It’s 11:45 pm, you’ve got 2 more pages to write, and a grumbling stomach

Do you choose to fight the hunger, or give in to a salty, plastic packaged, artificially flavored Top Ramen? How about neither. A while ago I said it’s time to stop the routine of milk & cereal for dinner—now it’s time to stop the eating Top Ramen late at night. I’ve found some options to fulfill those late night cravings that are fiber-filled and will leave you more satisfied than after eating a Beef-flavored package of Ramen.

When you are craving…

Sweet

Check out 10o calorie VitaBrownies. They’re a great late-night snack, filled with fiber and yummy vitamins that will leave you in satisfaction rather than regret.

Sugary with a Crunch

A delicious bowl of cereal. Avoiding cereals that are high in sugar will be better to eat prior to sleeping, so go for cereals composed of whole grains such as wheat, oats, corn or rice. Add some low-fat milk to your well-portioned bowl (preferably 1 and a half cups of cereal) and you’ve got yourself a great midnight snack.

Salty

Get yourself a snack sized portion of salted popcorn, adding a tablespoon of parmesan cheese to melt on top. Yum! Fat-free popcorn is best for this late night snack.

Fruity

There are tons of fruit options for late night snacks, the most obvious and easy being an apple. But to spice up the traditional apple, cut it into slices and sprinkle some cinnamon on top. Zap it in the microwave for about a minute and you have yourself a fruity, cinnamon treat.

Pizza

Create your own mini-pizza on an English muffin by spreading tomato sauce on one side, melting grated parmesan cheese and a couple tomato slices on top. This is a lot healthier and cheaper than ordering in a greasy pizza.

A Sandwich

The ultimate snack that always satisfies… Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? During one of those late nights, make half of a sandwich with turkey, whole wheat bread, tomato, lettuce and light mayo, creating a satisfying snack.

All of these options are great for late night snacks because they are high in fiber and vitamins that leave you satisfied and not too full. Keeping portions small is key, and also having the ability to recognize when you are actually hungry and when you just think that you are hungry. Have fun with these suggestions! Do you have any of your own late night craving creations?

*Brownie photo by: Dichohecho, popcorn photo by: D3 San Francisco, apple photo by: EverJean, sandwich photo by: WordRidden

As much as college is about working hard and earning a degree, a lot of it is about the social aspect. For reminiscent, practical or humorous purposes, here is a long list of what some college students do for fun.

1. Frisbee: You will see it happening in any quad. Frisbee golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Good old traditional Frisbee. If you are ever trying to get college students to sign up for a credit card, offer them free Frisbees.
2. Guitar: Everyone and their mom plays guitar these days.
3. Party: The reality of college life, an inevitable verb happening on college campuses.
4. Eat: It’s a social aspect of college. Food is the ultimate bribe tool when trying to get students to come to clubs and meetings.
5. Hacky Sac: A great way to break a little sweat, practice some foot-eye coordination, and not get any studying done.
6. Coffee Date: When two people come together, the outcome is usually a trip to some coffee shop on or near campus. It’s become part of the college culture.
7. Watch movies: It’s what you do when there is nothing else.
8. Watch television/Usually full seasons over the course of a few weeks: It’s what you do when you are addicted.
9. Sleep: A sacred practice that is indulged in quite frequently.
10. Bike ride: A form of transportation when going from class to class or pure adventure.
11. Read: To escape from reality for a bit, getting a glimpse into the lives of others.
12. Facebook stock: What none of us admit we do, but do.
13. Bon Fire: Especially on beaches on Friday nights.
14. Bubble Tea: Another aspect of social college culture. That’s just what we do: Eat, sleep and drink bubble tea. It is the college student’s life mantra.
15. Hang out in the quad: It’s where many events take place. It’s where college happens.
16. Juggle with clubs: I don’t understand this strange phenomena.
17. Listen to music: The ear buds are strategically placed into the ears and the student escapes while walking from class to class. Sometimes this is done to avoid social interaction, other times it is done for the sake of a good craving for some music.
18. Eat Top Ramen: It’s the cheapest staple food that has a decent enough flavor and is semi-fulfilling.
19. Ride Razor Scooters: A trend on few college campuses.
20. Dumpster Dive: For the sake of free and fresh locally made bread, doughnuts, and other delicious things. But you have to know where to go and when to do it.
21. Streak: Will Ferrell set the precedent on this one in Old School.
22. Go to concerts and shows: Because supporting local music is a great thing, and the musicians are our friends.
23. Talk on a personal radio show for a couple of hours: About nothing in particular. It is usually fairly entertaining and introduces some good music.
24. Look at reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: To see which movies are worth seeing, and which are not.
25. Read Twilight: From what I’ve heard the series is emotionally appealing to women in particular.
26. Watch Twilight: From what I’ve seen, the acting is cheesy and over dramatized.
27. Rollerblading: It was big in the 90s, and from what I have seen recently on these sparse sunny days it is making a come back.
28. Catch Phrase: A much loved group game that spurs controversy on who the device was touching when the buzzer went off. A word of advice: Pass before pushing.
29. Banana Grams: Speed Scrabble (basically)!
30. Get tattoos: Because it’s cool, that’s why.
31. Have philosophical debates: Because we enjoy learning and arguing.
32. Have Jam sessions with an array of random musical instruments, only a common key holding the songs together: A great way to meet new people; blow harmonicas and strum guitars together.
33. Skype: It connects us with friends and family that are states away.
34. Procrastinate: While it’s not productive, it is a lot more fun.
35. Stay up until the wee hours of the morning: The cause of dark under eye circles, falling asleep in class, and studying until the test is handed to you.
36. Sleep in incredibly late: Unless you have class, it is justifiable.
37. Spontaneous mini road trips (i.e. the Olympics in Vancouver B.C.): While we are not tied down, we might as well do something against the grain and out of the ordinary.
38. Find new music on Pitchfork/Read reviews: Reading news about a wide array of bands and listening to their brilliance.
39. Watch Lost: The mysterious island’s secrets keep unfolding and it keeps us hooked, always wanting more.
40. Blog: A great way to connect and interact with people.
41. Mario Kart: There’s something so rewarding about crossing that finish line in first place.
42. Red Box: Though the movies are pretty cheesy, they are cheap.
43. Themed parties: MLK Jr. Day, the Olympics, Lady Gaga, etc.
44. Slack lining: Who ever knew balancing could be so fun?
45. Laying in hammocks in trees around campus: Especially on sunny days.
46. Chess: A game of silence, solitude and logic.
47. Photography: Everyone has an SLR these days…
48. Make films: With handy flip cameras it’s easy to make home-made movies.
49. Running: It’s what happens when the pounds from college cafeterias start revolting against us.
50. DTR-ing: Defining the relationship.
51. Playing board games: Another way of socializing with groups of people.
52. Twitter: Updating information about ourselves for the enjoyment of others since 2006.
53. iphoning; ipadding; ipodding: Technology has taken us to new vocabulary on college campuses.
54. Follow other blogs: Staying up to date on what is going on in one’s interests is a great reason to follow blogs.
55. Hiking: To get away from time, and venture the great outdoors.
56. Gain the freshman 15: The fear of many.
57. Lose the freshman 15: The reality of many.
58. Eat at hole-in-the-wall delicious Restaurants: Cheap and large meal portions are a college student’s dear friend.
59. Get Engaged: Have you ever heard the term “ring before spring?”
60. Start a band: You play drums, Johnny plays bass and Joe plays guitar. So why not?
61. Take up a random hobby: such as stamp collecting.
62. Get well acquainted with the metro system: because car insurance is expensive, yet we need to get away from campus and explore.

This week went by too fast. There are too many deadlines coming up! Is that how you feel too? Spring break is almost here though, and for me and many others on the quick quarter schedule that means FINALS. So to get those off our minds, let’s take an adventure downtown. Instead of watching a movie, getting sucked into the artificial realities of Hollywood. There is a time and place for movie nights, but tonight is not one of those nights.

Whether you are in New York City or a Podunk town in Nebraska…

1. Go to an improvisational comedy club. Have you ever scene “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” Stand up comedy is also really great, especially when going with a group of people.
2. Gaming centers are fantastic for the inner-gamer and are a nice compliment to the dinner & date combo.
3. Go to a show at one of your city’s venues. They’re usually cheap, depending on the lineup, they’re fun, and it’s an ideal way to support local musicians.
4. Take a walk and admire window displays and city lights and the rush of taxi cabs and cars along the avenues. I strongly encourage getting lost. It’s the best way to find new places and to have spontaneous adventures.
5. Go to that restaurant that is known for their delectable desserts, even though it’s super fancy. Order some dessert and fries. It’s a GREAT combination.
6. Get lost in the city’s large library.
7. Find a large body of water and skip stones.
8. Go to a museum.
9. Ride bikes through downtown and feel the rush of going downhill.
10. Swing dancing! Salsa dancing! Blues dancing!
11. Play Scrabble with friends at a coffee shop.

Whatever you end up doing today, remember to relax. I hope your Friday is adventurous.

P.S. I am convinced that I will be able to work Scrabble into each of these lists.

Bon Appetite!

It is Friday and with Fridays come good times. Looking forward to the weekend ahead (a three  day weekend, I might add), an adventure in the kitchen could not only be satisfying to your appetite, but quite entertaining. I have some suggestions for your time spent in the kitchen which includes eating, lots of flour, and your favorite pop music of the 90s. Don’t forget to share this with someone special. Particularly someone who also enjoys *NSYNC, the boy band’s first album, self titled, which came out in 1998. Er, I mean someone who also enjoys your favorite pop band.

A Classy Kitchen Experience

• First of all, a good cooking atmosphere requires the right kind of music. Tune your Pandora station to classical music.
• First Course: Butternut Squash soup
• Second Course: Bruschetta with tomato and basil
• Third Course: Caesar Salad
• Preparation for the Fourth Course: As it is cooking, partake in a game of Scrabble, cards, or Ticket to Ride (a great board game)
• Fourth Course: Three Cheese Tortellini with Garlic Green Beans on the side
• Fifth Course: Bake a pie.
• Finish the cooking experience with Julie & Julia. The lives of Julie, a blogging wife living in Queens with a passion for cooking, and Julia Childs, the famous Chef known for her cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” are set side by side in this film when the pressures of cooking test the lives of both Julie and Julia.

A Kid-like Kitchen Experience

• Music: Your favorite greatest and worst pop band of the 90s
• First Course: Top Ramen. So many flavors, so many possibilities.
• Second Course: Muddy Buddies, also known as Puppy Chow
• Third Course: Garden Salad with fish crackers sprinkled on top
• Preparation for the Fourth Course: While waiting for the entree, play a game of Sorry! or Trouble.
• Fourth Course: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with baked French Bread
• Fifth Course: Banana Split
• Sixth Course: Have a flour fight.
• Make the experience complete by watching Ratatouille. The tale of a rat with a desire to become a chef, but struggles through an industry that is rodent-phobic.

A few definitions

1. de-sert [di-zurt] v. – to leave without the intention of returning
2. des-sert [di-zurt] n. – a sugary treat, served as the last course of a meal
   

   

Just so you know, I’m not posting this because the holidays have just ended and it probably wouldn’t hurt for us all to lose a few lbs. I’m posing the question because I too am in a position where dessert is always around in the college cafeteria, and if I had no self-control I would probably have it every day, after every meal. But that probably wouldn’t be the wisest idea. People always wonder how to keep from gaining the freshman fifteen, and this is it people. And maybe we could all benefit from shortening our sweet tooth cravings, by not only heightening our enjoyment every so often when we do have dessert, but also by putting a halt to the gluttonous tendencies we enjoy so much.

Some Alternatives

Here are a few ways that you could cut your dessert intake. Self-control required.

1. Why, fruit of course! The natural sugars in fruit are a surrogate dessert for cakes and ice cream and pies, oh my.
2. Tea. Whether by itself or with sugar and the works. Use your imagination – a vanilla rooibos tea is comparable to a slice of vanilla cake… Like I said, use your imagination.
3. Instead of cutting out sweets all together, maybe constrain yourself to eating dessert only on the weekends, when sugar is used as a medium for social gatherings. You wouldn’t want to miss out on meeting someone new because you’re avoiding sweets, would you?
4. Use sweets as a motivator to accomplish daunting tasks, and not to self medicate. Food, including sweets, are known to have a happy effect or a fulfilling meaning in someone’s life. But that’s actually an unhealthy way to treat food and to treat yourself. When you have a project to finish, use a wonderful piece of Dove Dark Chocolate with Almond to represent the finish line. And during those times when you need a pick-me-up, instead of eating sweets to feel good, read a book or watch a movie with friends instead. Or have an adventure.
5. Eat a bowl of cereal instead. My favorites are Oatmeal Squares and Special K.

Breaking the mold of milk and cereal for dinner

College cafeterias can be quite redundant after a while. Soon it all becomes the same, all of it from the salad bar to the casserole dish that you’ve always been too afraid to try. Though there are plenty of staple items that could be used to create wonderful works of cooking art, you decide to play it safe and go for the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I know this story all too well. But no longer will I lower my eating standards to these satisfactory breakfast foods (and you shouldn’t either)! Here are four helpful hints on turning your traditional college meal into a delectable feast.

Imagine you are Picasso… In the kitchen

1. Go for the greens. We’ve all seen the salad bar. We pass it every day to get to the other entree items. But have you ever noticed the wonders of the salad bar? There is crisp green romaine lettuce, savory dressings and a myriad of things to put on top, from cucumbers to craisins. So turn a boring green salad into a masterpiece, while adding oven roasted chicken to the top and hip bumping Julia Child like you were her best friend.

2. Know all of what is being served. By taking a trip around the cafeteria before grabbing anything, you can get a good idea of what foods, from different areas, might work well together. Mix and match different items to fit the foods you like most.

3. Spice (and sauce) up your life. Combining different sauces and spices to top off your culinary masterpiece is essential. When the flavors of the cafeteria become, or already are, bland they will need an extra kick to keep you from getting bored.

4. Be patient. What I’ve found is that the longer lines have the better food. Don’t settle for the burger and fries when you’re so hungry that you’ll eat anything in sight. Be patient! The gourmet dishes almost always taste better, and are better for you too!

70% of students entering college gain a significant amount of weight.

This alarming statistic, reported in The Journal of American College Health, is enough to make any freshman stress about their weight their first year of college. Is the “freshman fifteen” inevitable? Absolutely not. There are many basic tips and tricks to avoid weight gain in college– and some of them just might be easier than you think.

5 Simple Tips

1. Take the stairs. Residence halls and college buildings are typically equipped with modern ‘conveniences’ like the elevator. Even though the elevator seems handy, skip it. Taking the stairs is an easy way to infuse activity into a day filled with sitting in classes and studying.
2. Be smart when stocking up on snacks for your dorm. For many of you, college will be the first time you get to be the one doing the grocery shopping. It’s fun, so embrace it– just keep this in mind: studies show the weight gain comes from eating an excess of only 112 calories per day. How easy would 112 calories be to cut out? Keeping high-calorie snacks out of your room will keep temptation from tipping you over the edge.
3. Stay aware of your weight. Most of us hate getting on the scale, but remember that weight gain is a gradual process. Having a scale in your room so you can periodically check up on your weight will help you catch the potential change before it turns into an obvious problem. And if you see the difference yourself on the scale, you’ll be more determined to re-evaluate any harmful habits you’ve picked up and do something about making a healthy change.
   

   Remember to have fun with your exercise.

4. Don’t skip breakfast. When you’re on the go in the morning it’s common to pass on breakfast. Some even try skipping it in order to cut out calories– don’t! A balanced diet is key to staying healthy, and a balanced diet includes breakfast. Breakfast not only helps you focus in class, it also kick-starts your metabolism and prevents you from pigging out on a big  lunch later.
5. Remember to play. Working out doesn’t have to mean dragging yourself to the gym and spending an hour on the treadmill. Have fun with your exercise! Walk or ride your bike into town with a friend, organize a game of Frisbee or  touch-football, or join an intramural team at your college. Choose your favorite activity and allow yourself to take that much-needed break from studying.

Above all, don’t obsess over your weight.

These tips are all small adjustments to your daily routine to show you that staying healthy doesn’t have to be stressful or consuming. Remember that the “freshman fifteen” is definitely not inevitable, and one of the worst things you can do is add more stress to your day by obsessing over your weight. Reducing stress is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.