Don't worry about the mystery meat on Tuesday. Or the savory baked tofu. Chances are it's not too bad for you, according to a report recently released by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The Washington-based group ranked Harvard 17th out of 38 collegiate dining services, based on the availability of varied low-fat, cholesterol-free and vegetarian foods at meals.

Harvard drew acclaim for providing pasta and vegetarian burgers daily at dinner, as well as for stocking a salad bar complete with grilled vegetables, fresh fruits and bagels.

"Students required to participate in a meal plan shouldn't be sentenced to unhealthy eating," said Andrew Nicholson the committee's director of preventative medicine. "Developing healthy eating habits in college is a lesson that will last a lifetime."

Harvard also displays cards showing the caloric and fat content of each dish, the study reported, thereby helping students "eat healthy."

The fact that Harvard displays nutritional cards with each meal does not mean students read them, said Joanne K. Lee '98.

"I never eat fat-free foods, but I try to eat salad," Lee said. "I don't really care about those things."

The study, however, took no account of the food's taste. And that's where some students are upset.

In 1995, Robbi L. Miller '97 transferred from the University of Pennsylvania, whose dining service regularly offers tofu, fresh-squeezed orange juice and fat-free salad dressing.

Pennsylvania ranked second. But the food, Miller said, was the pits.

"The food's so bad that students chose to abolish dining hall food on the weekends," she said, noting many students choose to receive only the minimum of five meals each week. "It's so much better here."

Dang H. Nguyen '97, however, was quite critical of Harvard Dining Services.

"I don't think the quality is very good. It's not particularly pleasing," Nguyen said, adding that he thinks the food's quality has declined since last year.

The study was based on information provided between June and September 1996.

Among Ivy League schools, Columbia was fourth, Brown fifth and Dartmouth 21st. Duke University ranked first, and the U.S. Military Academy was last