Buick St. vs City Co.

by Alicia Hamm | Photography by Chika Okoye | Design by Emma Hill

Whether you’re in the mood to cook a meal from scratch, make a sandwich, or microwave a cup of ramen, the on-campus grocery stores can probably make it happen.

When I explored the City Co at Warren Towers and the Buick Street Market, I was surprised to find a wide selection of food. There were fruits and frozen vegetables, packaged meals, snacks, bread, and eggs. The stores also sold kombucha, apple cider vinegar, coconut water, immunity shots, and other items I did not expect to see.

But what about healthy foods?

If you’re shopping with health in mind, an on-campus convenience store may not seem like the place to go. I usually leave campus whenever I want fruit or healthy snacks to keep in my dorm. However, the on- campus stores have a number of nutritious options, including snacks, produce, and even superfoods.

Buick Street:

1. Quinoa Cup with Jalapeno and Roasted Pepper

Another nutritious ancient grain. A source of fiber, protein, and nutrients such as magnesium and iron.

2. Love Beets

Contain almost every vitamin and mineral you need. Anti-inflammatory and a good source of fiber.

3. Dried Organic Papaya

A great way to get vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Only one ingredient and no added sugars.

4. Georgetown Fruit and Nut Mix

A mix of cashews, peanuts, almonds, dried fruit, and chocolate. A snack with fiber, healthy fats, protein, and sweetness.

5. Nativas Organic Chia Seeds

A source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Can be used as a topping, added to smoothies, or even turned into pudding.

City Co:

1. Earthly Choice: Organic Farro

An ancient grain to add variety to what you eat. Also a source of fiber, protein, and vitamins.

2. Cedarlane Foods Frozen Chicken Souvlaki Bowl

A quick and balanced meal that includes chicken, two types of rice, Swiss chard, and olives.

3. Maya Kaimal: Everyday Dal

A dairy-free version of dal makhani, an Indian dish. Includes black lentils, tomatoes, and cumin.

4. Avocados

Nutritious and versatile. A source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, including omega-3 and potassium.

5. Biena Chickpea Snacks

A simple, minimally-processed snack and a potential alternative to potato chips. Offers a lot of protein and fiber.

The healthy options in both stores can add beneficial nutrients to your diet, and it is nice to have a fairly diverse range of healthy foods right on campus. But convenience unfortunately comes with a cost: the food in these stores is a lot more expensive than what you can find off-campus. I came across a cereal brand in City Co and Buick Street Market that was sold for $9.89 per bag, but if I were to venture a mile away from BU, I could buy the same product for $7.99.

Despite the price tags, the on-campus stores are a good choice if you want to buy food quickly, if you don’t feel like leaving campus, or if you have extra convenience or dining points to use up before the end of the year.

The Buick Street Market is located at 10 Buick Street at the bottom of Stu-Vi-1. City Co has locations at Warren Towers, the George Sherman Union, and Sleeper Hall. All of the stores accept convenience and dining points.