Congratulations UA college students, we have made it to the seventh week of the semester. Syllabus week is long gone, and the workload is starting to pile up. As classes are becoming more difficult, so is sticking to healthy eating habits. Eating healthy and staying active are important during college, but many students do not have the time to cook extravagant, healthy meals every night. One cheat meal a week turns into six, and the freshman 15 starts happening all over again. Since the idea of eating healthy in college is easier said than done, I have provided healthy recipes, and healthy restaurants in Tuscaloosa, as well as tips for grocery shopping for healthy food.
Hey Baby, Taco Walk on the Wild Side
All students at The University of Alabama love taco night, but tacos can be more than processed beef and cheese. There are plenty of healthy, tasty taco options you and your friends will enjoy. Taco night is great for college students because they are an easy and efficient meal to make. I have provided three healthy, vegan taco recipes from the popular food blog, Love and Lemons.
Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
Cauliflower is a great, healthy replacement for meat in many meals, especially if you love vegetables. These tacos are flavorful and are simple to make.
Vegan Mushroom Tacos
I know mushrooms sound scary to many college students, but these tacos are packed with flavor. They are an easy to make plant-based meal.
Vegan Grilled Corn Tacos
These grilled corn tacos are a crowd pleaser. With their incredibly fresh flavor and a kick of spice, these tacos are perfect for a nice summer’s day.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
Since vegan dinners might not tickle everyone’s taste buds, I have provided three quick and healthy chicken dinners perfect for busy UA college students. All three recipes are from the popular food blog, foodiecrush.
Chicken Caprese
This one pan chicken caprese is perfect caprese pizza lovers. The creamy melted mozzarella cheese ties the dish together. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and potassium.
Chicken Quinoa Bowl
Spice up your busy night with this Mediterranean chicken quinoa bowl with broccoli and tomatoes. Quinoa is not only filling, but also full of antioxidants. This simple recipe will surely impress your friends.
Chicken Rice Bowl
This roasted chicken, butternut squash and guacamole bowl is packed with nutrients that help protect agaisnt cancer and heart disease. It is bursting with flavor and easy to make.
Healthy Eating in Tuscaloosa
Students at The University of Alabama know that finding healthy restaurants in Tuscaloosa is near impossible. Tuscaloosa specializes in fast food and chain restaurants, which offer zero health benefits for UA students. I have listed three food options in Tuscaloosa that promote health and wellness.
Fruit Lovely
Fruit Lovely is a superfoods restaurant, located on McFarland blvd., that specializes in nutrience-packed fruit bowls. They also serve smoothies, toast, coffee, and more. The fruit bowls are filling, making them perfect for lunch. Fruit lovely is the perfect place to go for UA students who love fruit.
Juice Bar
Juice Bar is another superfoods restaurant also on McFarkand blvd. The juices contain nutritients such as blue spirulina, ginger, and even cayenne. They also have smoothies, fruit bowls, wellness shots, and soup. Wellness shots help the immune system through extracts, herbs, and spices.
Sage Juice Bar
Sage Juice Bar serves juices that contain a daily serving of vitamins and minerals. Sage has great lunch options, including grain bowls, toast, paninis, wraps, and salads. Their smoothies are made with the proper amount of greens and proteins that make them the perfect meal replacements.
Grocery Shopping Tips
It is no secret that healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are unreasonably expensive, which makes it harder to eat healthily on a regular basis. I have provided four grocery shopping tips for healthy meals that I use to save money.
Shop at Aldi and Walmart
Aldi is a discount supermarket that carries exclusive Aldi brands that are delicious and affordable. Aldi’s specialty products are sure to spice up any meal. I know, driving out to Skyland blvd. sucks, but shopping at Walmart is a great way to save money.
Look for BOGO Deals
Publix offers BOGO deals every day of the week, which is a great money saver. If you don’t want two of the same item, buying one item on BOGO makes it half-off the original price (something I only recently learned). So, make sure you spend a little extra time in the grocery store looking for those little tags.
Shop at Fresh Market
Although Fresh Market is the most expensive grocery store in Tuscaloosa, they offer students at The University of Alabama a 10% off discount, as well as weekly specials. They also have a section of ready-to-eat meals that are packed with vegetables, salmon, chicken, etc. which is great for nights when you don’t have time to cook.
Shop for the Next 2-3 Days
Many students tend to grocery shop for food they think will last them through the next three weeks as a way of saving time. 9 times out of 10, most of that food ends up rotten in the back of the refrigerator or in the trash can. In addition, healthy foods spoil fast, so shopping for only enough food for the next couple of days ultimately saves both time and money.
