By Jiana Manglicmot
Tacker’s has introduced salads to its menu, much to the excitement of students seeking healthier dining options.
Many students had grown tired of the limited options of fresh produce on campus.
“In the fall, I was kind of disappointed that there weren’t many salad options,” said sophomore Anna Johnson. “I’m an architecture student. I’m so busy and it’s hard to go to the Caf and stand in line when I only have 15 minutes to grab food and get back to the studio.”
Tacker’s General Manager Misty Degroat noticed a need for healthier menu items. “I would poll students when they came up to the counter and ask them if they would order [a] salad if we offered it,” said Degroat. “A lot of people said yes.”
Tacker’s Assistant Manager and Junior Zoie Preller echoed this sentiment.
“I think introducing salad to our menu was a really good idea,” Preller said. “As a student, it doesn’t really feel like there’s a lot of healthy options. Most things are deep fried, and when you don’t have a meal plan or access to the Caf, it’s hard to find food that isn’t overly processed.”
Degroat said they used fresh ingredients.
“It’s all fresh and housemade,” Degroat said. “I chop and slice our tomatoes and onions and our chicken is cooked fresh every single day.”
Tacker’s also offers several dressing options, all of which are housemade.
”I housemake the ranch, the Waverly sauce, and the honey mustard, which is new this semester,” Degroat said.
The menu features two salad options: the Waverly and the Garden Salad.
“The Waverly salad has a base of the spring mix, smoked chicken — which is sautéed with red onions and some brown sugar — and all the fixings: Waverly sauce, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, and bacon,” Preller said. “You can get fried, grilled, or smoked chicken on the Garden Salad and then whatever toppings you’d like.”
The new salad offerings have already gained popularity among many students. With these options being available for purchase with card, DCB, and meal exchanges, healthier choices have been made more accessible to the student body.
