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The Freshman 15: Fifteen Things To Eat Around Campus

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The Freshman 15. With such wonderful food and drinks around campus, it’s kind of hard to avoid. Don’t think so? Well, join me as I talk about fifteen things you should eat and drink around campus to celebrate day 15 of orientation!

1. Adriatico’s Pizza

The thought of missing pizza will never cross your mind as long as we have Adriatico’s Pizza. This is some of the best pizza around, so be sure to check it out on Neil and 11th Avenue!

2. Noodles and Co.

What could be better than having a bowl of penne rosa for dinner with your friends to end a long week? Having that same bowl of penne rosa at Noodles & Co! They have a wide variety of noodles available AND they even let you know how many calories are in each dish; the hike to Lane Avenue and High Street will definitely be worth it!

3. Curritos

A recently new addition to High Street, Curritos makes burritos and burrito bowls to mimic the different tastes around the world such as Bangkok, Buffalo, and (my personal favorite) Tikka. It’s like making a trip around the world in your mouth without leaving your seat!

4. Chipotle Mexican Grill

Want to stick with that classic burrito you love and cherish so much? Well, no worries! Chipotle is located on High Street right across from the Ohio Union. If you aren’t a big fan of their tortilla chips but still want something crunchy, ask for taco shells instead and they’ll give it to you – free of charge!

5. Panera Bread

If you’re in the mood for a gourmet breakfast or something other than cereal every morning, try Panera! They have wonderful bagels, muffins and scones that will satisfy the morning appetite! Top it off with a cup of their hot chocolate and that’s what I call a great start to the day! We have double the goodness here at Ohio State with two Panera locations: one on High Street and one on Lane Avenue.

6. Brenen’s Café

Brenen’s is a great place to go to grab a snack between classes, especially for those of you who will be spending a great amount of time on South Campus. Don’t forget to order their fruit smoothie with frozen yogurt and whipped cream (you won’t regret it)!

 

Let’s be real for a minute – off-campus food can be expensive! But we have just as much good food on campus (which you can purchase using Campus Dining meal blocks):

7. Union Market

Go to the Union Market located inside the Ohio Union to get a quick lunch ranging from burgers to paninis to sushi as you head over to your next class!

8. Sloopy’s Diner

Also in the Ohio Union, Sloopy’s is a great place to sit down with friends for any meal of the day! Catering to vegetarian and gluten-free needs, Sloopy’s is bound to be a first choice for many students.

9. RPAC

Can’t get yourself to work out? That’s okay, you can still go to the Courtside Café inside the RPAC every day to try their mouth watering smoothies! They also have great lunch items including cheese tortellini (my personal favorite) and fruit and vegetable cups for those health-conscious students.

10. Berry Café

Berry Café, located on the ground floor of the Thompson Library, is the best place to get a snack while you study (or that morning coffee that’s a necessity for some of us!).

 

Now let’s review some drink choices you should explore:

11. The Ohio Union Mocha (hot or cold)

Served at the Espress-OH in the Ohio Union, the Ohio Union Mocha is one of those drinks that can keep you up and running for those long days as well as help you relax on a Friday night!

12. Starbucks

Those of you who need our coffee in the morning but can’t do with anything but Starbucks, you’re in luck! Starbucks in located right across the Union on High Street and caters to many Ohio State students on a daily basis. There are also branches around campus in the RPAC and in the basement of the McPherson Lab.

13. Fruit Smoothies

In my opinion, all the fruit smoothies on campus are delicious with the most street credibility going to those served at the RPAC, Brenen’s and the Berry Café. Check them all out to find your favorite!

14. Frozen Hot Chocolate

This chocolatey goodness is a must-have for every student at some point during their Ohio State career. For me, that would be every week! Make sure to request whipped cream and chocolate topping to get the most of this experience.

15. Apple/Orange Juice

We all love those espressos, frappuccinos and mochas, but at the end of the day, fruit juice is a healthy alternative! Find your favorite flavor: apple, orange, mixed berry or something else at any of our cafés on campus.

Check in with us again on Monday (orientation day 16) as Cameron Rankin shares sixteen birthday gifts you can find around campus! 

Go for Gold!

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So we’re about a week into the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and the USA team is working to bring home the gold.

Typically, we assume a gold medal for Olympic athletes is the highest achievable mark.
But what about us regular folk?

Are we running?!

We can strive for goals too!
Our goals may not be able to win gold for the USA at the next Olympics, but we can always strive to live a healthy lifestyle much like our Olympic team! Maybe you can even make “gold medals” in your life, like ultimate goals of choosing a healthy lifestyle. In your pursuit for a “gold medal” in your life, here are some handy tips you can do:

Set Small Goals For Yourself
It’s easy to get caught up in the ultimate goal, but having short and small goals are great too! Small and short goals are easier to achieve. They also make you feel better about yourself as you progress to the ultimate goal.

It may seem silly, but you can keep a journal of your goals, small and large. Refer to this journal whenever you need a little extra “push” or even to mark off a goal that you’ve achieved! The biggest part of starting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is constant commitment to yourself.

Utilize your Recreation Fee
Your recreation fee goes a long way, and there are many different opportunities you can take advantage of with it.

We all know about our RPAC and all its glory, but there are more fitness opportunities beyond just the equipment in the RPAC! There are two gyms on north and south campus: Jesse Owens North and Jesse Owens South. Both gyms provide cardio-based equipment, as well as weight training equipment.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can check out the Adventure Recreation Center (ARC)! Here you can climb on their indoor rock climbing facilities, or you can check out the outdoor opportunities that the Outdoor Adventure Center.

Connected to the RPAC is the Aquatic Center. Here you can take a dip in the leisure pool, swim some laps in the lap pool, or even chill out in the sauna (see what I did there?!).

Another great opportunity that your recreation fee accounts for are FREE Group Fitness classes. Not only is a Group Fitness class a great way to improve your health, it can also lead to building connections with others that have the same interests!

Your recreation fee is used for many different facilities and programs around Ohio State. With a little research, you can find something that fits your desires and goals!

Make Healthy Nutritional Choices
A proper diet is a great step in the right direction for a healthy lifestyle! Ohio State provide plenty of opportunities to research and discover nutritional value of their dining services. The Student Wellness Center, located in the RPAC, offers free nutritional counseling as well. At a larger level, you can choose to utilize MyPlate.Gov to make healthy eating choices outside of Ohio State’s dining services.

Find a Friend to Workout With You
In a crazy, fast-paced lifestyle that we live in college, it’s hard to keep up with a fitness program. In the same sense, it can also be hard to keep up with your relationships with friends. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Ask one or two of your close friends to be your “work out partner.” Friends are always a great way to keep you on track and motivated to keep up with your fitness goals. You both can hang out and spend time together while improving your health!

Let’s hope you don’t have any friends like Terry Crews though…

Find Fun Alternatives

Not every fitness work out has to be in a gym! There are plenty of fitness opportunities that are off the treadmill and out of the weight room. When the weather improves, running outside may be an option. You  might say, “But Levi, it’s far too cold, and there is too much snow on the ground to go outside.” Ah yes, you can even work out from the comfort of your room! There are programs, like P90X and Insanity, that are focused on fitness from your own room! Apps for your smart phone have been created for health & wellness (7 Minute Workout).

But don’t limit yourself to just working out or running. Find a group of friends, and go out and play some sort of sport! In the winter, you can play basketball, racquetball, or even take a swim in the Aquatic Center. When the weather warms up, head out to the Oval to throw a Frisbee around. You could even head over to the Lincoln Turf Fields and play soccer or football!

So what do you say? Are you ready to “Go for Gold” in your life? Take these tips and head out on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. And hey, you may even start feeling like an Olympian in your life!

Do you like eggs? Because it’s time to Scramble. Scarlet Scramble, that is!

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I know SO MUCH about Ohio State!

I LOVE free stuff!

I have SO MANY (read: at least 5) friends who are first years!

If you have had any of those thoughts (and let’s face it, you know you have had all of them), you probably have also thought,

“I really wish Ohio State had an event where I could win prizes by exploring campus and the city of Columbus in a competition with my friends!”

Guess what?!?

THERE IS!!!! And it’s sponsored by First Year Experience. I’ll give you a minute to contain your excitement.

The Scarlet Scramble is a 24-hour challenge that take teams all around campus and the city of Columbus. The teams will have to compete in:

Head-to-Head Challenges

Maybe it’s a feat of physical strength, like a tug-of-war. Maybe it’s a feat of mental strength, like eating 3 Sloopy’s pancakes. Either way, you’ll stare your enemy (ahem, other Scarlet Scramble teams) right in the eyes for these challenges.

Trivia Questions

Quick, how many All-American Ohio State football players have there been? What’s the address of this building? Earn valuable points by answering questions like these.

Photo Clues

Know where the Hippie Brutus is? Can you find a member of the Ohio State Police Department who will pose with you in an O-H-I-O photo? Plaster on that smile and get ready to take some memorable and creative photos to earn points during the Scramble.

“But what about sleeeeeeeeep?”

Well, first of all, watch this clip and replace “water” with “sleep“.

The Scarlet Scramble takes place from 6 p.m. on March 28th until 6 p.m. on March 29th, but don’t worry! No clues will be handed out between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time for your beauty sleep.

“Whoa. That sounds seriously cool! How do I get involved?”

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED, FAITHFUL BLOG READER! You do it in TWO easy steps:

1. Craft a team.

Not assemble, not find, not scrape together. A well-crafted team will balance speed, dexterity, acumen, and panache, much like the 1996 Bulls. Only two requirements:

  • 5-10 people can be on each team
  • At least 5 members of the team must be first-year students

2. Register your team online using the access code scramble14.

The registration fee is only $50. Now, I’m not a math major, but…

$50/10 team members = $5

If you’re having trouble understanding what this means, it’s only $5 per participant!

This is also when you put your team name in, so come up with a good one! If you need help, check this link out.

AND THAT’S IT! Two easy steps to 24 hours of fun. Registration begins now through March 7th and is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, please visit the Scarlet Scramble page on the FYE website or contact me at felty.7@osu.edu!

Can’t wait to see you all on the 28th!