Let’s be honest, we all love Track Town and Dough Co. Why wouldn’t we? They taste so good and are super convenient. But let’s be honest again, we can’t always eat that kind of food. While it’s perfectly fine to chow down on a calzone or pizza every now and again, doing it all the time is not the way to sustain a healthy lifestyle. One of the biggest parts of being healthy is eating healthy. Putting good things into your body will help you look, think, and feel better. I used to think eating healthy meant eating gross and tasteless food. Turns out, flavorful food and nutrition can co-exist in the same meal! And with that, I present to you my top five favorite healthy restaurants in Eugene.
Go Healthy Café
Price: $8.95 and under
Location: 3802 W 11th Ave.
“I don’t have time” is the battle cry of every college girl. Between classes, clubs, working out, homework, socializing, and (maybe) sleeping, there isn’t much time to eat a nice, healthy, sit down meal. It’s much easier to just pick up something greasy from a drive-thru and call it a night. Why can’t we have it both ways? Guess what, we can! Go Healthy Cafe is the perfect option for girls on the go who need to eat on the go. This cute restaurant has a drive-thru and quick service to make sure you aren’t late for your next meeting or movie night. Nothing you eat here will be anything but fresh. The menu offers everything: sandwiches, soups, salads, quesadillas, burritos, rice bowls, and even a kids menu to feed your inner child. In addition to having vegan and vegetarian dishes, Go Healthy Cafe offers gluten-free options. The menu also provides a calorie count of each dish, so you know exactly how much you’re eating.
Caspian
Price: $8.95 and under
Location: 863 E 13th Ave.
Located just off campus, it’s safe to assume that almost every student at Oregon has at least walked by Caspian. Not only is it conveniently located, but its hours are catered to those late night studiers and weekend adventurers looking to refuel. While this Mediterranean inspired spot is well-known for its double cheeseburger special, Caspian has a wide range of healthy options, including big salads, chicken kebabs, and grilled veggies with rice. One of my favorite things to eat in all of Eugene is the Vegetarian Plate, which comes with a feta salad, hummus, tahini, falafel, and pita bread. The ambiance is relaxed, and the outdoor patio is perfect for people watching. The next time you need a study break or a quick bite, head over to Caspian for a healthy, light, and filling meal.
New Odyssey Juice Bar
Price: $7.45 and under
Location: 1004 Willamette St.
This funky cafe is perfect for when you don’t want to eat a huge meal. It’s fresh, it’s off-beat, and it’s organic. The number one reason to come here? The juice bar. It offers freshly made juice, smoothies, and wheat grass shots for the granola inside of you. But don’t worry, they have food too. Simple salads help you get your five a day, and vegetarian sandwiches that run under $6 are good whether they are served hot or cold. My personal favorite menu item? Beans and rice. This simple dish will provide you with a full protein while adding some flavor to your life with cheese, salsa, and enchilada sauce. This creative spin on an old classic shows just what New Odyssey is about. Their nutritious food and groovy surroundings will get you inspired and energized. Still tired? They happen to make a killer latte. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Holy Cow Café
Price: $8.50 and under
Location: The EMU Building on campus
We all have that one day a week where it seems like we have to be on campus from sunup to sundown. Sometimes, there is no way to flit home for a quick lunch or to meet up with friends at an off-campus dig. The seemingly easy solution to this problem is the vending machine. Well I am here to tell you to step away! Just walk on over to Holy Cow Cafe and eat a real meal that is healthy and takes just as long to procure as that bag of chips you almost just bought. Even though the food at Holy Cow is locally grown, the taste takes you to a different place entirely. Between Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern cuisines, there is no way to get bored at this place. Bonus? If you pay with cash or campus cash, you can get a punch card stamped to help you earn free food.
Laughing Planet Café
Price: Under $8.25 and under
Location: 760 Blair Blvd.
You feel instantly cool when you walk into Laughing Planet. The music is good, the decor is unique, and the vibe is welcoming. Even some of the entrée names makes me smile. Not to mention the food is fresh, nutritious, and tastes insanely good. Nothing is processed, and the prices are hard to beat given the quality of the food. The selections here have a modern Mexican zest, ranging from simple rice bowls, to worldly burritos, to unique salads. Everything is so flavorful and you can feel good about whatever you choose to eat. I can’t resist the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla. It’s light, crispy, and has the perfect amount of everything. Plus, each table has a dinosaur toy as a centerpiece. How rad is that?
Images via shape.com and collegecandy.wordpress.com