One-Month Challenge: No Fried Food, Week 3

I don't need no stinkin' fried food!

[Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month, Khalea is giving up....wait for it....FRIED FOOD. She tripped up a bit last week, but it looks like the fried tide may be turning.]

By Khalea

For the first time in weeks, I don’t have any dreams about mozzarella sticks.

I don’t wake up longing for the crunchy taste of hash browns in my mouth. I don’t even want a chicken wing….that much.

Even though I miss them, I’m really getting used to life without fried foods in my diet. I feel like I’m cutting so many calories from my daily intake and it feels amazing!

You guys know that the beginning was a struggle. But the comments from the readers in my last post really helped me get through this week. I’ve been having so much fun finding ways around my restrictions. At first I was afraid that everything would taste really bland without my favorites, but I was totally wrong.

Like one of the commenters suggested, I tried faux-frying. I made some zucchini with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Mmm, mmm, mmm—it tasted just like the recipe I use with oil! And the 60 calories per serving made it even more delicious. Tomorrow I’m going to try faux-frying some shrimp with breadcrumbs as well; I was going to try Shake N’ Bake, but it’s so high in sodium. By the way, that’s another good thing about this challenge—I’ve been totally label conscious during this month. I’ve also been enjoying Alexia Sweet Potato Julienne Fries with my meals; these oven potatoes run a close race with the oil-drenched waffle fries I was obsessed with last month.

There are so many yummy and healthy options in the world! I’m kicking myself for not knowing this before. The only bad thing about saving my calories is splurging on other foods that aren’t so healthy—hello Bleeker Street Pizza.  But hey, I’m still a work in progress, right?

[Check out and be inspired by the other One Month Challenges we've taken on. ]