Off-Campus Dining: The Saintly and the Sinful 

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Chances are, your parents deserve much of the credit for keeping you fed, watered and clothed to date. Now, as a college student, that's all up to you. It may finally be time for that Call of Duty tattoo you always wanted. Or not.

Yep, you've got some choices to make. We scoured the city to help you find satisfying but good-for-you options that will keep your body running in tip-top shape.

Those virtuous recommendations are paired with more devilish ones — for when you're battling a hangover, for example, or in the mood to celebrate your independence. Such indulgences have consequences, but don't worry; we've got that covered, too. Find a guide to area health clubs here.

Tacos

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• Courtesy Of El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina
• Camote tacos

Saintly: Camote tacos

El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina

There's not much to complicate this most pristine of tacos — just organic sweet potatoes, braised kale, pumpkin seeds and tons of flavor. Guajillo salsa lends a hint of heat to the roasted sweet spuds. Don't want to eat more kale? Try the smoked quinoa taco with corn salsa instead.

Sinful: Pork taco

Dolce VT

Pickled veggies, avocado, cucumber and cilantro: Sounds kind of light, right? But pile on sriracha, basil aioli and hoisin sauce with a base of crispy fried pork, and you've got a serious lunch that hits every flavor note. Get ready for spicy, sweet, fatty goodness.

Burgers

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• Alice Levitt
• Wagyu burger

Saintly: Hemp seed, whole grain burger

Juniper

Think veggie burgers are boring? Even bloodthirsty carnivores will devour this delicious burger made from irresistibly spiced grains. The patty is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Radishes and radish sprouts contribute satisfying crunch, while carrot ketchup adds flavor and dyes the soft roll bright orange.

Sinful: Wagyu burger

E.B. Strong's Prime Steakhouse

You might wonder if this burger ate another burger to earn its price tag. But for a whopping $16, you get pure, beefy pleasure. Local cheddar, fried pickles and bacon aioli dress an ultra-juicy Wagyu beef patty with truffle fries on the side. Bring a buddy to share, and it'll cost you half as much.

Sandwich

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• Matthew Thorsen
• Banh mi

Saintly: Banh mi

99 Asian Market Eatery

Got $3.99? You can afford a filling, balanced lunch at this Asian market. Your crispy baguette is filled with cilantro, pickled veggies, chiles and a choice of beef, pork loaf or tofu. Take it to go with a jelly-speckled smoothie or settle down at a table for some mealtime viewing of Vietnamese TV.

Sinful: The Bad Idea

Guild Fine Meats

The cheeky name is false advertising. Tangy, homemade breakfast sausage, Vermont cheddar and an over-easy egg all piled on a fluffy house maple doughnut is a very good idea, indeed. And it's small enough that you won't feel like a hog after eating one. Unless, of course, you follow it up with a slice of Guild's perfect chocolate-stout cake.

Pizza

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• Matthew Thorsen
• Eggs Benedict flatbread

Saintly: Brussels sprouts pizza

Pizzeria Verità

OK, there's no such thing as a truly healthy pizza, but Mom always told you to eat your Brussels sprouts, right? You won't mind getting some incidental vitamins when the crisp veggie leaves are mixed with Italian bacon and homemade mozzarella on a classic Neapolitan crust. A $16 pie feeds two.

Sinful: Eggs Benedict Flatbread

American Flatbread Burlington Hearth

There's no question: You will need a nap after eating breakfast in pizza form. But it's only available at weekend brunch, so why not? The over-medium eggs and tangy Hollandaise are just what we look for in a great Benedict. The bonus tomatoes, herbs and capicola come from local sources.

Asian

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• Alice Levitt
• Grab-and-go at Bento

Saintly: Sushi

Bento

Looking for great grab-and-go sushi? At Bento, the fish and vegetables are admirably fresh; the rice is sweet, fluffy and perfectly cooked. Veggie rolls are $3, while a spicy salmon-avocado roll tops out at $6. Not in the mood to go raw? Try a bento box filled with varied Japanese salads, a heaping helping of rice and your choice of protein, from teriyaki and tsukune to hamachi collar.

Sinful: Dim sum

A Single Pebble

Why waste calories on General Tso's chicken when you can taste the rainbow via tons of small plates? Here servers make their way through the room with delicious treats as soon as each emerges from the kitchen. Fluffy buns filled with pork? Why, thank you. Stop whenever you're full — each costs a few dollars. We bet you'll keep going.

Sweet Treat

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• Matthew Thorsen
• Cinnamon bun

Saintly: Mint chip smoothie

Eco Bean + Juice

Picture the best mint-chocolate-chip shake you've ever had. Now imagine it with made with all-natural ingredients. Not as good, right? Wrong! This healthy smoothie will satisfy your sweet tooth with a base of mint — you won't taste the spinach — mixed with banana, raw honey and almond milk. The chips are tiny pieces of cacao — chocolate in its purest form.

Sinful: Cinnamon bun

Maglianero

Maglianero is no Starbucks. The high-quality, ethical roasts are reason enough to love this hipster haven. But even if you skip the caffeine, you'll want to glory in the sugar high of the cinnamon bun sold at the counter. Made by Little Sweets, of fine dining restaurant Hen of the Wood, this is everything that you love about Cinnabon, multiplied a billion times. You can also find Little Sweets pastries at Hotel Vermont and the Courtyard Marriott.

Food Truck

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• Alice Levitt
• The Hindquarter

Saintly: Asian noodle bowl

Lazy Farmer

The name says it all. When chef Chris Simard doesn't use ingredients he grows himself, they come from local farmer friends. You'll taste every bit of freshness in this noodle dish. Made with slippery mung bean noodles, it's even Paleo Diet-friendly. Simard cooks up your choice of marinated local protein and serves it with noodles in a tangy fish sauce accompanied by a salad of tiny tomatoes and herbs.

Sinful: Crispy duck sandwich with ham and cheese croquettes

The Hindquarter

How do you make duck even fattier — read: more delicious? Fry it up! While chef Luke Stone has been known to stretch his legs with upscale fare such as Indian-spiced monkfish with pickled cauliflower and mushrooms, beluga lentils and cucumber raita, most of the sammies on his food truck are gratifyingly unhealthy. No duck? No problem. Try the house-cured pastrami, banh mi or any of Stone's other from-scratch delicacies.