Grabbing healthy food on the go at a restaurant or café at the University Unions has just become a lot easier.
University Unions, in conjunction with the MHealthy program, has published a food guide that identifies all of the healthier choices available at its eateries.
From Wendy’s to the University Club, Beanster’s to Taco Bell Express, this guide lists all of the GOOD CHOICE menu items available that meet the MHealthy Nutrition Guidelines.
Displays will be set up this week near U-go’s at the Michigan Union, Michigan League and Pierpont Commons, where students, faculty and staff are invited to stop by and pick up a copy of the MHealthy GOOD CHOICE Food Guide. To help introduce this booklet, food vendors will be on hand at selected times to offer free food samples.
“When people think of grab and go,” says Keith Soster, director of University Unions Food Services, “they often think of high-fat or high-calorie fast food. There are actually a lot of healthier choices available at our eateries that we wanted the campus community to know about. Whether you want to watch calories, boost your energy levels or even get fit for spring break, we want to let you know that we can help support your diet needs.”
The MHealthy GOOD CHOICE Food Guide and free sample week are part of an ongoing effort to promote healthier options at the Unions’ eateries. In addition to the restaurant selections, all U-go’s convenience stores contain many GOOD CHOICE snack and beverage items. Posters detailing these selections are displayed at each store. Customers also will be able to locate items by looking for the GOOD CHOICE labels on the shelves. For meetings or special events, University Catering has developed GOOD CHOICE menu items that can help meeting planners incorporate nutritionally beneficial items into the food presentation (umich.edu/~uunions/food/goodchoice.pdf).
MHealthy Nutrition Guidelines use specific recommendations for total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sugar, sodium and fiber depending on the food category. These guidelines were developed by registered dietitians from the University. Complete nutrition information of the GOOD CHOICE items is available upon request. GOOD CHOICE options also have been identified at dining locations and vending machines at the three campuses, University Housing and the U-M Health System. For more information on MHealthy go to www.mhealthy.umich.edu.
