Healthy items were determined through nutritional analysis of each recipe. Nutrition standards listed below were set to identify which entré items can be categorized as healthy. Each participating vendor has chosen three items from their menu they wish to showcase.
Click the vendor logo to view their menu items:
To create a wellness culture for UNM by integrating a focus on healthy eating and physical activity and to foster this environment by providing easily accessible information about healthy options at campus eateries.
By committing to providing healthy food options on campus, we commit to a campus culture that promotes wellness through healthy lifestyles that enhance the quality of life for our faculty, staff and students. This Healthy U program focuses on identifying and making customers aware of healthy items offered at UNM eateries, premiering first with the Student Union Building (SUB) eateries. Better-for-you menu options are displayed at participating SUB restaurant locations and online. Healthy items were determined through nutritional analysis of each recipe. Nutrition standards listed below were set to identify which entrée items can be categorized as healthy. Each participating vendor has chosen three items from their menu they wish to showcase.
This program is possible because of collaborative efforts from Employee Health Promotion, Student Health and Counseling, Chartwell's Campus Dining, the SUB and each SUB restaurant vendor. All are working toward a common goal to provide UNM's campus community with what they have been asking for - healthier food selections on campus.
If you have more questions regarding Healthy U or the UNM Healthy Eats program, contact Employee Health Promotion at ehp@unm.edu or 272-4460. For more information on specific nutrition recommendations for individuals, students should contact Student Health and Counseling and faculty and staff should contact Employee Health Promotion.
Eating well requires focus on healthy eating and physical activity. The UNM Healthy Eats program helps you find food options that meet healthy nutrition guidelines. Sodium and total calories have been identified as the two unchangeable requirements as both can contribute significantly toward chronic disease if left uncontrolled. Fat, fiber and calcium are also areas in that can be excessive or deficient, making them other important requirements.
Sodium is a key player in cardiovascular health. It attracts extra water into the bloodstream and can increase blood pressure over time. High blood pressure then forces the heart to work harder and can damage blood vessels and organs. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day or 1,500 mg a day for those with risk factors (older than 51, high blood pressure, diabetic, chronic kidney disease, obese, and/or of African descent). Our entrée standards contain roughly one third of the recommended daily value. Products that may contain a high amount of sodium include soup, bread, pizza, deli meat, cheese, prepackaged meals, fast food items, and sauces. To find out more about the importance of sodium control in a healthy diet, please take a look at information from the Mayo Clinic and the FDA.
Calories are the energy our bodies process through digestion. Carbohydrates and protein both contain 4 calories per gram while fat contains 9 calories per gram and alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. Since they contain nearly twice the calories/energy of carbohydrates or protein, close monitoring of fat and alcohol is essential for weight loss and maintenance. Research has shown that where the calories come from is as important as how many total calories you eat. It is better to get energy from nutrient dense, minimally processed foods rather than calorie dense, highly refined or processed foods.
Although there are calorie recommendations for weight loss, gain and maintenance, each individual requires different amounts of energy. There are equations and calculators available that use height, weight, age, gender and activity level to calculate specific energy requirements. For an individual of light to moderate activity, a meal containing roughly 500 kcal or less is recommended. This generally allows for a couple of 100-200 kcal snacks throughout the day. For more recommendations on food portions check out the My Plate website.
Although fat contains more calories, it is still essential for proper body function. As part of a healthy food plan, individuals need 20-35% of our daily calories from fat. When applying this percentage to one of the chosen healthy SUB entrees, 15 g or less of fat fits between 20-35% of the entrée's calories from fat.
Not all fat is created equal; a product with more healthy fat such as mono- or poly-unsaturated fats and lower saturated fat would be a healthier choice. Less than 10% of our daily calories should be from saturated fats. Find out more about fat recommendations and foods that contain healthy fats.
The best places to find dietary fiber are in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Fiber is important for lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, normalizing and protecting intestinal health and healing to maintain healthy weight. A good daily fiber goal is 30-35 g, being careful to increase fiber gradually if currently consuming a low fiber diet.
There are many more vitamins and minerals that could be added to the requirement list, however to lessen confusion, we chose to highlight one that many people struggle to get enough of, calcium. Calcium is not only important for bone strength, but muscle health as well. The recommended amount of calcium is 1,000 mg per day. In each healthy SUB entrée the optional characteristic is greater than 300 mg, which is one third the daily requirement. Most often, we think of calcium and dairy as one in the same, however many other foods also contain calcium
