Loggers love to eat. For the first year or two of our lives in which our parents no longer put food on our plates, we students eat at the school cafeteria. It was a brave new world, the S.U.B.—six different kinds of sandwich meat, breakfast for dinner … the possibilities were practically endless!
Or so we thought. After our seventh day in a row of burritos, we realized we needed to escape. Most of us took solace in Safeway and the Metropolitan Market nearby, but there are many more creative options for sustenance around campus that are healthy and environmentally friendly.
The Metropolitan Market is admittedly a great place to buy healthy, organic produce at an affordable rate. However, an excellent and much less popular source of nourishment for the shrewd Eco-friend is the Tacoma Food Co-op, located on 6th and Junett.
The Co-op, like its many cousins around the country, is vegan-friendly and a safe place for people with gluten intolerance and other allergies to shop for food. The Co-op offers a wide range of organic and natural produce, free-range and organic meats, and basically any health food you could possibly imagine.
Of course it’s a little bit pricey, but for the health-conscious individual, the benefits of eating healthy pay for themselves.
On Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., you can enjoy the Broadway Farmer’s Market at 27th and Proctor. Tacoma farmer’s markets are full of inexpensive, healthy and delicious food options. If you ever cook using vegetables, then farmer’s markets are a must.
All of the fruit and vegetables are fresh and local, everyone is happy and friendly, and in April the sun shines and your visit will make your entire Saturday better, even if you don’t buy anything.
The Broadway Market offers a wide variety of meats, fish and cheeses available from several local vendors, along with excellent prepared food options like vegetarian and vegan soups and desserts.
In addition to its wonderful food offerings, the farmer’s market is a great place to appreciate local culture and engage with local businesses.
If you’re up for a bit of a drive, Marlene’s Market & Deli on 2951 S. 38th St. is a family-owned-and-operated natural food store. In addition to organic and delicious produce, they also sell vegan-friendly beauty products, vitamins and supplements for the true health nut.
Marlene’s is a local business and has been tremendously successful in filling the need for an exemplary natural food store in Tacoma.
One of my favorite places to eat healthy meat is Tatanka Take-Out, on Pearl and Ruston. Tatanka serves buffalo burgers and steak rather than cattle meat, as cattle is not indigenous to the area. Every meat eater should know about buffalo burgers; not only is buffalo delicious, but it’s also much better for you and for the environment.
Because buffalo evolved on the Great Plains, they consume much less food and water and are in general leaner animals than cattle. And the best part about Tatanka is that a good buffalo burger will barely set you back more than any other gourmet burger would.
So go, Logger! Be free from the shackles of the S.U.B., and find healthy and environmentally friendly places in Tacoma to eat. You can always take comfort in the fact that on those days when you’re low on time and energy, or you’re just really craving a chili bread bowl, Dining Services will still be around to take care of you.
