Grabbing a bite

You don’t have much time. You race from one class to the next, and, let’s be honest, most of the time those classes are blocks apart from each other on the PSU campus. Who has the time to grab a bite?

You do—that is, if you snack smart. Right in the middle of the PSU campus within the Smith Memorial Student Union is the University Market, where one can not only pick up a scantron, PSU T-shirt or notebook, but also an array of snack-centered nourishment that fits easily in the palm of your hand. But when you’re on the move, dodging other students, you have to think quick and act fast. Have a plan and stick to it. Before you go, take a tour through the student store and weigh your various options.

Energy bars

The quick and easy choice is the energy bar, of which the market has plenty that are located right smack in the middle of the store. Cliff bars come in a variety of flavors and are located next to the Powerbars, which also offers plenty of choices.

The cheapest choice, coming in at under a buck, is the Tiger’s Milk bar, which may lay more in the candy genre as its first three ingredients are high fructose corn syrup, peanut butter, and more corn syrup—sugary goodness that might have you crashing in the middle of your next class.

If you’re on your way to a P.E. class, you can dose yourself with a Protein Bar carrying 30 grams of the stuff. Anyone who has taken the abs and lower body class can testify—you will need every gram.

Nutrigrain bars are always a favorite to many, but will most likely take two or three to fill you up and they are more of a compliment to something else to eat.

My rule with energy bars is the heavier they feel in your hand, the heavier they will feel in your belly. Either way, you will fulfill a few hundred calories’ worth of your recommended daily intake.

Chips and snack bags

Munchies—they’re not just for stoners anymore. In a stroke of genius, Frito Lay decided to throw a mixture of their various product lines into one salty, MSG-filled bag of tasty goodness. For about $3, you can munch through class and come out with a page of notes filled with as much greasy cheese-lined fingerprints as there are words—totally worth it dude!

This year, the market has finally stocked up on the old student favorite—Combos. Combos are like doggy treats for humans and can sometimes be confused with one another. Professors should use them to reward students for answering correctly in class. And who can resist Gardetto’s? Since 1931, Gardetto’s have followed the Gardetto family’s favorite mix of spices (including a ton of MSG, mother’s favorite) combined with various breads.

Refrigerated delights

The University Market has carried products from the Saigon Kitchen for some time now, and they are the most delicious and filling options in the store. It will run you around $5, but will be worth it whether it be a chicken/tofu salad roll or curry chicken/tofu over rice. So good and so healthy.

Sandwiches are always a good choice—they come in a ready-to-go package—but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a vegetarian or vegan option.

This year, the market has introduced a new line of wraps and more from Sweet Lemon. Now, everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but as far as I can tell, this new product line is one to be wary of. I tried only one dish, a vegan wrap of some sort, and couldn’t finish it. I checked the ingredients and found “soy ham” on the list that did not taste anything at all like ham. To each their own—give them a try if you must, but according to my taste buds, as well as those of two Vanguard co-workers—one of whom couldn’t bear to swallow—be cautious.

The Higher Taste displays a line of burritos behind the glass and I have yet to find one that isn’t worth the price, which is around $4.

Of course, there are also the healthy choices

Perhaps the best thing you can grab is the fruit offered for a mere buck at the front of the store—cheap, healthy and worth it. Your body will thank you. There are also selections of boiled eggs in the refrigerators, along with boxes of vegetables. Their boiled eggs were 65 cents last time I checked and you can pick up a box of veggies for around $3.