Article by: Ashley Maceli

There really is no other feeling like the kind you get when you eat a nice healthy meal. Not only does a good sustainable meal make you feel amazing, but you are doing good for the environment. Here are some recommendations of ecologically friendly food places.

Boloco just may be the best place to find burritos in Boston. With locations on Newbury Street, Harvard Square and Downtown Crossing, just to name a few, it is super easy to get to eco-friendly burrito bliss – and now they even deliver!

This place has something for everyone, whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free (and of course plenty of meat to choose from for those carnivores.) Any burrito lover can find their perfect burrito, or even make it themselves, and then enjoy their meal in a nice bamboo bowl and equally eco-friendly bio-degradable corn cup. Boloco restaurants are made of green materials, including PaperStone table tops and counter tops, LED lighting and low flow spray heads for the faucets. The best part, though, is the fresh ingredients including the naturally-raised chicken, steak and pork that are free of hormones and antibiotics. So rather than heading to McDonald’s for a quick meal in between classes, why not pick up a burrito that is friendly for both the environment and your wallet while having a unbelievably filling meal?

Practically hidden on Newbury Street, The Trident Cafe is located close to Newbury Comics and is a book store as well. Picking up the next Chuck Klosterman book? Why not sit down and enjoy a nice trident signature salad with it? This adorable, tiny, and healthy sit-down cafe provides all day empowering breakfasts as well as delivery and take out for those who would rather relax at home with a book they just purchased. Besides being a super healthy and cute place, the menu is unlike anything most have ever seen, from sweet potato pancakes to vegan cashew chili. Even the drink menu comes with interesting beverages such as the healthy wheatgrass shots or sweet blueberry lemonade. The menu is enough to bring in any adventurous food consumer.

Another great venue is the tiny gem at the end of Newbury Street: The Otherside Cafe. Located right off the Hynes Convention Center stop on the Green Line, this fresh and original vegan/vegetarian restaurant is a little taste of something different that includes amazing meals and a wide range of beers. With delicious wraps, sandwiches, and salads made from organic foods, this is yet another place that makes a person feel great without breaking the bank (unless one is indulging in one of their fruity and super healthy smoothies). It is the ideal place to head to after a show or even when those late night cravings kick in, since it is open untill 1 or 2 a.m., depending on the day. As if that wasn’t enough, the absolute best thing to get here is breakfast. Unfortunately the menu does not follow all day breakfast, but it  is worth it to wake up early on a weekend and get some of The Otherside’s famous french toast made with cinnamon swirl bread, and then add on a side of “vegan” bacon or sausage. Don’t forget a cup of hot coffee to go with it, arguably some of the best coffee in Boston. The Otherside Cafe and enjoy the adorable alternative ambiance while eating some tasty organic foods.

Don’t have the money to go out all the time to have a good meal? Definitely pick up some ingredients at green grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. It is true that some things may be a little expensive, but why not pick up some fruits or a bag of healthy chips once in a while to snack on in the dorms rather than eating junk food?

Suffolk University is truly lucky to be located in the heart of a city that is booming with sustainable restaurants and foods. These amazing places need to be visited and enjoyed, so maybe sometime in the future more restaurants will decide to use organic or even local foods. Right now the best thing to do is support these places and companies, as well as recycle everything we can from the delicious meals enjoyed from these great places.