Almost everyday around lunchtime I think to myself, “Wow, I could really go for a Sweetgreen salad right now.” But sadly, there's no Sweetgreen in the Evanston area to satisfy my craving. And trust me, I’ve checked their app to see if they’ll deliver, but Evanston is out of the delivery range. Sweetgreen is a fast-casual restaurant chain that serves salads using local and sustainable ingredients. The food is fresh and delicious, and its fast-casual setup makes picking up a bowl easy and hassle-free. To make things better, each Sweetgreen partners with local artists to design their spaces, making each location have their own cool and unique vibe. Sweetgreen is the perfect addition to Evanston's food scene for both Northwestern students and Evanston residents to enjoy. To further my case, I present four reasons why Evanston needs a Sweetgreen.
1. It's Healthy and Delicious
When I was little, my go-to line whenever someone tried to make me eat a salad was, "No, I'm not eating that. I'm not a rabbit!" But my introduction to Sweetgreen completely changed my mentality, and I now crave salads regularly. Sweetgreen’s warm bowls and salads are filled with fresh ingredients that not only taste delicious but also make you feel good. My personal favorite on the menu is the Guacamole Greens salad for its savory and citrusy flavor. In college, our bodies could use some nurturing, and there's no better way to do so than eating healthy yet delicious food.
2. It's Fast and Easy
College students are always on-the-go. Between classes, clubs and social events, it’s hard to squeeze in a hearty meal. Sweetgreen is so fast and easy that students can order and leave with a bowl in a matter of minutes (unless it’s the lunch rush where lines can get a bit long). Evanston would be the perfect place for a Sweetgreen because there are barely any quick and healthy food options in the area. Picking up a Harvest Bowl in between classes sounds like a dream come true to me.
3. It Fosters Community
According to their website, Sweetgreen strives to make each of their locations a "reflection of the community it’s a part of." The company does this by sourcing their food from local farmers and designing their stores with the help of artists from the area. For example, the newly-opened Wicker Park location showcases artwork from a local painters and graphic designer. Every Sweetgreen has a city-specific menu depending on the produce local farmers are harvesting for the season, and inside each restaurant, there's a chalkboard source list for all customers to see. From families to college students, there is a vibrant community in Evanston for Sweetgreen to engage with.
4. It Has a Great Food Ethos
If the first three reasons weren't convincing enough to bring Sweetgreen to Evanston, here's another! Sweetgreen's website has a whole page dedicated to their food ethos. The company emphasizes scratch cooking, transparency, sustainability, local sourcing and animal welfare in their practices and operations. They also make sure that their food sources stick to those same high standards. Knowing that the people of Evanston are very conscious of where their food comes from, I'm sure they'd appreciate Sweetgreen's food ethos.
There are so many reasons to love Sweetgreen, and I’m confident Evanston will welcome the restaurant chain with open arms. It’s rare to come by a food company that makes healthy, enjoyable food at a quick speed all while supporting local communities and maintaining sustainable practices, but Sweetgreen proves that it does exist. I think the people of Evanston will agree with me when I say, “Sweetgreen, we want you!”