I make spectacularly healthy (or so I thought!) turkey sandwiches for lunch every day. Fresh bread, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, turkey…. they are beautiful and healthy works of art. I’m constantly thinking of new ways to spice ‘em up. Sliced avocado? Swapping out provolone for some swiss? Perhaps a few slices of green apple? Turkey is my daily go-to; a healthy dose of protein that can be dressed up or down depending on what is (or, more likely, what isn’t) stocked in my fridge.

But it’s starting to look like my turkey days are dwindling. Sob. Researchers at Harvard and the more than one million research participants have found that much like tanning, drinking, watching TV, sitting on the computer and everything else I do in my daily life, turkey and other processed meats are officially BAD for us.

What the heck are processed meats? The powers that be define these as “any meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or with the addition of chemical preservatives.” Unfortunately, this covers bacon, deli meats, hot dogs, and more. Like Slim Jims and jerky. [Although, don't act surprised – did you really think Slim Jims came straight from chickens or cows or… wait, where do Slim Jims come from? Exactly.]

Anyway, they found that eating hot dogs, deli meat (even the super lean stuff!), salami, sausage, and bacon can increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. And it doesn’t take much. Only two ounces of these processed meats per day will increase your risk of heart disease by 42% and diabetes by 19%! For your reference, two ounces is…

-  A few strips of bacon
-  One hot dog
-  Two slices of deli meat

And two ounces to me is an end to tasty breakfasts, pre-game chow and, of course, my lunchtime mainstay.

The good news in all this? Burgers and gyros are still OK; red meat doesn’t carry the same risks as our smoked and processed friends. Renata Micha, a researcher from the Harvard School of Public Health, says that on average, processed meats have “four times more sodium and 50 percent more nitrate preservatives” than red meat. So there’s that….

RIP, turkey sandwich. I already miss your smokey flavor, versatility, and how good I felt when I was making “healthy” lunch choices. I guess I will now just have to turn to other great sources of protein for my mid-day meal: grilled chicken, hummus, beans, and, I guess, the old elementary school favorite, peanut butter.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/dont-bring-home-the-bacon/?src=me&ref=health

“I’m Catholic”
“I’m atheist”
“I’m Jewish”

Even if someone’s beliefs can’t be put under a specific religious category, everyone has their own opinion on how humans got here and how people should live their lives.  All of these different views come together to make a unique world, but religious differences have the potential to hurt or even end a relationship.

Because religious views generally have a great impact on a person’s lifestyle, differing views can cause conflict in relationships. An atheist may be incredibly uncomfortable if their significant other wanted to attend church every Sunday and prayed every day. Likewise, a person who is used to being involved in religious practices may feel like something is wrong with them if their boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t want to come with them to Bible study or other religious gatherings.

And then there’s the family. And the potential future family.
It can really become a hot mess of opinions, beliefs and arguments.

While this may be overwhelming for some, there are ways to cope with religious differences and make a relationship last. Taking turns attending religious practices can give both members of the relationship a look into a new religious lifestyle. Each person could take time discussing with the other what their religious views mean to them and what they do or do not want to do because of them. Essentially, a couple needs to reach a compromise that makes them both feel comfortable.

But sometimes a compromise may not be reached, and as hard as it is, you might have to let go. A dear friend just ended her relationship with her boyfriend of three years. She identifies with Christianity while he identifies with Atheism. She really wanted him to attend church with her and her family, and he felt that doing so was just buying into what he called “the mentality of organized religion.”  Most of their discussions about their religious differences ended up in arguments, and celebrating any religious holidays together made them both feel weird. Since they could not reach an agreement on these subjects, they chose to separate. After three long years.

Most of us don’t really consider religion when we’re looking for a mate, but we should. It’s hard to think about family and marriage when you’re making out with the boy you like from Anthro, but it’s even harder to realize how different your beliefs are when you’ve invested years into a relationship. And, sure, it’s 100% possible to be with someone who doesn’t believe the same things as you, but you definitely want to find that out before it’s too late.

Believe me, you will regret it if you don’t at least attempt something. Can’t come up with anything clever? Try these bad boys on for size…

iPhone Application Hit your friends where it hurts: their iPhones. Anyone who has one will agree that their phone embodies all that is awesome in this world. Lucky for you, Apple has easy to access applications that will put the fear of god into iPhone lovers everywhere. If the “cracked” application or “iFart mobile” don’t suit your fancy, try making your own.

Naked Hunks Mug This is a magical mug. You see, when you put hot liquid in the “Naked Hunks Mug” his itty-bitty banana hammock disappears. Really, its a treat for everyone involved.

Sneaky Art You don’t have to have a mansion to appreciate the hilariousness of Rory McInnes’s prank. “He painted the giant genitalia on the newly-finished flat roof of his parents’ million-pound mansion… but the imposing member remained a closely-guarded secret for a whole year before it was ‘discovered’ by a helicopter pilot flying over the area.” So, maybe you don’t have a mansion or a can of spray paint laying around, but think on a smaller scale… the side of a dorm building and some chalk, the roof of a car and some shoe polish? Let your imagination run wild.

Jello Stapler You can than thank the writers of The Office for this one. If you haven’t seen the clip of Jim hiding Michael’s stapler in a giant mold of Jello, you need to watch it immediately.

Auto Correct This prank is best performed on a roommate or a really friendly co-worker. Simply hop on the computer this person uses for assignments, and open any word processor with auto-correct capabilities. Then, set their boss’s name, their name, professor’s name, or random words (the possibilities are endless) to  be auto-corrected into  “loser” or “skank”… again, the opportunities are endless. Just be sure to keep a list of what you changed.

“Win” the Lottery Fake scratch off tickets are a classic prank that will crush the dreams of everyone around you.

Facebook Hack This prank needs a little preparation. You will either need to be in posession of the victim’s username and password, or you will have to wait until they conveniantly leave their computer open to an attack. Believe me, your super slueth skills will pay off. Once logged in, enjoy coming up with a clever status change, change profile pictures, start relationships… go nuts.

It’s a universal truth: Valentine’s Day can suck, even if you’re not alone. Make sure it doesn’t by using one of these five sweet date ideas. Whether you hang out with your GF, BF, or BFF on V-Day, it’s still possible to have a ton of fun with a creative date.

1. A picnic. If you live in the Southwest, a traditional outdoor meal might actually be possible. Those of us who shack up in chillier climates don’t have to abandon the idea of a fun picnic, though. Take your date, make a few sandwiches, then grab a blanket and head to the nearest academic building. Set up shop in one of its more isolated areas, unwrap your food, and—presto!—picnic.

2. Workout.

I don’t know about you all, but exercise is often pretty low on my to-do list. It’s not that I don’t want to do it; it’s just that when I finally get time alone with my boyfriend, it’s not the first thing that leaps to mind. The few times we have done a workout together, however—whether it be playing a few sets of tennis, running together, or even getting into a really energetic match of ping-pong—have been hugely satisfying, both emotionally and physically. So try coaxing your date to do the same. You’ll both feel great and have fun.

3. Cook.

I know, I know—who wants to cook when you can just go someplace ritzy and be served a fabulous meal? Well, I do, for one, and I’m sure I’m not alone. A great V-Day idea is to think of what you would order if you had access to all the menus at all the restaurants in all the world, and then get your date to actually make that dish with you.

It might take some investigative work as far as tracking down recipes and ingredients goes, but you can bet it will be a hell of a lot cheaper than going out—and still worth every cent.

4. Take lessons together.

Have you always wanted to learn the rhumba? What about sign language or how to make pastries? Lots of colleges and universities offer special not-for-credit clubs, classes, and lessons that are both fun and affordable.

If your school doesn’t, look to the community. Almost every town, no matter how small, has community education courses that you and your date could have a blast taking together.

5. Getaway weekend.

Save your pennies from now until V-Day and then splurge on a mini road trip with that special somebody. Pick a destination (I like to close my eyes and stab my finger at a map), toss a few clothes in your backpack, then grab the car keys and try to forget that the words “homework” and “school” exist. This is a great way to make some memories.

Those’ll get you started, but I’d love input from the CC readers as well. Do you have V-Day traditions or plans? Let’s hear them!