El Capitan at Roots

My lunch - El Capitan from Roots

I LOVE Roots, the all-vegan restaurant on Muir College and I have a new favorite menu item since my old favorite, the Grant Grove, was not popular among students last quarter and has been switched out for some new ones.  My new favorite, El Capitan, is a sun-dried tomato Italian Tofurky sausage with sauteed peppers and onions and vegan "mozzarella."  I love the flavor of the tofurky combined with the peppers and onions.

You definitely don't have to be vegan to enjoy the deliciousness that is Roots.  It's also a really nice, serene, and extremely close-by alternative to the nearly always busy Pines restaurant. Check it out and try a vegan meal. Here is Roots menu. 

Are you looking for some vegan/vegetarian info?
Then check out this cool Vegan MyPlate from the Vegetarian Resource Group, which is a vegetarian advocacy group that hails from one of the most awesome places ever: Baltimore. (GO RAVENS!)

Real Deal Today in Roots

Come by Roots restaurant on Muir College (lower level of Stewart Commons below Pines restaurant).  Roots is UC San Diego's first ever vegan restaurant and it's REALLY GOOD!  Come by to say hello to me, ask nutrition questions and have a tasty, vegan meal.  If you think you wouldn't like vegan food, come try it out - you'll be delighted. This food is good, people, whether you're an omnivore or strict vegan.

See you at Roots for lunch!

Pines - Direct Links to Useful Info

Pines restaurant on Muir College has digital boards near the entrance that can provide you with useful information.

For example, from your smartphone, you can use a QR scanner (free app if you don't have one already) to get directly to several different webpages regarding Housing and Dining.

The link in blue on the picture at right is to the Nutrition page. (Hey, that's my page!)

Other helpful links are to Current Events, Important Deadlines, Sustainability and all kinds of Housing info too. Check out the digital boards and definitely check the HDH website for all kinds of info: http://hdh.ucsd.edu/

Are You Checking the Nutrition Info at Pines?

Have you seen the nutrition information on the digital board in Pines restaurant just inside the entrance?

Pictured here: The Pines digital board with Sodium information. The recommendation for daily sodium intake has decreased to 1,500mg per day.


Check it out and let me know what kind of information you would like to see posted on this board.

LiveWell with Vegetarian Gnocchi today at Pines

Today's LiveWell meal at Pines restaurant on Muir College is one of my favorites, the Vegetarian Potato Gnocchi.

I like this dish because it's tasty and filling but also contains veggies like zucchini, cherry tomatoes, spinach and shallots. The recipe also calls for parmesan cheese so the recipe meets vegetarian but not vegan requirements.

If you are vegan and would like to try this dish, please ask to speak with the manager on duty. We can make the dish for you without the parmesan cheese. All other ingredients meet vegan requirements.

How Can You LiveWell Today?

LiveWell meals are offered everyday in Dining Services.

Today's LiveWell options are:

• Latin Pork with Mango Mojo at Pines


• Tuscan Chicken with White Beans at Cafe Ventanas


• Peruvian Pork at Canyon Vista


• Lemongrass Chicken at Canyon Vista and Plaza Cafe

Look for the Nutrition Facts for all LiveWell items posted right by the meal.

Happy Eating!

Happy Earth Week

It's Earth Week and to celebrate, join Dining Services for the following special meals:

• Monday, 4/18 at Pines: Free Range Coq au Vin with organically grown vegetables

• Tuesday, 4/19 at Canyon Vista: Free Range Chicken Florentine, Oven-roasted Acorn Squach filled with sweet and spicy organic lentil stew, Organic Twice-Baked Yukon Gold potatoes, steamed organic vegetables, Dessert: Organic Strawberry Cheesecake

• Tuesday, 4/19 at Foodworx: Quinoa Pilaf with Ratatouille Sauce and Caesar Salad

• Wednesday, 4/20 at Cafe Ventanas: Herb-roasted Free Range Chicken, Eggplant Parmesan, Garlic Sauteed Vegetables and Roasted Potatoes

• Thursday, 4/21 at Plaza Cafe: Organic Vegetarian Eggplant Parmesan and Free Range Chicken Parmesan, Organic Whole Wheat Pasta with marinara sauce, steamed organic vegetables

• Friday, 4/22 at Oceanview Terrace: Organic Tomato Basil Primavera with Organic Pasta, Pizza made with organic ingredients and wheat crust, Dessert: Organic Berry Compote with Organic Whipped Cream

LiveWell everyday with Dining Services Restaurants

Dining Services has 5 full-service restaurants with daily LiveWell meals:

• Canyon Vista (Warren)


• Cafe Ventanas (ERC)


• Oceanview Terrace (Marshall)


• Pines (Muir)


• Plaza Cafe (Revelle)

Every day, there are at least 4 LiveWell options to choose from for a healthy, RD-approved meal.

Today's options are:

• Tuscan Chicken with White Beans at Cafe V


• Vegetarian Gnocchi at Plaza and Canyon Vista


• Bruschetta Baked Chicken at OVT


• Five Spice Chicken Saute at Pines

Come get the Real Deal on Nutrition today at Pines

Come by Pines restaurant on Muir College today during lunch time to get the Real Deal on Nutrition. I'll be at Pines serving the LiveWell meal and answering your questions about nutrition. Pines LiveWell meal today: Curry Chicken with Spicy Indian Dahl, which has 444 calories, 11g fat, 11g fiber, and 49g protein. The fiber comes from the dahl and the protein is from both the chicken and the dahl.

Like soy milk?

Pines restaurant on Muir College has soy milk in the "moo cow" dispensers. The soy milk cost $1.59 for a 16-ounce glass (the regular reusable glasses in Dining Services.) Why do people choose soy milk?

• it's lactose free


• it's vegan


• some people prefer the taste

Let me know what you think - do you want Dining Services to carry soy milk from the moo cow dispensers? Let me know by posting a comment to this blog post or email me at rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu You can also text Pines restaurant using the the Text N Tell program (info posted on the tables in Dining restaurants.)

Love Steamed Rice? Go to Pines!

Pines restaurant on Muir College now offers plain, steamed rice for $0.25 per ounce. You can fill up a big or small bowl (see photo to the right) for whatever portion you would like.

The steamed rice is vegan and a nice side for any meal.

Did you know that rice is the primary food for about 3 billion people worldwide? That's incredible!

Come get the REAL DEAL on Nutrition today at Pines

Come by Pines restaurant today during lunch to get the Real Deal on Nutrition, say hello to your dietitian and grab a healthy meal.

I will be at Pines during lunch serving the LiveWell meal.

Today's LiveWell meal at Pines is the Baked Salmon with Indian Spice Rub: 230 calories, 17g fat, 5g fiber, 14g protein.

LiveWell today in Dining Services

LiveWell meals are healthy, RD-approved meals.

Check out the choices that you have for LiveWell meals TODAY, Feb 7th, 2011:

Tuscan Chicken at Plaza Cafe (Revelle) & Canyon Vista (Warren)

Potato Gnocchi at Pines (Muir)

Salmon w/Indian rub at OVT (Marshall)

Chicken Bruschetta at Cafe V (ERC)

Mmmmm, hummus

Check out today's vegetarian special at Pines restaurant: the hummus plate with pita, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. Ah, the humble chickpea - it's a vegetarian source of protein, fiber and deliciousness.

Come see me today at Pines restaurant!

Come see me at Pines restaurant today during lunch on Muir College.

I will be talking about the REAL DEAL on Nutrition by serving the LiveWell meal.

Come by to say hi, have a healthy meal and relax!

Today's LiveWell meal at Pines is the Chicken Curry with Indian Dahl.

Nutrition Facts:

440 calories

11g fat (0g trans fat)

11g fiber

49g protein

Today At Pines

Today's Vegan Option at Pines is the LiveWell Yaki Soba Noodles.

It's only $5.95 with one side. Vegan, LiveWell, yummy!

Thanksgiving Lunch TODAY in Dining restaurants

I LOVE THANKSGIVING! Please join Dining Services' restaurants today for a Thanksgiving feast, going on now! Here is a preview of what you'll get at Pines & Cafe Ventanas.

Make Your Own Salad Anyday!

Each Dining Services restaurant has a salad bar available every day. The pictures here are the salad bars at Plaza Cafe (Revelle College) and Pines (Muir College.)

The following items on Dining salad bars are ORGANIC: carrots, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, broccoli, cucumbers, olives, romaine lettuce, spinach, spring mix and tomatoes.

There are many ways to make a healthy salad but here are a few tips:

1. Choose many different colors of vegetables

2. Choose oil-based dressings over cream-based dressings OR opt for oil & vinegar

3. Include beans, hard-boiled eggs or sunflower seeds to make your salad more hearty

4. Try salad bars all over campus to keep you from getting bored AND walking to a new location is good exercise!

Steamed Vegetables Every Location, Every Day!

Every Dining Services restaurant serves at least one steamed vegetable side (plain, no butter, no oil) at every lunch and dinner service. The picture above is a great steamed veggie mixture of broccoli, red bell peppers, zucchini, snow peas, carrots and yellow squash at Pines restaurant on Muir College.

LiveWell Gnocchi at Pines restaurant today

Here is the LiveWell meal at Pines restaurant today. It's gnocchi or "potato pasta."

Nutrition Facts:

• 350 calories
• 4.5g fiber
• 10.5g protein
• vegetarian