Better Options While Eating Fast at OU

Who can resist the tantalizing chicken goodness at Chic-fil-A? Luckily you don't have to. With health-conscious menu items, there are plenty of ways to "eat mor chickin" guilt free. But how?

The grilled nuggets are a better option than the regular nuggets because they have less saturated fat. Instead of fries for a side, you might want to consider Chic-fil-A's new Superfood Side. Made up of kale, broccoli, dried cranberries, and nuts, you can get a serving of greens, fiber, carbs, plus tons of vitamins and minerals.

Quiznos won't feel like Subway's little brother once you try this salad.

At Quiznos, you'll want to watch your sodium intake when considering a menu item. The Apple Chicken Harvest Salad has ingredients with health benefits, making it a better option than others. With apples, the salad is rich in antioxidants, phytochemicals, and dietary fiber. With tomatoes, you're getting folate, thiamin, and a range of vitamins. Topped with pumpkin seeds, you'll get a dose of important minerals, zinc and phosphorus.

This Seattle Roaster may have gone global, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten about the customer. For when you're held up at Starbucks studying, you don't have to lose your prime study spot to grab lunch. You can get a nutritious lunch at your favorite coffee place.

Cue Starbucks Salad Bowls like the Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Bowl. With superfoods, like quinoa and tomatoes, it's better option than other items on the menu. You'll receive antioxidants, all nine amino acids, Vitamins A, C, K, and more. This lunch will keep you full longer and with only 360 calories, what's not to love?

Boasting the biggest cereal bar in the Big 12, OU knows students can't get by without the quick breakfast staple.

Most cereal (even the ones with cartoons on the front) are low in unhealthy fats. Breakfast cereals are also fortified with vitamins and minerals. That alone doesn't make them particularly nutrient dense. But with the will power to skip the Lucky Charms and Cap'n Crunch and head straight for Cheerios, Bran Flakes, and other high fiber options, you'll be getting whole grains to keep your heart in shape. Take a hint from your grandparents, and strive for fiber.

Chipotle is a go-to healthy fast-food option, but with big portion sizes and tantalizing mountains of cheese, eating poorly at Chipotle is as easy as saying, "sour cream please".

When ordering, choosing a burrito bowl or salad bowl helps you maximize on nutrient dense carbs. Choose your favorite protein, a scoop of black beans, fajita veggies, tomato salsa, and lettuce. This combinations of ingredients creates a high-fiber, blood-sugar-balancing lunch. Topping it off with a half portion of guac adds natural fat and delicious texture without going overboard.

I've yet to talk to a person who isn't excited about the new Cool Greens on campus corner. The menu is packed with opportunities to choose fruits, veggies, leafy greens.

A nutrient-dense item on the menu is the Summer Berry Salad. With spinach, strawberries, blueberries and more, you're getting a meal packed with antioxidants and natural sugars to suppress unhealthy sweet cravings. You're also getting a substantial serving of leafy greens to top off this salad's nutritional goodness.

Baja Fresh really is fresh in that it doesn't use freezers or microwaves. But fresh doesn't always connote health.

For Baja, the thing you'll want to watch is the sodium. For entree items, tacos are a better choice than burritos. The tacos with low sodium are the Original Baja Taco and the Fresh Line Caught Wahoo Taco. Both combine ingredients for a robust meal with protein, fat, and carbs.

At the Laughing Tomato, The Best Date Ever is a menu item whose clever name is only matched by its nutritious ingredients.

This wrap, made from local ingredients, is packed with peanut butter, bananas, and dates. Some consider dates to be a super food. They are easily digestible, allowing your body to absorb its nutrients easily. Dietary fiber in dates helps normalize cholesterol levels and the potassium helps control your heart rate and blood pressure. They also contain vitamins A, K, and B. With minerals like copper, magnesium, and manganese, this wrap provides unique healing properties. Bananas are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars making the wrap healthy and sweet.