Lunch in the Loop

Let’s talk lunch for a minute, shall we? I am generally not one to eat many lunches out. For health reasons, but also to keep my wallet bulky, I usually bring my own lunch to work. However, on the rare occasion that I allow myself to eat out (is once a week rare?), I have a number of favorites that are usually pretty good health-wise. Lunch in the loop without breaking the bank? That’s another story.

Anyway, we Loop workers are really fortunate to have excellent variety in lunch options. Sure, we can get our fair share of disgustingly fatty fast food, not unlike any other American city, but we also have a number of fresh, health-centric quick-serve restaurants that focus on quality. Below is a list of a few of restaurants I find myself consistently going back to:

Hannah’s Bretzel: I just ate there today, so it is still at the top of my list. The insanely fresh, quality ingredients make this place a winner already, but bretzel – that is, pretzel bread – that is not rock hard? Bonus points! They also serve an equally-satisfying multigrain baguette and list nutrition information on their website.

Protein Bar: One word – quinoa – that protein-rich, satisfying little grain that’s also loaded with complex carbohydrates is the star here. Try it with the chili, though you can’t go wrong with anything, really. I often eat their steel-cut oats with fresh fruit for breakfast after an especially taxing spin class in the morning, but their salads, wraps, and savory bowls are fresh and delicious as well.

Freshii: Ok, so the name is a little annoyingly… weird. But these guys are taking over the Loop with a number of locations and some extremely good food. Brown rice? Yes please! The customizable bowls, soups, and wraps all are big enough to get two lunches out of them. Super healthy; super good.

Market Creations: Even I’m surprised I’m listing this cafeteria-style cafe in the Sears (ahem, Willis) Tower, considering they serve up all kinds of greasier-than-thou foods like Orange Chicken and macaroni and cheese, but their salad bar is pretty reliable and they have some really great sushi that is relatively inexpensive. The sushi is sold by the pound, so generally I grab a few a la carte pieces of nigiri with miso soup – all under $10.

Pret a Manger: Did I get your hopes up? No, it’s not open yet, but I’m seriously looking forward to their quick and easy grab-n-go lunches.

There you have it folks. What are some of your favorite lunch spots?