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Menus aimed at helping diners keep New Year's Resolutions

January means resolutions, and fast casual restaurants are highlighting lighter, healthier options for diners.

January 15, 2015

A few weeks into the new year, several fast casual brands are putting the emphasis on healthy offerings for customers who are tempted to ditch New Year's Resolutions in favor of old habits and a little indulgence. Here's a round-up:

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Jointhas launched the 500 Calorie Maddio Meal which includes a 6-inch pizza and salad, a half panini and salad, or a half panini and soup. The average Maddio Panini Meal comes in at 457 calories and the average Maddio Pizza Meal at 340 calories, when choosing a cheese pizza. Popular combinations include:

• A 6-inch traditional pizza with tomato, basil, mozzarella, grilled chicken, artichokes and portabella mushrooms with a garden side salad with ranch dressing at 493 calories.
• A 6-inch wheat crust pizza with tomato, basil, mozzarella, spicy sausage, green peppers and balsamic glaze with a side garden salad with chipotle ranch dressing at 499.7 calories.
• A half Italian Panini and minestrone soup at 495 calories.

Corner Bakery Cafe is highlighting 100 combos under 600 calories, including a new Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken & Tuscan White Bean Soup Corner Combo.

Corner Bakery Cafe's new Kale Caesar Salad with Chicken is made to order with a mix of kale and romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing topped with all-natural grilled chicken. As a Corner Combo, guests can pair the salad with the Tuscan White Bean Soup, a vegetarian option complete with vegetables, white beans and kale, for 590 calories.

Corner Bakery Cafe is also launching the #SacrificeNothing sweepstakes on Twitter and Instagram. Through Feb. 23, Corner Bakery Cafe is encouraging guests to snap pictures of their Corner Combos and post them to Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #SacrificeNothing. One winner each week will be awarded free Corner Combos for a year.

The bakery brand also has an "Under 600" calculator on its website to help guests figure out calorie counts for combinations of salads, soups and sandwiches.

California-based Veggie Grill launched a new "mindful living" menu featuring items under 600 calories. Selections include:

• mindful mash-up – Field Roast sausage, supergrains, kale and white bean braise, fire-roasted carrots, roasted red pepper sauce. (568 calories, 35g protein)
• tres chickin’ tacos + black beans – sautéed chickin’, Mexican spices, cabbage, roasted corn salsa, white corn tortilla, side of seasoned black beans (550 calories, 29g protein)
• banh mi salad – organic tofu pressed and glazed, chargrilled eggplant, house-pickled carrots, white cabbage, fresh jalapenos, basil and cilantro, marinated kale (490 calories, 14g protein)
• chargrilled veggie + penne – trio of charred eggplant, red bell peppers and escarole, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa and marinated kale bed, citrus vinaigrette, pepitas, penne pasta. served cold (518 calories, 10g protein)
• b.t.l.a. – smokey tempeh bacon, sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro pesto, tossed arugula, aioli mayo, grilled sourdough, choice of side (469 calories without sides, 13g protein)
• latin living bowl – fire-roasted carrots, seasoned black beans, avocado chunks, tomato corn salsa, jalapenos, red pepper sauce with supergrains (484 calories, 15g protein)
• 1Ž2 savory kale caesar with kale + white bean braise – marinated kale, romaine hearts, chopped tempeh bacon, chunky avocado, cucumber, croutons and veggie parmesan paired with a bowl of white beans, fresh kale, onions, tomato and veggie broth (561 calories, 16g protein)
• buffalo mini wrap + fresh little salad – buffalo chickin’ tenders, lettuce, creamy ranch in a flour tortilla paired with fire-roasted carrots, cucumbers, shaved red beets, pepitas on romaine and arugula (442 calories, 16g protein)
• bombay bowl – herb-roasted veggies, supergrains, steamed kale, cannellini beans, cilantro/green curry sauce with coconut milk, almonds, hemp seeds (586 calories, 17g protein)

Boston Market is offering customers its “150 Ways to Eat Right” menu of more than 150 meal combinations that are 550 calories or less. The 550 calories or less menu includes the restaurant's popular Market Bowls for only $6.99, as well as several gluten-free options.

Customers are directed to www.BostonMarket.com to find:

• 150 Ways to Eat Right – A complete list of all Boston Market meals 550 calories or less.
• Nutrition Calculator – An interactive Nutrition Calculator allows guests to custom-build Boston Market meals online and obtain their nutritional values.
• Allergen Menu – An Allergen Menu feature helps guests with dietary restrictions (such as gluten intolerance) identify the menu items they can eat.

McAlister’s Deli fans who share photos or videos of how they enjoy their "Lite Choose Two" menu options could win $250 towards a day of healthy activities and a $250 McAlister’s gift card through the brands "Healthy New Year" sweeptakes.

The brand will randomly select and announce one winner on its Facebook page.