Great, Cheap and Healthy Places to Eat In Gainesville

     Hey guys!  As the semester is winding down, I find myself not wanting to spend time in the kitchen cooking healthy meals anymore when I can just go pick up a quick bite to eat.  But, even the quickest alternative can get expensive and unhealthy.   Here are a few places I find myself going back to for a delicious, inexpensive and healthy meal.

Crispers

     While Crispers is right across the street from my apartment, I never really went that often.  Well, about two weeks ago I went and can't seem to stop going back.  They have a new menu, full of soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and even new entrees.  You can check out the Crispers' Menu online, there is even a nutrition calculator so you can see how many calories, fat or other nutrients are in your meal.  I also get the chef salad, every single time, unfortunately I'm a true believer of why change a good thing.  Now, Crispers is decent in price for a dinner.  A full salad and a drink is about $10, which I think is great for a dinner or even large lunch.

Pita Pit

I began my love for Pita Pit when I was a freshman living in the dorms - why?  Because they deliver in a matter of minutes to almost anywhere in Gainesville.  Pita Pit can get unhealthy with some options, but if you stick with grilled chicken, vegetables or even tuna, your pita can be a great meal.  Make sure to load up on the vegetables, that way it turns into a salad you can eat with your hands!  Pita Pit is also open late, until 3 to 4 a.m. in some locations, so if you have a late night craving you won't feel guilty choosing this instead of a greasy pizza.  To make it even easier, you can order your pita online 

here, choosing exactly what you want in your mouth.  At around $7-$8, a pita is filling and hits the spot!

Red Mango

Now, Red Mango isn't a restaurant for a meal full of proteins and vegetables and I wouldn't suggest choosing it as a dinner spot either.  Like Mochi and TCBY, Red Mango is self-serve yogurt with tons of toppings to choose from.  The thing I love about Red Mango is the yogurt is all natural, low-fat frozen yogurt with probiotics to help support a healthy immune system.  So as you stay up all night studying for finals, a yummy cup of yogurt and fruit can help, atleast a little.   With flavors ranging from dark chocolate to vanilla and pomegranate, there's always a new selection.  The toppings are great too, from fresh fruit to granola or chocolate chips for your sweet tooth.  Whether you choose to make just a cup or a parfait, Red Mango can be a healthy snack or even an alternative to a light lunch.  Red Mango also has other menu items, like smoothies and teas, that are delicious options as well.  The good thing about Red Mango is the price - 45 cents an ounce!  So, you can choose how much you'd like based on the budget you have.

     I hope you enjoy these places as much as I do, they are delicious and don't put you in food coma at the end of the meal.  Hope you have a great end of the semester, happy eating!

So little time, so much exercise to do!

Hey guys! As we enter the last month of the semester before summer, you want to have that bikini body but are swamped with projects, papers and exams. It's really important to not get caught up in a sleep, eat, study, work cycle - with study/work being replaced by projects, class, papers - to your own schedule, but make sure you put exercise in there. Not only does it help get your body in shape, but also exercises your mind with a break from the books.

When I say workout, it doesn't necessarily mean spending an hour in the gym, sweating on the treadmill and do crunches. Go for a half hour jog, jump rope, or even go to the stadium to run. When I need to get my mind clear, a nice run in Ben Hill, using the bleachers, ramps and stairs, gets your heart pumping with no weights needed. For that half hour or hour, your pulled into the energy that is always in The Swamp and you can almost feel the excitement of a saturday night football game.

But, if you don't have that time to spare or running isn't your thing, here's a quick video of basic strength training exercises you can do in your room in about 10 minutes. She goes through one circuit, but as you advance in your workouts, try to do 3 or 4 circuits each time. And just because your in your room, don't take it easy...blast the music and PUSH YOURSELF!

Put down the books! Take 15 minutes to let your brain stop burning while your muscles do!

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