Eating healthy under $5 downtown (Whole Foods, subway, place)

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

That's funny, I work literally right next to Taza and go there often. I really like the food, I'm surprised others have heard of the place. They're always so nice in there.

If falafel healthy though? I get their pita/chicken/rice and salad and I think it's fairly healthy. I always thought the falafel was fried so I stayed away.

fried /= unhealthy. Falafel is def healthy.

[Thepreacherswife]

Chicken Planet or Oasis Cafe. Chicken Planet even gets the job done for under $5.

[i_am_hydrogen]

I've never heard of Taza. I think I'll go there today for lunch. I eat Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food 1-2 times per week, and I'm always looking to discover new places.

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by almost3am

Not under $5, but a turkey sandwich at Potbelly is $5.19 where I go. I actually don't know how healthy it is, but it is so good.

If you order your potbelly sandwich skinny and go without mayo, then yes, they are relatively healthy. Potbelly is one of my go-to $5 lunch places. I just bring in some fruit and vegetables that I bring from home to supplement the meal.

Originally Posted by marothisu

IMO your baseline should not be $5 though - that's so cheap and I barely know of any places PERIOD in the loop that will do that. You might be able to get 1.5 hot dogs for under $5 sure, but other food? Not going to happen. The baseline should be like $8-$10.

That's the challenge of it though, being frugal and healthy.

I'll give some other examples that seem decent.

For $5 you can get a small serving of most dishes at Noodles & Company. A lot of their dishes are unhealthy, but there are a few that I'd classify as healthy, like their Japanese Pan Noodles, which is full of fresh cut vegetables.

You can also get a vegetarian wrap for $5 at Avanti on Jackson downtown. They don't have nutrition information, but the wraps are decent with fresh vegetables and affordable.

Starbucks bistro boxes can be had for $5. Those are full of good food (fresh fruit, almonds, hard boiled egg, hummus) and most are under 500 calories.

If you want to stretch your budget, Flip Crepes at the French Market has a lot of menu options under 500 calories, though they are more in the $7-8 range.

[koctail]

Mariannos has Pizza and fresh OJ for $2.99 + $1.29 . And you can get their mini Gelato for another dollar...

Also what I do is buy full entrees and take half-home to eat. I like I dream of Falafells Veggie Platter.

But if you really want to eat well and cheap, cook yourself. If you buy from fancier grocery stores, it will taste as good as eating out.

[Stillers]

You could take that $25 per week and cook all of your lunches for the week on Sunday.....

[SubconsciousMe]

I get full pretty quickly and find myself pretty satisfied with a kids meal at Chipotle... they don't care if an adult orders one and I don't have to fuss with left overs. I beleive under $4.

[chicagoguy91]

CHICKEN PLANET!!! 5$ exactly

[Lisah168]

Originally Posted by SubconsciousMe

I get full pretty quickly and find myself pretty satisfied with a kids meal at Chipotle... they don't care if an adult orders one and I don't have to fuss with left overs. I beleive under $4.

I was going to suggest Chipotle as well. Although I have never ordered the kids meal, I usually order a full size Burrito Bowl, eat half, and keep the other half in the refrigerator for next day. The bowl is quite big, too much for me to finish in one meal. Depending on what you like to add on, it ranges from 450 to 600 calories for a full Burrito Bowl. Yummy!

[DrSloan]

Soup, Noodles, or Bread
Take your pick

$5 won't get you very far in America these days