Healthy or greasy? Salad or pasta? Burgers or pizza?

All of these options are available with the on-campus, student dining possibilities.

Both the Memorial and Park Student Unions offer a wide variety of food for the palate of all.

The question, however, is whether the options are healthy - and whether University of Arizona students care.

"I just give up on healthy options when I eat here (at the Memorial Student Union)," said GG Banville, a studio art junior. She said there are many salad bars, but the low-fat dressings are not tasty.

Banville expressed a common problem, said Dan Adams, director of the Memorial Student Union.

"When you truly offer something that's 'vegetarian' or 'healthy,' people find that it's bland or drier than they really like," Adams said.

"Eating healthy isn't a concern for me," said Doug Ottley, a psychology senior.

However, others are concerned about healthy options in on-campus dining and have found what they are looking for.

"(The Sidewalk Deli) seems cleaner than the other restaurants," said Shay Nielson, a media arts sophomore. "It's fresher, and it has more variety."

Leni Grenblatt, a fine arts junior, agreed with Nielson.

"You can choose exactly what you want," Grenblatt added.

The Sidewalk Deli is located on the first floor of the Memorial Student Union and offers a variety of sandwiches, salads and fresh fruit.

"The Deli has homemade, preservative-free bread, chicken and tuna salads, meatless and cheeseless salads, the list goes on," Adams said.

Customers at the Sidewalk Deli choose what bread, condiments, meats, vegetables and cheeses they want on their sandwiches. Then they can watch it being made before their eyes.

"Each of the locations are trying to offer a variety so that every person's dietary needs are accommodated," Adams said.

Lindsay Stollar, a studio art freshman, said that she was pleasantly surprised by the variety of food available.

"I'm a vegetarian, and I haven't had a problem finding food," Stollar said.

While Stollar has had a positive experience with on-campus dining, others have not.

"I will eat breakfast here (Memorial Student Union), but there's no way I would eat lunch or dinner, unless it's the last place on Earth and I'm starving," said Andrew Lucca, management and information systems junior.

"I generally eat where I can find a seat," said Rick Keller, a mechanical engineering senior.

"But today, I got one of Louie's rubber chicken sandwiches," he said with a smile.

Many of the students interviewed felt that Louie's Lower Level in the Memorial Student Union was not the healthiest place to eat.

"There's basically just fried food and salad here," said Brett Dodds, undeclared sophomore. "I wish there was more healthy food. I usually go to the Fiddlee Fig or Park Student Union because they have better food."

The Fiddlee Fig Eatery offers a grill, salad bar, fresh fruit and build-your-own sandwich bar for customers who want more personalized food.

Though the perception of Louie's Lower Level is one of greasy food, perhaps because of the large grills that greet the consumer at the entrance, Adams said that effort is being made to provide healthy options at Louie's Lower Level.

"They always make sure to have a cream-based soup and a clear soup, and the pastas have several different sauces, alfredo, marinara, and meat," Adams said.

Park Student Union Production Supervisor Denise Binkley said they are still working on remodeling the Union and they hope that everyone is enjoying the changes so far.

"The food is basically staying the same," Binkley said.

"We have 'It's Italian' for pastas and sauces, the 'Country Corner' for the well-rounded meal, and the 'Sausage Deli' has the healthy sandwiches," Binkley said.

There are several other eating options at the Park Student Union, which is expecting to continue remodeling.

Binkley said about 1,300 people eat at the Park Student Union every day and that the average meal is between $2 and $5.

"We're trying to have all kinds of variations and options available, but many times it's not an either-or situation, you have to have a multitude available," Adams said.

Binkley said the Park Student Union is also working on a pamphlet that will list the calorie content and ingredients of many of the union's choices.

Adams said many students do not take advantage of options such as the Union Club and Redington Room restaurants in the Memorial Student Union. Both restaurants feature vegetarian entr­es and accept All Aboard.

The sit-down restaurants offer a wide-variety of choices for a slightly higher price, because of the serving staff, Adams said.

The Student Unions' food services are continually assessed in the areas of performance and cleanliness. The Fiddlee Fig Eatery received a perfect score from the Pima County Health Department during its last inspection.

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