Remember NSOP? We experienced things we’ll never get to experience again. We introduced ourselves to everyone and were so excited we didn’t even care how many times we answered the questions, “Where are you from?” and “What’s your major?”. We planned different ways to answer these repetitive questions out of respect for our mutual overexcitement: “Oh okay, my cousin’s friend’s aunt’s best friend’s boyfriend is from that town too! I’ve heard of it!” or “Awesome! That major sounds so cool” even though you really don’t think it does. Nonetheless, there was an undeniable hunger to being a new college kid; we were hungry for the new experience and the thrill of it all. And really, we were hungry. We had so many activities that we were literally chomping at the bit come every mealtime. Remember when Columbia served us food on the lawn by John Jay during this week? My first college fling was with those meals during that week. I was so ecstatic about the food that I spent an extra ten seconds sending pictures to my friend’s at other colleges bragging about my college’s delicious and healthy meals. Then NSOP ended, and so did the world.
Kidding. NSOP ended, the food moved inside into John Jay and Ferris Booth, and it got a bit harder for me to consistently find healthy and tasty options. Now I’ve realized that it is not impossible. Columbia validates the diverse lifestyle choices due to necessity or desire students make concerning food and choices which is shown with the stickers included on the menus that indicate whether each dish is vegetarian, gluten free, or contains dairy. Over my first year at Columbia, I’ve found some hubs of health in Ferris Booth and meals that I can always fall back on if the meal for the day is not particularly appealing to me. Hopefully this can help others stay healthy, happy, and full!
1. Vegetables from the pasta line
The pasta line at Ferris is a hotspot. If you are willing to wait or if you eat at strategic times, it is definitely worth it to get a bowl of vegetables that the cooks are happy to saute for you without pasta. An added bonus is that without the pasta, they usually give you copious amounts of vegetables or whatever you ask for. My bowl of choice consists of broccoli, mushrooms, tofu, garlic, corn, smothered in yummy pesto.
2. Salad Bar
People may stay away from salad because they think that it is boring, but there are definitely ways to liven up a salad at Ferris. The salad bars could offer more toppings but if you ever feel at a lack, you can head over to the nuts sections and add some sliced almonds, walnuts, in addition to cranberries and a sesame ginger dressing that can also be found here. Also keep an eye out for the salads that Ferris offers in the windows apart from the salad bars!
3. Pizza Section
Don’t turn a blind eye to the pizza section at Ferris because sometimes they have tasty things to indulge in that that are healthier treats such as the “Roasted Vegetable Calzone”. Keep your eye out for that because it has the ability to change your life for the better.
4. Banana Dessert Bowl
I’ve concocted a dessert bowl for when I’m feeling something sweet after dinner but want a healthier alternative to ice cream or the desserts in the Ferris window (although it cannot be denied that these are the bomb.com) I take a soup cup, chop up a banana into it along with a dollop of peanut butter, a dollop of nutella, and add some walnuts and cranberries into the whole mix. Grab a spoon and indulge!