Tip #1:?The Exchange- If you’re talking to upperclassmen, they won’t likely know what The Exchange is, but they immediately know Ginger’s as “the best place on campus.” Ginger’s only recently became The Exchange to fit the business setting of the Tepper School of Business (Like the stock exchange, get it? I didn’t at first.). There is usually a bit of a line (sometimes out the door of Tepper), but it’s well worth it, and it’s a good time to check Facebook or Twitter on your smart phone or iPod touch. Since the sandwiches and salads are made-to-order, it’s way easier to make healthy choices. I especially like to get a turkey sandwich hot on wheat bread with some veggies, a great choice for lunch. Choose fruit as a side for a good balanced meal (of course, the brownies are pretty hard to resist!). The hot entrees may not be as healthy as a sandwich or salad, but they’re pretty close to home-cooked food, at least at CMU.
Tip #2:?Breakfast in the dorm room- Let’s face it. No matter how good waffles from Resnik may taste, it’s not exactly a healthy choice. And if you haven’t figured out that the meal plans are over priced yet, you might want to reconsider being a math major. Getting the red meal plan (the cheapest one with the most flex dollars and the fewest blocks) and eating breakfast in the dorm room is a much better choice for both your health and your wallet.?Some quick, easy choices for breakfast before running to that 8:30 class:?Greek Yogurt (Yoplait- sold in Entropy, Chobani, Oikos)- The protein keeps you full through hours of lecture, and it’s so good!?Fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, etc. can be bought at Entropy)?Granola Bars (Kashi, Quaker, Fiber One)- There’s also a pretty good selection of granola bars in Entropy, and they’re great for in between classes when your stomach is growling but there’s no time for a full meal.?Cereal with milk- A classic choice, healthy, and you can buy both a decent selection of cereal and skim milk in Entropy. Just avoid sugary cereal- Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles are tasty, but definitely not a healthy breakfast.?Avoid pop tarts- They may be quick and easy, but there’s a ton of sugar.
Tip #3:?Razzy Fresh- If you’ve been on campus for more than a week and haven’t been to Razzy Fresh, you probably live under a rock. Basically, it’s an amazing frozen yogurt place. Fill the cup with one of the many delicious flavors of fro yo and some toppings ranging from granola to mango to some less healthier candy choices. Then, weigh the cup and pay by the ounce. Razzy Fresh is the best and worst for eating healthy. As far as desert goes, it’s a pretty healthy choice, especially with fruit. At the same time, it’s definitely not a good idea multiple times a week.
Tip #4: Avoid:
The Underground- If you live in Morewood, it may be especially convenient, particularly during those cold Pittsburgh winters, but there really isn’t a healthy choice.?Skibo- Pizza and subs are definitely not the healthiest choices. You’ve heard this before, and even though it’s delicious, it’s just not the best idea.
Tip #5:?Tazza D’Oro (a.k.a. the place on the 3rd floor of Gates)- A lot of CS majors eat there, since they’re known for never leaving Gates due to massive amounts of programming homework. It really is a great choice for any major, though. Paninis are a good healthy choice, and the side is a nice healthy salad. It’s delicious, and so is the coffee (and the deserts). Also, you get to cross the awesome Randy Pausch bridge to get there, which makes it a win-win situation.