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Are you shy about food?

My dad used to tell me that any boy who asked me on a second date after taking me to dinner was a keeper because I eat a lot of food in a very unlady-like way. That said, there are certain foods that make me look like more of a dainty lady than others.

Good date food choices: Chicken, steak and other foods that can be cut into small bites and won’t end up all over your face.

Bad foods to eat: All of the following…

initiating the gallery...

[Lead image via Jacqueline Abromeit/Shutterstock]

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Why? Because it’s a holiday that is essentially dedicated to food. And I love food. Yes, I know, we’re supposed to be giving thanks and thinking about Pilgrims, but I’m really just looking forward to the meal. And the best news of all is that the great eats don’t stop after Thanksgiving – in my family, at least, Christmas and New Year’s Day also bring big feasts.

There are just a few problems with all this. The holiday season tempts us to go way overboard when it comes to eating, which can be rough on our bodies in a lot of ways. Not to mention that one too many pieces of pumpkin pie can leave you feeling a little queasy. So read on for a few tips to stay happy and healthy during the holiday season.

1. Work small amounts of exercise into your daily routine.

Several studies have found that regular exercise can help counteract the consequences of overindulging in unhealthy foods. The more rigorous the exercise, the better. Study participants have seen benefits from exercises as simple as walking. Because running or walking outside may be unpleasant or impossible in colder temperatures, the gym is your best bet. But almost no one’s in the mood to run out to the gym on a holiday. So work exercise in wherever you can. Hanging out with family? Your little cousins, maybe? Run around inside with them a little bit – you get a free pass to do that if you’re hanging out with little kids. Or volunteer to help set the table and take dishes to and from the kitchen. Not only will you score extra points with your grandparents, but you’ll also be keeping your body moving.

2. Don’t skip breakfast.

Sometimes people skip meals, especially breakfast, when they know they’re sitting down for a big dinner later. They figure that they will overeat at dinner, and they can make up for that by not eating breakfast. Wrong! First of all, after going all night with no food, your body needs fuel in order to function properly. And believe it or not, eating breakfast will help prevent you from eating too much later in the day. If you deprive your body, it will only make you more hungry later on. So eat breakfast, and you’ll actually be less likely to overeat at dinner.

3. Go for the fruits and veggies.

Holiday meals often include meaty main courses and sugary desserts. One way to cut down on your intake of fat and sugar is to pile your plate with fruits and vegetables, which are usually served as side dishes. Then take smaller servings of meat and other foods with high levels of fat, sugar, and salt. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll have this taken care of already.

4. Eat dinner before dessert, just like your mom told you.

Yes, there are three kinds of pie proudly on display in the family dining room. Along with cakes, cookies, and loads of other sweet treats. Turns out your mom was right, though. If you sample all those desserts before eating dinner, you’ll feel sick, and have no room left for a nutritious meal. So eat your peas and carrots first, then descend on the dessert table. If you’re already almost full, you won’t be as tempted to overdo it on the sugar. But by all means, it’s the holidays; do have at least one serving of dessert!

[Life after college is different for every single grad. While some might be going to grad school, others enter the real world in attempts to make their dreams come true pay off their student loans. We've been following Charlsie on her post-grad journey since September, but now it's time to check see what someone else's post-grad life brings.  (But don't worry - Charlsie will still be writing!) So ladies, allow me to introduce you to Brittany and her tumultuous life after college.]

Things are getting a little depressing on the post-grad front.

At night, I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser while I shove a ton of pizza down my throat because I’m so malnourished from a busy day at work. I don’t point and laugh, but I certainly indulge in one of those internal chuckles and self-satisfaction that I don’t have ripples the size of a tidal wave on my hips.

During the day, I sit at my desk chair and mindlessly dig into my almond jar for protein and a source of movement. I get up to take a well deserved pee after constantly drinking water at my desk or to occasionally waltz over to the local coffee shop to chug some more caffeine venom in espresso shot form. Sometimes, I chose to accompany my coffee with a apple caramel muffin. Why? Because I’ve been working so hard all day and it’s only $1.49! The best part of all this is I go back to my desk, hunch over my keyboard, write an email or five and eat the muffin faster than you can say, “typo.”

On weekends, I sprawl out on my couch, catch up on The Bachelorette and eat left over pizza because I’m too poor and lazy to make it to Lund’s for some Coconut Water and a healthy buffet meal.  It’s OK Brittany. I think to myself with a warm blanket of comfort pizza sauce around my soul, you’ve been working hard – and you went to yoga once this week. Namaste. 

I work out occasionally, usually in the beginning of the week – when I’m fresh out of a weekend and ready to start on a new leaf. Then, after spending ten hours at work emailing and touching my face, I give up around Tuesday. I have to walk up three flights of stairs to get to my office, so this is usually my alibi. I eat like a twelve year old boy. Today, I bought an $8 pot roast from the grocery store and poured chocolate sauce on my healthy fruit popsicle.

Work stress=eat less more.

So based on all that I just poured onto the College Candy online paper. . .I’M FREAKING OUT.

My eating and work out habits have definitely changed since graduation. And I’m waiting for that bittersweet moment where I wake up one morning with a fupa, three double chins and kankles. Ok – I know that’s being a little dramatic, but I’m starting to feel like I have no control of my diet and workout habits. I don’t have enough time to think about it all! I’m constantly stressed about my job. And well, I’m hungry…a lot.

The biggest freak out I had recently was after I read an info-graphic online that said if you sit for six hours or more a day, you lose an average of fourteen years off your life. Seriously!? I sit ten hours plus in one day! I’m going to die when I’m thirty and a half! After doing a few of my breathing exercises, I called bull sh*t. Hugh Hefner is almost 100 years old now, and he’s been laying on his back for 90 if them.

I know it’s all about adjusting to a new routine, I did it when my parents shoved me in an 8′x8′ dorm room with a Tupperware bin full of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. But for some reason, being on my own and struggling to find enough time and energy to cook fresh and run around my apartment isn’t cutting it for me. I know I’m going to get used to it, but I’m letting myself have my mini freak out session that comes with every life changing moment in the book.

I’m counting on myself to eventually sink into this new, grown-up girl routine (even if I’m stressed and always busy). I’ll eventually find a strict pattern I can follow, learn how to purchase groceries when I’m not raging hungry after work and learn how to budget my money towards muffins once a week instead of four. And learn how to channel my stress energy into a run – even if I’m a little tired.

In fact, I’m going to use my well-earned big girl job money to buy some 80′s workout music on iTunes right NOW.

Ever have one of those days where you were supposed to make an appearance at the gym but got caught up in a marathon study session and platefuls of tater tots instead? Yeah, me too. It’s called Saturday. But don’t beat yourself up about those less active days; compensate for them!

There are a lot of simple changes you can make in your life that will not only undo those lazy days, but really make a difference in your overall health and fitness. If you can do at least one per day, I guarantee that you’ll be making a positive change in your lifestyle. You ready for the easiest health advice of your life?

1. Take the stairs
Studies have shown that taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator will burn 2 times more calories. That makes sense, since taking the latter means just standing there and awkwardly not talking to the other people just standing there. Even if it’s just a few stories up to your next class, make the effort to walk there. If you don’t want to make the 6-story trek to your biology class, then start by taking the stairs down.  Any little effort makes a huge difference.

2. Replace your sweet chocolate craving with your favorite fruit
What’s stopping you from eating fruits? Most likely, the fact that you don’t have any around. Always keep a nice stash of healthy food in your fridge, just in case a snack attack pops in. It’s much healthier and you’ll feel a lot less guilty after you chow down. Now, I’m not telling you that an apple is going to satisfy you when all you want is a brownie, but I am saying that getting some fruit while you’re also getting some sweets will do your body good. For example, craving some major chocolate? Try fresh strawberries with a small drizzle of Nutella. You’ll fulfill that chocolate craving and secretly geta nice dose of Vitamin C!

3. Try holding your utensils with your non-dominant hand
As a right-handed person, holding a fork in my left hand forces me to eat slower because I’m not used to it. Since our bodies take about 20 minutes to digest food and realize its full, eating slower prevents us from overeating and indulging in extra calories. It may feel odd at first, but give it a go – it works!

4. Standing instead of sitting
If you’re one to take public transportation, you may feel like you just found the Golden Ticket when a seat finally opens up on the bus. Try changing your mindset and stand up instead. You can burn up to 10-15 more calories per hour because you’re constantly engaging your core muscles to stabilize yourself. Want extra points? Don’t grab onto anything and ride the bus waves!

5. Doing calf raises while waiting in line
Instead of standing idly while waiting for the front desk lady to hand you your transcript or the mail room guy to find that package of cookies your mom sent you for finals, try some nice and easy calf raises. These don’t attract as much attention and strange looks as lunges (trust me), but it’s still a great way to keep moving, burn calories, and tone your legs.

Try incorporating any of these five foods into your diet and you will see and feel the positive health benefits. Seems daunting? I’ve even included some ways to sneak these foods into your everyday meals, so now you’ve got no excuses not to get healthy.

1. Fruit: Raspberries
These cute lil’ red things are a great source of fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C. As translation, eating just a cup of berries a day will reduce cholesterol levels, maintain organ balance, and improve your immune system. In fact, studies have shown that these great tasting berries even diminish risks for cancer. Snack on them in between classes, top them on your breakfast parfaits, or cool down in the summer heat with a raspberry-peach smoothie!

2. Nuts: Raw Almonds
Yes, that says RAW. That means no added sugar, salt, “honey-roasted”, or “dipped in chocolate”. If you snack on 20-23 of these organic nuts, you can be guaranteed some heart-healthy fats, 6 grams of protein, and over 35% of your daily need of Vitamin E. Okay, so “raw” and “nuts” doesn’t sound tempting for your belly? Slather some almond-rich, homemade beauty products on your face! Almonds have been proven to create an awesome complexion and soft skin.

3. Vegetable: Broccoli
Personally, I absolutely love broccoli. Not only does it taste good, but it can also be added to any dish! Put it in pasta, salad, soup; have it sautéed, broiled, eaten raw. Whatever you do, it’s a guaranteed yum. Imagine my great surprise when I learned that this super food was rich in fiber for a healthy digestive system, and abundant with calcium for my bones that endure so much shock from my daily runs. Oh and get this: adding this green healing machine to your diet may even reduce risks of Alzheimer’s. So don’t forget it!

4. Grain: Brown Rice
This replacement for white long grain rice may be difficult to adjust to at first, but the benefits are amazing. Brown rice contains a great source of manganese and magnesium, which can reduce the severity of headaches and migraines (goodbye boy drama!). In fact, studies have shown that when you replace white rice with the brown alternative, you lower not only your blood pressure, but your risk for atherosclerosis, too. Yay for long, healthy lives.

5. Fish: Salmon
Salmon is great because it has low mercury levels (if that’s what you were worried about), few calories (only 127 calories for 3 ounces), and good levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids (necessary for proper brain development, and more). Bake it, grill it, eat with the above brown rice, make Salmon burgers, put it on top of your sushi…the possibilities are endless.

Let me know what your other favorite super foods are. Better yet, share some of your favorite recipes with me! Body blog cook off, anyone?

The answer is yes. In a bold new move, Whole Foods is offering a discount to employees (and maybe soon to customers?) based on BMI. Basically, the lower your BMI (body mass index) the better the discount.

The government has been trying to slim us down for years now. They’ve implemented taxes, such as the “junk food tax” in New Jersey and New York has banned trans fats in order to slim down our nation. I know these things are all for my own good, but how does this new discount measure up?

Is it a good idea to help those who are already skinny to stay skinny? Is it a better idea to help the overweight population slim down? Is it fair to discriminate based on weight at all?

There are some major benefits for the company itself to offer discounts to its already slim population of employees: healthier employees, fewer sick days, lower health insurance premiums, a better image for the company. But is rewarding good health just a politically correct way of trying to get their workforce skinny and keep their image in check? Do they think that having (and keeping) skinny employees will inspire their consumers to emulate their fit lifestyle… by doing all their shopping at Whole Foods?

On the other hand, doesn’t it make sense to offer the discount to their heavier employees? Wouldn’t this help them to lead a healthier lifestyle, and in that way become more aligned with the idealized “Whole Foods” way of living? Should there even be an issue to discuss at all? Should BMI ever come into the question when it comes to any form of discrimination (whether its denial of entry to a club or a simple discount)?

I applaud Whole Foods’ initiative to encourage healthy living among their employees, but I can’t help but wonder if this skinny discount is truly promoting good health or discriminating against the overweight.

What do you think?

Unfortunately, I’m not Jewish and don’t celebrate the holiday, but just because I can’t indulge in 8 days of presents doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy everyone’s favorite Hanukkah treat: the potato latke.

According to Jewish tradition, latkes (or potato pancakes) are cooked to symbolize the miracle of the Maccabees’ oil burning for 8 nights when there was only enough for one. Too bad most latke recipes do the opposite, using enough oil for 8 nights for one greasy (yet totally delicious) side dish.

Well not anymore. Behold the sweet potato pancake. It’s moist, it’s tasty, and it’s not drenched in oil. Yes, it’s a Hanukkah miracle of its own. One that anyone – from Jews to those of us who really just like delicious food – can enjoy.

SWEET-POTATO PANCAKES
Makes 12-15 pancakes.

• 1 1/2 cups of flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups of buttermilk
• 3/4 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 1 large potato)
• 4 tbsp (1/2 stick) melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla

Here’s what you do:
Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. (Dry ingredients)

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, sweet potatoes, butter, and vanilla. (Wet ingredients)

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined (a couple of lumps are OK).

Lightly grease a skillet and heat to medium-high.

Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto the skillet. Cook 2-4 minutes, then flip and cook 1-2 more minutes until done.

I know it’s tempting to blast the stove when you’re making pancakes so that they’ll be done faster, but resist the urge for these beauties. If you crank it, you’ll end up with blackened pancake on the outside and raw batter in the middle. It’ll still taste good because this recipe is just that awesome, but really, it’s much better to have a golden-brown pancake that’s light and fluffy and cooked all the way through, so keep an eye on the temp.

You can serve these guys with applesauce, whipped cream and brown sugar, mini marshmallows, powdered sugar, or the traditional butter and maple syrup, but I just like to eat them plain. Mmmmmmm.

I'm getting nauseous just looking at this spread...

Unlike the rest of the world, Thanksgiving is my least-favorite holiday. I know, I know—the food, the laziness, the time off from work, the family (well . . . maybe that’s not such a plus)—what’s not to love?

For starters, I am a near vegetarian (I say “near” only because I will eat meat if other people prepare it for me) and I just plain dislike the taste of meat. So while the turkey is the main event for almost everyone I know, it kind of makes me wrinkle my nose. No, thank you.

I’m not above tolerating a meal I don’t like for one day out of the year, but the smell of Thanksgiving food cooking actually makes me feel slightly nauseous. This isn’t just because of the turkey—it’s a long story. (Warning: If you are of the weak stomach, I’d recommend you stop reading now.)

In seventh grade, my family hosted an exchange student from Germany for a couple of weeks in the fall, and we thought it would be fun to make a “practice” Thanksgiving dinner to share with her while she was there so she could experience a new holiday.

I was psyched because I loved Thanksgiving food at the time, and even though my stomach felt a little funny early in the day, I ignored it so I could eat as much of my dad’s delicious Thanksgiving food as possible. This, it turned out, was a terrible mistake. My stomach started feeling worse and worse as the day wore on, and finally I decided to try to down some Pepto-Bismol. I managed to only taste it before my stomach had had enough and proceeded to empty its entire contents… all over the dining-room table. I can’t even explain how traumatizing this was. It’s bad enough to get sick in a place where you don’t have to stare at everything you ate earlier, but to have everyone see what you ate earlier, well, it was quite distressing.

I was really sick for a couple of days, and ever since then, the appeal of Thanksgiving has just been lost to me. I try to hide in my room when the aromas of stuffed turkey, gravy, potatoes, and cranberries drift nearby, but even a stray whiff makes me feel ill. So for the last few years, I’ve just tried to avoid Thanksgiving altogether—a couple of years ago, I went camping with my boyfriend over Thanksgiving weekend, and the following year we prepared a lamb biryani Indian dish. This year, I’m thankfully dating a vegetarian, so he also has no interest in the traditional Thanksgiving spread. We plan to make roasted-vegetable lasagna, and for that, I truly can feel thankful.

The stereotypical veg main dish for Thanksgiving is, of course, Tofurky, but this has always seemed like one of the most disgusting foods on the planet to me. If you’re a vegetarian, the object is to refrain from eating meat, correct? So why exactly would you want to scarf down something that’s supposed to imitate the texture and taste of a plump, perfectly roasted turkey? I get that some vegetarians don’t mind the taste of meat and went veg for other reasons, but still. Tofurky will remain a bizarre mystery to me, and I’m fine enjoying a meal without it, thankyouverymuch.

So if you’re not going to bake up a delicious vat of Tofurky, then what?

Well, you have zillions of options. You could make a fancier-than-usual veg stir-fry featuring a killer marinade and sautéed pieces of tofu, textured soy protein, or nuts and legumes. Personally, though, I prefer the casserole route—this might be because I’m from the Midwest, but I just find casseroles so comforting and perfect for chilly weather. Ratatouille, vegetable lasagna, baked pasta with butternut squash, spanakopita, veggie gratin, and veggie chili are all excellent choices that I guarantee will make the meat-eaters at your table drool.

If you want to go for something even fancier, don’t hold back. Autumn gourds and squashes are absolutely perfect for stuffing, and you could bust out something like stuffed butternut squash with whole wheat, wild rice, and onions. The New York Times recommends this mushroom and pear bread stuffing, which can easily be converted to veg form by leaving out the pancetta and subbing a flavorful vegetable broth for the turkey stock. If you feel like something really comforting, go for this smoked cheddar soufflé, which looks light-as-air and severely delicious.

Even though I hate most Thanksgiving foods, I haven’t lost my taste for pumpkin pie, so I recommend topping things off traditionally—but with a twist. Try vegan pumpkin pie to get an even richer pumpkin flavor, or go classy with Gourmet’s pumpkin tart with an anise-seed crust. Yum, yum, and yum some more. Pass the meatless dishes, please!