Greenery Kitchen is health-nut heaven

   Calling all vegetarians, vegans and health nuts: If you're looking for a fresh and tasty place to eat with options that can fit any budget, The Greenery Natural Kitchen is your place. Considering I am none of those and still enjoy it, it could be anyone's place. 

   Take a quick drive from campus to the Tuskatella Shopping center for a menu filled with a little bit of everything, all for less than $8 each. While the vegan burger, vegetarian lasagna and tofu salad all sounded impeccably tasty to this meat lover, I chose the black bean burrito special for $6.49 with a side of chips and salsa. 

   The burrito included black beans, kidney beans, brown rice, salsa and cheese on a wheat tortilla in one of the best balances I've ever tasted for a burrito. My brain was telling me I was eating a healthy vegetarian burrito, but my stomach was telling me to eat more. It had just the right amount of spice and flavor and it didn't make me too full to walk out or unsatisfied and still hungry. 

   The chips didn't impress me, however. Next time, I'll go for the side small green salad or cup of soup instead. 

   As for the ambiance, unless you enjoy lunch or dinner accompanied in silence with a background of classical music surrounded by old drink refrigerators, fake plants and a plethora of floral-printed tablecloths and chair cushions, I would suggest ordering out. Or simply pick up a quick snack or drink from the healthy options of fresh muffins, Nature Valley granola bars and more selections of tea than I have seen in my lifetime. 

   The Greenery Natural Kitchen also offers the choice of mixing vegetable protein powder, multi-vitamin powder, amino acids, flax seed oil or ginseng powder into an assortment of drinks and smoothies for an additional 75 cents. It has fresh carrot juice for the healthy types and an apple juice, honey, cinnamon and banana blend for those of us with more of a sweet tooth. 

   One disclaimer: the date shake is not something you get for your date when taking her out for an after-dinner healthy snack. For you daring health-loving tasters, it includes exactly what it says: dates blended with low fat milk and coconut sherbet for $4.29.

   The Greenery Natural Kitchen caters not only to tofu and hummus lovers but also everyone who desires a convenient way to eat healthy, cheap and tasty food. Next time you're headed to Del Taco, walk a few more yards and give this place a try.