Processed foods are generally not good for us, regardless of how they are advertised. I’ve lived with roommates who firmly believed that they were on wholesome, perfectly nutritious diets all the while subsisting on Power bars, frozen TV dinners from the health food section of our local grocery store and Gatorade. Just because a product is advertised as a health food does not make it one!

Centenarians. People who live to 100-years-old and beyond. These people are fascinating to us because we want to know what they do differently that sets them apart from the rest of us who die before that coveted 100th birthday.

Finals are done, break is here, and Christmas songs are a playin’. Life is as sweet as mom’s home-made apple pie. As we enjoy this holiday season, with the glistening, bright lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and much needed home-cooked food, it is also time to start planning those annual New Year’s resolutions.

Receiving a text message gives me a blissful, momentary high. A day without access to the internet is a sad day. If a couple of days go by and I haven’t signed onto Facebook (like that ever happens), I get antsy and feel out of the loop. This loathsome habit isn’t exactly an insightful revelation that came from deep soul searching or a problem unique to myself.

Thanksgiving is almost here and I am so pumped. Yet, there is something about this holiday that I don’t look forward to: stuffing my face with turkey. I just can’t bring myself to eat it given all that I’ve learned about what goes into producing that Thanksgiving Day bird of choice.

Breast Cancer. It’s a word most of us don’t spend too much time pondering about. After all, we are busy college students with plenty of other things on our minds and problems to address. Problems that seem significant or monumental as they occur in our little bubble world of college.

It’s that time of year during which my peers and I are go crazy trying to prepare for upcoming midterms, lab practicals, 10-page essays, and other ultra stressful, all-nighter inclining assignments. Although I am not pre-med, almost everyone in my classes is (it’s the sad reality of being a nutrition major) and their academic stress and competitiveness can be contagious if one is not careful.

The media loves talking about the health benefits of salmon, almost as much as they love analyzing Shiloh’s outfits . Our doctors tell us to eat it and our favorite magazines often have a “cook an amazing salmon tonight” sort of recipe. While it is true that salmon is loaded with omega-3s, it’s also got some other stuff in it. Stuff that is bad.

This time of year can be uber stressful with midterms coming up, job pressures, relationship issues, you name it. The realization that school is in full swing has finally hit. Many of us are as busy as ever, including moi. And you know what that means: stress eating.

So tailgate season is upon us and the time has come to bring out our barbecues, lazily relax outside and revile in the sunshine with our friends while we’ve still got beautiful weather on our side. Or desperately hot, sticky, and humid weather, depending on where you go to school. Whatever. The point is, it’s tailgate season and that means hot dogs and hamburgers and various other things cooked on an open fire.