lists the amount of carbohydrates and fiber in each meal, she said. Providing customers with the nutritional information allows them to cater the menu to their own needs.
Chili’s offers an array of salads and recommends certain dressings, Gosnell said. Customers can order a low-fat dressing such as ranch or vinaigrette or the non-fat honey mustard dressing for a healthier salad.
Douglas recommends substituting the fattening bacon and cheese for vegetables. Request to have sour cream, gravy and salad dressings on the side. She also said to choose marinara, wine or lemon herb sauces instead of butter or cream sauces.
“You can substitute anything that will make it better for you,” said Gosnell.”You can tailor the menu to fit your needs.” She said customers can substitute fries for black beans
or a side salad.
“We offer several Healthy Heart items as a way to provide healthy options,” said Mark Verinder, the general manager at Jason’s Deli on Siegen Lane. Customers can choose fruit, steamed vegetables or Baked Lays if they order a Healthy Heart meal.
Verinder said Jason’s Deli has more than 35 items which are trans-fat-free. There are no fried foods on the menu other than Baked Lays.
Many of the meals at Jason’s Deli are made with fat-free or low-fat salad dressing, mayonnaise and cheese, according to the company’s Web site.
Verinder said everything is fresh-cut daily — nothing is frozen or pre-made. The large variety of items available at the soup and salad bar allows diners to select toppings of their choice.
The company recently started a promotion of low-carb items, he said. “You can get any sandwich without the bread and we’ll fix the meal up nicely on your plate.”
Douglas said if you are planning to eat dessert, choose vegetables and lean meats to substitute for carbohydrates. If possible, diners should also order sugar-free beverages because they are just empty calories which do not decrease hunger.
Since the portions served at some restaurants are rather large, Douglas suggested to “ask for a to-go box and put half of it away before you eat so that you can enjoy your meal without overeating.”