News

Food fundamentals: Skip the fries, try healthier alternatives

While the idea of eating healthy can bring peace of mind to all of us, completing the task is not as easy as it sounds. With the first days of school starting, everyone from freshmen to seniors will struggle to choose the right foods, especially when faced with some of the dining facilities offered on or near campus.

Although I don’t consider myself a nutrition expert, I try my best to stay away from foods that will only cause an upset stomach, and through the recipes, advice and restaurant reviews that will be found in this column I hope to help you do the same.

Everyday students have difficult choices to make: which professors to take, what classes to enroll in and, more importantly, what foods to put in their bodies.

My advice: stop stressing over which 99-cent value item to choose from or whether you should get a side of bread sticks with that pizza. If you’re trying to shed that extra weight from the summer, here are a few places I recommend.

Montague’s Deli, located in the University Center Satellite and a personal favorite of mine, will give your taste buds a sense of satisfaction. Their food won’t leave you walking back to class with the weariness greasy foods often leave you feeling.

Montague’s offers customers selections of cold subs to hot, toasted paninis, with a wide range of fresh vegetables to choose from. Customers can select their choice of bread, meat and veggies.

If you’re not in the mood for sandwiches, Cranberry Farms, also located in the UC Satellite, offers country-style cooking such as roasted chicken, vegetables and cornbread.

Steve’s CafÈ (3704 Scott St.), known for its Vietnamese sandwiches, is another healthy place to run to. Although the restaurant is not on campus, you’ll find plenty of UH students there enjoying everything from spring rolls to a fresh tapioca drink.

Customers can expect to find a range of guiltless Vietnamese dishes, such as vermicelli with marinated chicken or grilled pork, or a large bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. If customers aren’t indulging into a delicious meal, they’re using the Internet at one of the computers set up for patrons to surf the Web for free.

While we may still have our everyday encounter with fast food, try substituting greasy foods for a more nutritious balance, such as choosing a taco salad rather than a taco supreme. Also, try drinking natural fruit drinks, or carry around a cold bottle of water to avoid drinking soda. And with the budget of a college student, it’s always efficient to pack your own lunches or snacks. Packing fruits, such as apples or grapes, always allows for a delicious snack between or after classes.

Leave a Comment