We all know how hard it is to eat healthy in college. Between classes, extracurriculars, catching up on sleep, and trying to save money, most of us end up going the junk food route, the extremely sugary route, or not eating at all. That’s not a way to live! Eating complete, nutritious meals is crucial to staying on top of your game, especially during classes!
Even though it’s hard, we’ve put together a list of healthiest food options in Boston. Some are fast food options and some are sit down restaurants, but all have tasty alternatives to the usual stuff you might be eating! Here they are:
Sweetgreen:
You might not be surprised that this cult favorite made the list. Almost everyone knows about this chain of made-to-order salad bars that have been popping up around the city and there’s a reason why it’s so popular! They have a great range of local, fresh ingredients that you can combine to your liking, or you can get one of their signature salads or grain bowls. The best thing is that you get tons of healthy food at a very reasonable price!
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FoMu Ice Cream:
This one is to satisfy all the sweet teeth out there! Plus, who doesn’t need a little ice cream every once in a while, especially in college? This alternative café is famous for carefully crafting its ice cream from real, fresh ingredients. All products are coconut milk based, have very little added sugars, and have no added preservatives, which makes them a great option for anyone with dietary restrictions, or just looking to get the same sweet craving out of the way without going super unhealthy! Make sure to try their bestseller flavors: Avocado, Sweet Lavender, and Maple Bacon!
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Mother Juice:
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This vegan café in Cambridge was originally started from funds raised on Kickstarter! Famous for their cold pressed juices, smoothies, and vegan snacks, all made from locally sourced, fresh fruits and veggies, this is the perfect place to go to if you want to start a juice cleanse, need a refreshing drink, or simply want to try something new! Their Unicorn Blood juice is perfect for anyone trying to be as adventurous as possible: Beet, Carrot, Celery, Watermelon, Pineapple; it sounds so, so good!
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Life Alive:
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This Urban Oasis & Organic Café (as they like to call it), is known for its truly healthy meals that can satisfy all your needs! Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, 100% organic, or all of the above, Life Alive has what you need! Their meals focus on promoting holistic sustainability, healthy eating, and empowering people to take control of what they are putting in their bodies. This Cambridge location is the perfect spot to get a delicious smoothie and a fresh wrap or salad. Be sure to try their Jubilant Juices, which are sure to revive you after a long night of studying!
Red Lentil Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant:
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This award-winning dining location in Watertown may be a little far from school, but it is definitely worth the trip! Serving only vegan and vegetarian dishes, this restaurant has been certified a Level 1 Green Restaurant, which means that it follows the strictest environmentally friendly and sustainable guidelines, so when you go here, you know you are supporting the green movement! Serving Asian inspired and local dishes, this is a must if you’re feeling like trying something new and groundbreaking!
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Honorary mention:
B.good
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Yes, this might not be the kind of place that you were expecting to see on this list, but they do offer some great salad and healthy sandwich options that are considerably better and healthier than most places we’ve been going to! A must try healthy dish: their kale and grain bowls, which are packed with healthy greens and grains such as quinoa or farro! A major plus for all of us at Northeastern is the fact that they are right on campus, are generally affordable, and a great option for those days when you need a grab-and-go lunch that won’t make it a cheat day!
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That’s it for now. We hope you get to try all of these new and exciting places, especially because they truly do offer healthy meal alternatives! You don’t need to totally change your eating habits from one day to the next, but taking small steps in a good direction is always, always, always a good way to start!
Happy Dining!