EatingOxford: Resolving to Eat Lighter

Have you been keeping up with your resolution to eat healthier in 2016? Whether you’d like to lose a few pounds or just want to feel better in your jeans, choosing wholesome foods over the fried ones can help put you on the right track.

With that in mind, we took a look at a few new—and existing—healthy options around Oxford.

Newk’s Eatery has introduced a new 600-Calorie Menu, featuring an endless array of options all under 600 calories. Choose from soups, salads, sandwiches, or mix and match some of your favorites. Find out more in-store or at newkseatery.com.

Bonehead’s Oxford is now offering Fit Fresh Go Meals that feature everything you need to stay healthy—protein, carbs, and vegetables—all in a ready-to-go microwavable container that can be picked up at the store or ordered online at boneheadsoxford.com.

Abner’s chicken sandwiches are all less than 600 calories each (without sauce). Find complete nutritional information at abnerschicken.com.

Chick-fil-A has several menu items that fall under 600 calories, including its grilled chicken nuggets, several salads, the new superfood kale side and more. Find complete nutritional information at chickfila.com.

My Michelle’s offers a full buffet of good eats Sundays through Fridays, including a salad bar alongside daily meat and casserole specials and a now famous fridge packed with delicious to-go items. Find menus online at mymichellesoxford.com.

Along with the choices listed above, keep in mind that almost any restaurant menu can be made healthier by following a few simple rules when dining out:

• Steer clear of words on the menu such as fried, sautéed, battered or drenched and opt instead for ones such as fresh, grilled, steamed, and baked.
• Not all salads are created equal. Avoid salads topped with bacon, cheese, and croutons. Get in the habit of ordering your dressing on the side so you can monitor how much you use.
• Swap out that side of fries for a side salad, veggies or baked potato.
• Split your meal with your dining companion or box half of it up for tomorrow’s lunch.

Liz Barrett Foster is the EatingOxford editor for HottyToddy.com, an award-winning business journalist, and author of the recently published Pizza: A Slice of American History. Liz has run the popular restaurant information site Eating Oxford since 2009. Liz can be reached at liz.foster@hottytoddy.com.

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