"Every little bit we do contributes to not just our bodies, but the planet that we all share as well," said Live Alive Cafe CEO Bryan Timko. Live Alive is one of the many businesses around BU's campus that promote sustainable city-life.

Whether looking for a full meal or just a snack, businesspeople, college students and tourists alike flock to brightly-colored vehicles offering nearly every kind of food, from Vietnamese to Mexican to...