Sometimes, we all get a pizza craving. For me, it usually strikes at the worst time; I’ve spent all day eating healthy, being good, working out. And then, suddenly, the intense impulse to eat an entire pizza by myself hits. It just seems too easy. It’s just pizza! I can get it delivered to my door! Oh, and breadsticks, because I love breadsticks.

But at the end of the day, eating a day’s worth of calories and carbs isn’t a good choice. But how do I get rid of that pizza craving? You know, the desire for pepperoni, cheese and sauce? How on earth do I shake that? Through trial and error, I found the solution. And it includes three of my favorite salad greens ever: spinach, arugula and romaine. You’ll get tons of nutrients, including iron, along with some major flavor. Combined with tomatoes (full of lycopene, one of the best minerals out there), mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and tons of other yummy ingredients, your pizza craving will fade to only a memory and you won’t be left feeling guilty for eating two days’ worth of food while watching Law and Order: SVU.

Pizza Salad

You’ll need…

• about 1 cup of spinach
• about 1 cup of romaine
• about 1/2 cup of arugula
• 1 tomato, sliced (or cut into wedges, or diced — however you like your tomatoes!)
• about 4 slices of dry Italian salami
• 1 handful of basil
• about 1/2 cup of mini-mozzarella balls
• about 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

In a bowl, whisk together the minced garlic and olive oil, plus a little bit of salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, arugula and romaine lettuce. Add the tomatoes and mozzarella. On a cutting board, dice your slices of salami into bite-sized pieces. Also, roll up the basil leaves into a little bunch and dice. Combine with the salad and toss. Add the olive oil and garlic and toss until well combined. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a slice of Italian bread!

Note: This recipe makes one large salad. If you’re really hungry, you can eat the whole thing. If you’re not, you can probably share it.

[Image via Photoanatomy/Shutterstock]

Before I began, I had a lot a questions like “What is clean eating?” and “What foods are clean?” Well to be honest, even after doing loads of reading since my first post on the subject, I am still not entirely sure, so I have decided that I am going to slowly, but smartly, build my way up to much healthier eating. My first stop has been to cut out fried foods, microwaveable meals and simple carbohydrates (whole-wheat spaghetti = yum!).

So how has this been working out for me? I believe that a writer, like any artist, needs to be fully dedicated to her art – even if that requires perseverance in the face of pain, terror and piping hot broccoli soup. Yes, you read that right.  Broccoli soup.

Always a planner, yours truly scheduled herself to have two of her wisdom teeth taken out earlier in the week – which most of you know is no picnic. Yet, a week of yogurt, soup and healthy frozen yogurt didn’t sound so hard.  In fact it sounded quite refreshing – and easy.

Monday (surgery day) and Tuesday went by largely without a hitch – there isn’t much in the way of fried foods that can be slurped down and we had stocked up on yummy “drinkable,” healthy foods over the weekend.  However, on Wednesday, things took a turn for the worst  — I decided to have broccoli soup.

What do I have against broccoli soup? Well, I never got to taste it…not before I accidentally dropped it all over my lap!  The soup was so hot that I had to go to the ER to get checked out! Upon diagnosing my second-degree burns and observing my swollen right cheek, the ER doctor elegantly pronounced, “You’ve had a rough week.” Yes, doctor, yes I have.

Hopefully next week will be a little less exciting and I will be able to spend more time coming up with yummy meals and recipes to do while on this challenge.  (Right now I am sticking to Gazpacho…)

Question?! Answer: Ask Tuffy Luv.

Dear Tuffy Luv,

My boyfriend noticed a lump in my breast while we were fooling around. I’m so scared. I can’t sleep. I’m afraid to tell my parents. I’m at school so I could go to the clinic but I’m really scared about what they’ll say. What should I do?

Scared

Dear Scared,

Go to the clinic!!!!!!!!!

Look, it’s unlikely at your age that it’s breast cancer (which is what I’m sure you’re worried about). But you MUST get it checked.

If it is breast cancer, you want to catch it early. So go. NOW.

But stay calm. Doctors are much more effective at treating breast cancer than they used to be. Only about 3% of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer die from it, even though 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer over the course of their lives. So stay cool and go get it checked — just in case.

Reading up might make you feel better, too. But don’t use any of those crazy self-diagnostic websites!!! That shoop will make you crazy.

So, step 1: Make an appointment to see a doctor ASAP.

Step 2: Read up on Sloan Kettering’s website.

Step 3: Once you’ve been reassured that it’s not breast cancer by your doctor (which I’m sure you will be), try to avoid risky behaviors. Don’t drink too much and be sure to know your family medical history. Get regular checks and do self-exams.

The truth is, many young women have lumpy breasts. Aunt Tuffy has spent many a night obsessing over a lump. But that’s why we have doctors. Even if you have healthy young lumpboobs, keeping track of those lumps is VERY important in recognizing the bad lumps, should they appear later. ALWAYS double-check with your OB/GYN if you are at ALL concerned. You should be going every year, but, if you feel something, add in an extra appointment.

Your visit won’t be too scary, either. You’ll go in. Your OB/GYN will check your breasts. If she feels something that she’s at all worried about, she’ll send you for a sonogram or a mammogram. Sonograms are totally painless and mammograms are uncomfortable but certainly not frightening.

There’s plenty to be scared about, but you can be brave. You have to be. Keep ahead of any possible problems and solving them becomes much easier.

I leave you with a final page of great, consolidated information.

Please be well. Don’t wait.

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

Our society generally assumes that ‘body issues’ spawn from the desire to be thinner. Ioana Spangenberg actually suffers from the opposite. This Romanian born, 30 year old model has been trying to gain weight for the past 15 years. I was skeptical of her weight gaining efforts at first, but in Romania men consider heavier women more attractive, because it is a sign of wealth. It’s no surprise, then, that Ioana found her dating situation less than favorable. I imagine being on the receiving end of gawking disapproval can’t do much for your self esteem. At the time her waist was a mere 15 inches!

Ioana blames her hourglass shape on her small stomach. Despite eating three hefty meals a day, she finds it nearly impossible to gain even a few pounds. Many people are skeptical and believe that her tiny waist is the result of corsets and an eating disorder, but she insists this isn’t true. She was incredibly self conscious about her abnormal figure until she met her husband. She says , “he was the first person to see me as beautiful.” He taught her to love her shape and be totally comfortable in her own skin. Does he have a brother?

While I think Ioana has a very unique situation, I hope that girls do not make achieving this shape a new weight loss goal–this is not attainable for 99% of women. What should be taken from her story is that it is possible to be happy with your body whatever its shape.

What do you think about Ioana’s size? How thin is too thin?

When women think of Valentine’s Day, boxed candy, roses and cheesy Hallmark cards from loved ones often come to mind. But let’s be real. The key to any girl’s heart is chocolate. Lots and lots of it. In honor of the anniversary of Hershey’s Chocolate — which was founded on February 9th, 1894 — and to get you to think outside the heart-shaped box this Valentine’s Day, we present to you some positively decadent chocolate-based recipes.

Impress your friends and loved ones with these cheap, easy and incredible treats. Even the most challenged baker can master what we’ve culled here for you!

Easy Chocolate Bark

This delicious recipe is perfect if you’re craving a chocolatey snack, and it only requires two types of ingredients.

Ingredients:

6 ounces of dark chocolate

4 ounces of semisweet chocolate

½ cup almonds, chopped

Directions:

1. Combine the chocolates and melt in a microwavable bowl.
2. Line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper
3. Pour the melted chocolate over the parchment paper. Use a spatula to evenly spread the chocolate.
4. Sprinkle chopped almonds over chocolate layer.
5. Put the bark in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes
6. Cut the bark into three-inch pieces and serve.

Chocolate Mousse

A quick and easy, yet completely delectable, no-bake dessert made in the time it’ll take you to watch the latest episode of Modern Family.

Ingredients:

8 ounces of semisweet chocolate

2 cups skim milk

2 packages sugar-free chocolate Jell-O

2 cups of fat-free cool whipped topping

1/3 cup of fresh brewed coffee

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate, 1 cup of milk and the coffee on high in the microwave for 2 minutes.
2. Add the remaining milk and pudding packages to the chocolate mixture. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
3. Take the pudding out of the refrigerator, fold in cool whip and serve.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Dark chocolate + Sweet strawberries = A (somewhat) healthy, satisfying and fail-proof sexy dessert.

Ingredients:

6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

3 ounces white chocolate, chopped

1 pound strawberries with stems, washed and dried very well

Directions:

1. Put the dark and white chocolates into two separate heatproof medium bowls.
2. Fill two medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Turn off the heat and set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (If you want to limit the clean-up process or don’t have a stove, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute until melted.)
4. Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat.
5. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.
6. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl.
7. Set the strawberry on the parchment paper and repeat with the rest.
8. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle over the dipped strawberries.
9. Set the strawberries aside for 30 minutes, or until the chocolate sets.

Oreo Truffle Balls

This is seriously the easiest and most satisfying recipe for Valentine’s Day, and it’ll be hard to resist more than one. Trust me.

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 (8-ounce) packages semi-sweet baking chocolate

Directions:

1. Crush package of cookies to fine crumbs in a food processor. (If that’s not available, you can also put the cookies in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin and place in a medium bowl).
2. Add cream cheese, mix until well blended.
3. Line two baking sheets with parchment or wax paper.
4. Roll cookie mixture into balls, about 1-inch diameter.
5. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until hardened.
6. In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate until smooth.
7. Take cookies out of the refrigerator, dip the balls in chocolate and place back on baking sheet.
8. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered in refrigerator.

[Lead Image via avs/Shutterstock]

Is it just me, or is this week crazy? Oh, just me? Awkward. Well, as college students, it’s inevitable that we’ll all have some weeks where everything is just a bit too much. Maybe it’s because you have three midterms and a paper due, or maybe it’s because you had a few too many margaritas…every night last weekend. (Who, me? No!)

So here’s your workout for the week when you have way too much work to get done and can’t even think about going to the gym. Try out this quick cardio blast to get in a good workout and relieve some stress.

1. High Knees

Run in place, but bring your knees as high up toward your chest as possible with every step. Continue for one minute.

2. Mountain Climbers

Drop down to a plank position on the floor, then jump your right foot in toward your hands, and switch feet. Continue for one minute.

Repeat this sequence, alternating one minute of high knees with one minute of mountain climbers, at least three times. You can do it!

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also has a love for cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

Occasionally, despite my generally laissez-faire, non-judgmental attitude towards sex, there are a few things that perturb me. Rape, of course. Slut shaming. Abstinence-only sex education. And ignorance about contraception. One of the most disturbing manifestations of this that I’ve encountered are ladies who take the pill and have absolutely no idea what they’re putting into their bodies and how it works. Maybe it’s because the pill has become so normalized and routine, like popping Advil, so the complexity of it isn’t apparent, but I definitely feel that once you start playing with the hormones in your body, you need to know what’s up.

1. The pill tries to keep you free of pregnancy in four different ways.

It tries to stop an egg from leaving your ovary. Then, it makes your cervix produce more mucus so neither an egg or sperm can stick. The hormones also prevent the lining of your uterus (or potential womb) from getting thick enough for a fertilized egg to be viable. Finally, the pill manipulates the movement in your Fallopian tubes to prevent an egg from meeting a sperm in the first place. So, it’s a pretty complicated process, and every once in awhile, the pill fails to execute it properly, which is why most of us know, or know of, someone who has gotten pregnant while on the pill.

2. It loses effectiveness if you don’t take it at the same time every day.

One of the reasons the Pill is so popular is because it doesn’t affect your fertility in the long run, which means that if you’re not diligent about taking your pill daily, it does start losing its pregnancy protection magic. So pick a time that is most convenient for you, set an alarm on your cell, and pop it on the regular. If you do miss a pill, here are the guidelines for how to get back on track.

3. Your side effects aren’t going to be the same as your friend’s side effects.

Everyone’s body reacts differently to changes in the hormonal structure. Your skin may clear up while your friend’s looks like she just went back in time to 7th grade, or you may experience consistent spotting while someone else’s periods become non-existent. It’s perfectly normal to have to go through multiple pills to find one that best suits your body and your needs.

4. The pill does not protect against STDs. 

I would never deny that the pill has been a major game changer for women, especially in the way that we are able to have agency over our reproductive choices, and we don’t have to rely on men using condoms in order to stay baby-free. However, if you are getting it in with someone new, and you have no idea what their STD status is, please use a condom (correctly).

5. Your birth control shouldn’t make you miserable. 

Whether your appetite has been out of control and you’ve been gaining a bunch of weight, or your cramps are unbearable, or you’re spotting a lot in between periods, you don’t have to endure it. If your body hasn’t adjusted after 3 months, it’s time to look into a different option. Whether it’s another pill or an IUD or a Nuvaring, your contraception should not make your daily life uncomfortable at all.

[Image via Calek/Shutterstock]

If you guys are like me and have just stuffed your face with mini-corn dogs, spinach artichoke dip, pizza, pasta or any other grease and delicious food at whatever Superbowl party you attended today, then the last thing you probably want to do is go to the gym (despite the motivation from watching profession athletes).

The gym requires: putting on tight spandex, getting in your car, driving to the gym, then actually doing physical activity (YIKES!). Sometimes there is just no way we are going to get our butts out of bed and go break a sweat. And there is nothing wrong with that! I think every one of us deserves a day off to be lazy every once in awhile. In honor of Lazy (Superbowl) Sunday, I decided to compile a list of 10 reasons that we don’t want to go to the gym — today or any day.

I’m sure there are at least 600 more, so let us know in the comments!

initiating the gallery...

Katie is finishing up her undergrad at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She enjoys wasting hours on Facebook and tweeting things no one cares about. When asked the question, “Do you do marathons?” She promptly responds, “Of course! Which show?” Follow her @KatieGarrity!

[Welcome to Sunday Funday! I want to start telling you all about fun activities you can do. With spring quickly approaching, there are tons of fun opportunities coming up so if you hear of anything cool, feel free to send it my way!]

Who doesn’t love awesome activities? As we learned from Dale and Brennan of Step Brothers, turning our beds into bunk beds ”would give us so much extra space in our room to do activities.” But you don’t need to build an extraordinarily unsafe bunk bed set to make room for activities when you can do some fabulous things outside. I don’t want to jinx anything, but I feel like it’s kind of safe to say that winter is on a leave of absence this year. Down here in the South the weather has been incredible, and it makes me just want to frolic out in nature.

A lot of people are into runs and marathons, but I need a little more than just running to get me amped about something like that. That’s where The Color Run comes in. A friend sent me the link, and I was totally blown away. It’s a 5k divided into five sections where you wear all white and get pelted with colored powder. You end up tie-dyed, and then you have a massive party with your fellow runners. Sounds amazing right? You better be nodding your head and registering right now. The Color Run is coloring over twenty cities this year, and one of them could be yours!

Check out the rainbow of awesomeness below:

What do you think of The Color Run? Will you register?

Caitlin is a senior at the University of Alabama who has an obsession with cupcakes, coffee, and Harry Potter. She always has random fun facts on reserve and aspires to be a professional blogger,social media bug, and/or James Franco’s assistant. Follow her fabulous life @caitlincorsetti. You’re welcome!