@State Nove 2017 Live Well Aztecs Approved

Read Your Labels for Nutrition

“Live Well Aztecs Approved” is a new initiative at SDSU Starbucks and Aztec Market locations that makes it easier to identify health-conscious food options.

It can be hard to deny the merits of a forearm-sized burrito, but for those seeking a regular change in their eating habits on campus, it has become easier to identify healthy options.

Encouraging students to lead more active, engaged and balanced lives, Health Promotion has partnered with SDSU Dining to present the “Live Well Aztecs Approved” initiative at all Starbucks and Aztec Market locations.

The goal of the food labeling initiative is to make these choices easier for students. When students eat on campus, they can look for Live Well Aztec Approved foods and know they are making a healthy choice, said Tyler Rolling, a San Diego State University health educator and licensed nutritionist.

"Nowadays, students are faced with a constant influx of information, including when it comes to making healthy food choices on campus,” Rolling said.

Each month, two food items – one at a SDSU Starbucks location; another at Aztec Market locations – will be labeled with the official Live Well Aztecs Approved sticker. The program recognizes only those foods that meets one of the specific criteria from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

While October’s selection at Starbucks meets your requirement of one serving of fruit per day with their “Seasonal Fruit Blend,” Aztec Market offers up a “Veggie Pack” that fulfills one daily serving of vegetables.

In November, if you’re looking for food selections that are lean protein, try Starbucks’ “Reduced Fat Turkey Bacon & Cage Free Egg White Breakfast Sandwich” or Aztec Market’s “Tuna with Spinach.”

If you’re looking for a good balance of protein and fiber, December’s selections will bring a “Lentils and Vegetable Protein Bowl with Brown Rice” to Starbucks, and “Cottage Cheese with Fresh Fruit” to the Aztec Market.

More selections are planned for the spring, so put down those chips and look for the Live Well Aztecs Approved sticker on items at Starbucks and Aztec Markets locations to find a favorite today.