CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- You often find yourself at Charleston Town Center mall for multiple reasons. Eating can certainly be one of them, if not the prime.

But how to make the best choice from the abundance of tantalizing food may be puzzling. Everything looks, smells and tastes so good, and we want to savor the experience, yet remain within our dietary guidelines.  

There are great restaurants on the ground floor, as well as ever-popular dessert, coffee house, and snack and sandwich locations on each level. Today's concentration is the Picnic Place food court. I refer to it as a buffet waiting to happen.

Surprisingly, most all the vendors have offerings that are nutritionally better for us, while at the same time not being the first location that springs to mind when thinking "healthy."

That is simply because of their extended menu items that have a high-fat, high-calorie reputation. This column will uncover the other foods that can be enjoyed.

I don't address the finite restrictions such as lactose or fiber intolerance, allergies and other subspecialties of diet. Instead, this is a clip-and-save column when going to Town Center, expecting to be hungry, serving to notify that something lighter and more carb friendly is there.

When dining at the Picnic Place, you don't have to settle for a plain salad with fat-free dressing. Your eating adventure can go way beyond that tired duo.  

• Chick-fil-A:  Plain or lettuce-wrapped char-grilled chicken filet; chicken salad sandwich on whole grain bread; chicken wraps; char-grilled and fruit salad; chargrilled chicken garden salad; Southwestern char-grilled salad; small slaw; small fruit cup; chicken salad cup; side salad; breast of chicken; soup; yogurt parfait with or without granola; unsweetened iced tea; diet lemonade and sodas.

• Taco Bell Fresca: "9 tastes under 9 grams of fat," which include crunchy taco; bean burrito; grilled steak soft taco; soft taco; chicken soft taco; burrito supreme chicken; volcano taco (my favorite because it's hot and spicy). I enjoy a side of the beans minus cheese and sauce.

• Sbarro: A slice of thin crust cheese pizza (you can ask for any vegetable to be placed on top for an additional charge); tomato-cucumber salad; Caesar salad; meatballs with sauce; mixed veggie sauté (broccoli, carrots, squash, garlic).

• Hawaiian Grill: Turkey or veggie burger (either no bun or ask for it open-face because buns are generous in size); sautéed mixed vegetables which includes cabbage, "healthy" salad (their terminology) with or without chicken.

• Sakkio Japan: Steamed rice; mixed vegetable stir-fry; small order soba noodles or rice with vegetables.

• China Wok: Side-portion mixed vegetables with vegetable lo mein.

• Subway: Roast turkey, roast chicken, lean ham, roast beef, tuna salad and veggie patty on 9-grain honey oat or 9-grain wheat. Load with fresh sandwich trimmings and light dressing; baked and light chips; 1 percent milk. Their sandwich fillings can be made into a salad.

• Steak Escape: Vegetarian, baked turkey, chicken or lean ham 4-inch junior sub sandwiches on wheat sub buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, mushrooms and peppers, if desired. Clerk assured me they do have wheat as well as white buns, but it isn't noted on the menu. The wraps are not wheat or multigrain. The "killer salad" can be assembled from good ingredients at your direction so that it isn't as lethal as it sounds.

• I've saved the best for last: The Best of Crete, which the menu items certainly are. The Birurakis family has been a mainstay at the mall since the opening in 1983 with their healthful Mediterranean cuisine.

You won't go wrong with any of their savory sandwiches, salads, appetizers and Grecian fare when remembering portions.

Check their menu board for the changing-daily specials.

The only dietary caution I could find might be to hold back on any extra cheeses, dressings or bread.

Let your conscience be your guide as you glide past their tempting pastries. Opa!         

Reach Judy Grigoraci at ...@suddenlink.net