As the time has come for those of us who rely on Pierce to reevaluate our choice and decide how much of a meal plan we would like to subject ourselves to next year, one of the newer additions to Washington Street might just offer an alternative.
Not quite sure what to expect from an establishment named Total Nutrition Kitchen (TNK), complete with supplements and protein powder, I went to Washington between Third and Fourth Streets with an open mind. The space is both nothing and everything that I expected. Very open, with a visible kitchen behind the counter taking up about a third of the storefront, TNK offers very little regarding seating. It makes sense, as they primarily rely on grab and go. Three tall grocery store-like fridges hold the meals, and two display cases keep the lighter fare cool.
Their menu is not terribly large, but with nicely portioned breakfast, lunch, and dinner options “prepared in-house daily… balanced for maximum health.” They seem to put thought and effort into the items they do offer.
From the breakfast menu, my partner and I chose chia pudding topped with strawberries, blueberries and toasted almonds. The chia pudding was quite good, with just a hint of sweetness, though it’s not exactly hard to make. For those of you thinking you’re not into the whole bird-food-for-breakfast trend, some of their other items include egg white wraps and protein pancakes.
From the five or so salads offered, we chose the quinoa with flax seed, green beans, craisins, mixed greens, and sesame seeds. You are correct in pointing out that there is no animal protein in that list, but there are packages of 5 oz. pre-sliced chicken and steak in the display to add in. All of the ingredients tasted fresh, the lettuce was not wilted and the green beans were still crisp.
From the wraps, we opted for the steak turbo wrap complete with sliced flank steak, gouda, sriracha aioli, egg white, and greens. The steak was beyond flavorful with a juicy, tender, lightly charred taste which combined quite well with the other ingredients. The wrap was full of protein and rather filling.
I am usually hesitant to try pre-prepared fish, but in this instance, I threw caution to the wind. From the meal options, we selected miso-ginger grilled cod which came with jasmine carrot rice and baby bok choy. One minute in the microwave and I had a well-balanced meal that I could see me making for myself on any given night. Well, perhaps I would have done something a little more than just steaming the bok choy, but regardless, the fish was tender and well-flavored, and the rice and bok choy were neither over nor undercooked. For once, I enjoyed a well-balanced and healthy meal.
Now my lovely readers may be asking why I suggested TNK as an alternative to a Stevens meal plan. That’s simple: TNK offers their own meal plans generally ordered 10 to 15 meals at a time. Easily picked up at the beginning of the week and stored in a fridge, none of the meals were worthy of a Michelin Star, but each one reminded me of something I would get at home when I have actual time to put into my food. While I did not ask for specifics on pricing, the price of each individual meal was comparable to that of a swipe into Pierce or a meal at one of the on-campus locations. I am not saying to skip the Stevens meal plan altogether (after all, those of you who live on campus cannot), all I’m saying is that you have options. Well-balanced, tasty, healthy options.
