Since I started working in Pearl River County, I have found it very difficult to eat healthy. It seems that the majority of the dishes in the south contain fried food. Don’t get me wrong, I love fried food: fried chicken, chicken fried steak, fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried catfish—all of it tastes great.

I’ve been able to try out a number of foods that I haven’t had before, like fried crawfish with pasta, crawfish etouffee, seafood gumbo, po’ boys and fried alligator. I really have enjoyed broadening my palate and being able to try the cuisine of the area, but it’s not something I can eat everyday and stay healthy.

So far, I have not been able to find a go-to spot where I can get something healthy, easy and fast.

In the northeast, where I moved from, there were a number of sandwich places with lettuce wrap options and a slew of salad places on seemingly ever corner. I don’t particularly like salads, but I eat them during the week to combat all the fried food, burgers, milkshakes and ice cream I put into my body on the weekends.

So for lunch I find myself getting a po’boy almost everyday during the workweek. The only places I’ve discovered around here that are not sit-down restaurants and serve salads are fast food establishments and the local grocery stores, but I kind of feel like when I go to a fast food establishment, the only real thing to get is a burger and fries.

I’ve only been in this area for a couple months so I know I haven’t exhausted all of the eating options in the area, but I am looking forward to finding a spot where I can get something that’s better for my long term health.