Unless you’re a student at the new Batarjee Medical College or spend your days on the coast of Obhur’s beaches you may not yet have come across Lite Bite.

However if you happen to be passing by it certainly wouldn’t hurt you to drop in. Lite Bite is located almost right next door to the new college in a shopping complex which includes Al Forn, Avocado and Lolita Cafe.

This stylish snack bar offer a selection of healthy sandwiches, wraps, salads, fresh fruit juices and smoothies. While modern white bar stools and a lime green furniture really sets the place apart from its neighbors.

This place is ideal if you’re watching your weight as ‘low fat’ and ‘low calorie’ items are individually marked making them easy to identify on the menu. That being said there wasn’t a French fry or wedge in sight, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble choosing something that’s good for you.

Fresh Juices come under creative names such as the Flu Fighter Cocktail, (no excuse now for those students to miss classes!), Apple Chiller, among others.

We went for the mango low fat smoothie made of low fat milk, fresh mango, and crushed ice. No syrups here! To eat we chose the Greek Berry Fusion Salad, made of mixed greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. A healthy indulgence, although if you’re a serious calorie counter Lite Bite would probably recommend the Rocca Balsamic Salad which is under 316 calories.

Even lighter options are available such as fruit salads, yogurt muesli and smaller side salads. We also tried the chicken and pesto baguette which was surprisingly good. Real chunks of marinated chicken covered in fresh basil pesto, the bread here was soft and doughy unlike the dry or fluffy offerings elsewhere in town.

Gourmet sweets are also available that include carrot cake, raspberry cheesecake, and Mehallabiah. We were also received a small chocolate chip cookie which apparently is free with every salad or sandwich. Nice touch, although perhaps not fitting with the diet plan.

This is a perfect spot to drop into if you’re on your way to the beach or around Obhur and want to pick up some snacks. Alternatively if it’s too far to venture, give them a ring, they also deliver in Jeddah:

Lite Bite is located in Obhur, at the shops adjacent to Batarjee Medical College.

Jeddah: 02 698 9081 Obhur: 02 656 2262

(Rashed Islam is a food critic who hosts Jeddahfood.com)