We already know that beer does a body good, but you can’t have alcohol without food, so ditch that late night pizza and indulge some late night chocolate instead.

Here’s why:

Chocolate is good for your heart.

A bar of chocolate helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol AND reduces your risk of heart disease. Start thinking about these things now, so in 40 years that’s at least two less pills you’ll have to be popping.

Chocolate stimulates endorphins and serotonin.

Endorphins are hormones that give us a sense of pleasure. They’re allegedly released when we exercise (I’m skeptical), and also when we have sex (this, I can believe). Eating chocolate also has the same effect. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant, which may help to explain why we ladies crave chocolate so much when we’re premenstrual.

Chocolate is rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are crucial for killing off free radicals that roam around your body trying to wreak havoc on your cells. Cacao, the base substance of chocolate, contains 8 times as many antioxidants as strawberries. (New diet plan: chocolate covered strawberries all the time. Hello, 100th birthday!)

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Tomorrow is 4/20, also known as “Let’s Get Stoned Day.” Or, for me (and Michael Phelps), just another Tuesday.

While most people will celebrate this national holiday behind a hanging tapestry in the privacy of their dorm room with 12 bags of chips and a tub of frosting, there are some schools that turn it into a campus affair.

Cue my regret for choosing the wrong school.
And pass the Cheetos.

UC Berkeley – People’s Park Celebration
Last year, more than 1,000 people joined this pot-extravaganza to celebrate with (slow) dancing, (lots of) eating, and (passionate) speeches. I can just see it: people cooking rice and beans under the shade of a willow tree, with and endless supply of Cliff Bars and positive feelings. Utopia.

University of California, Santa Cruz – Celebration at Porter Meadow
Not even a lack of shuttle services or parking stops UCSC students from hiking up Empire Grand for a glassy eyed, sunny day in Porter Meadow come 4/20. “National Pot Smoking Day” has turned Parker Meadow into a ‘baked circus’ every year at the University. Vendors set up in the field to feed the munchies of nearly 5,000 people while bands perform, ‘Santa Cruz 420′ t-shirts are handed out, and a soft haze sits over the meadow. Sounds like a party. Read More »

Family obligations are over (phew) and your resolution/diet technically doesn’t start ’til January 2nd (when you’ve fully recovered from all the binging). So it’s time to cut loose and ring in 2010 with a bang.

After all, you’ve been looking forward to an occasion to show off your sparkly new holiday dress. And the shoes, tights, belt and accessories you picked up to go with it. But remember that New Year’s Eve is notorious, no matter where you are, for record breaking injury, crime and carelessness. Take some time a few days in advance to prepare and ensure you have a blast.

After all, who wants to start off 2010 in detox, jail or the hospital?

1) Make a plan. NYE is not the night to bar-hop. With ridiculous cover charges, overpriced drinks and drunk drivers on the roads, it’s best to pick a place, get all of your buds to head there and rock the night away.

This also decreases the chance of getting split up. With the disorienting effects of alcohol you want to keep your crew intact to minimize the odds of anyone stumbling into a sticky situation solo.

2) Transportation is HUGE: no drinking and driving. If you all must drink you all must stay put. Period. Do some research: many cities offer free buses and cab rides on NYE. There are also services that will pick you up and drive your car home for you. Find those companies now and store their numbers in your phone just in case you need them. Or, load some pillows and blankets into your trunk and crash with a local friend. Read More »

Every week I write a weekly top ten list (what up, Letterman?) about the hard hitting issues. The tough. The real deal. You know, like stupid celebrities and things that piss me off on Facebook. But this week I want to take things to another level.

For the past four weeks I have stopped drinking. Like, completely. I know – scary. Especially for a girl like me who loves to pair a drink with every time of the day. 9:30 AM? Bloody Mary. 11:45 AM? Margarita. 12:00 PM? Vodka Cran. 1:30 PM? Harpoon Summer Ale. 6:00 PM? Dirty Martini. Make that porn star dirty. You get the picture. I am definitely no lightweight.

But, several weeks ago after a rough night at an infamous Times Square watering home, which may or may not have involved shots of tequila…that I drank while dancing on the bar… I decided to slam on the brakes until my birthday (September 28th. Feel free to send presents), which totals over two months of stone cold sobriety.

This decision has sparked a lot of controversy, but I’ve remained strong and haven’t slipped up once. When I commit, I commit all the way. I still go out to the bar at least twice a week and, yes, still have a phenomenal time. This month has made me realize one very important thing that not many college students realize:

Sobriety is nice.
And here are a few (well, 10) of the things I love: Read More »

You goin’ out tonight? Gonna hit the town and celebrate that final final? You gonna get so drunk that the only thing on your mind at the end of the night is gooey, cheesy and totally bad for you?

Me too!

But before you a make poor decision that involves you and the delivery places you clearly have on speed dial, read on. There are some snacks out there that are just not worth eating, no matter how many Vodka Red Bulls you’ve downed in honor of the end of History 240. Things you will regret more in the morning than last weekend’s romp with the History 240 T.A. Assuming all that fat and grease doesn’t prevent you from making it to the morning… Read More »

Summer is almost here and, ideally, we should all be eating lots of fruits and vegetables and hitting the gym every day. But really, who wants to do all of that work? We’re too busy to focus on eating well. We don’t have enough money to buy healthier foods. Sugary cocktails are too good to pass up after a hard day. The list goes on and on.

The point is, in most situations, we will come up with any excuse possible for eating badly. I’ve seen it happen too many times to count, and I also definitely admit to coming up with some pretty lame excuses myself. So, I’ve compiled a list of the most commonly heard excuses. Maybe the next time you’re about to say one, you’ll think about this and make a healthier choice.

1. “Finals are coming up. I’m stressed. Chocolate makes me feel better.” Yes, finals and the end of the semester do cause a ridic amount of stress, and eating chocolate might ease the pain, but while you’re scarfing down that king-sized Snickers bar, consider this: you could possibly be causing yourself more stress. When finals are over, and you look in the mirror and see that you’ve gained about 10 pounds, you will definitely start stressing about wearing that cute new bikini. Don’t let the stress get to you – chew some gum instead. Read More »

April is a busy month: Easter, Passover, Earth Day and, our personal favorite, 4/20.

We seriously curbed our smoking habits after a pretty serious waffle binge a few years back, but we let loose – munchies and all – once a year. And that day is comin’.

We’ve already started stocking up the CollegeCandy fridge with all of our favorites: Cheez-its, tater tots, Boboli, Double Stuf Oreos, peanut butter M&Ms, etc… Now all we need is some good ole’ hashish; good thing they deliver that sort of thing in NY.

People seem to be pretty particular about their munchies. Some like it salty and others like it sweet. Some like a little crunch, while others prefer things that don’t require chewing. We are very intrigued by this (probably because we are high right now), so this week we asked the CollegeCandy writers what they prefer to chow down on after hitting the bong/bowl/brownie.

What do you crave?

Laura – St. Johns: Anything with peanut butter… Mmm.

Brithny – Duke: POCKY!!! Although I was born on Pocky Day, so I’m a little biased :]

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Don’t judge, but it’s Frito chips with a little cream cheese. nom nom

Thu – USC: Hot brownie + ice cream = HEAVEN

Kari – FSU: 3-d Doritos….sadly they don’t make them anymore. Read More »

As a non smoker I find 4/20 to be absolutely unbearable. No one can give me a serious answer to my questions and my roommates raid the kitchen to the point that I find them crouched down mixing Craisins with dry pasta and calling it lunch.

But this year I had the fabulous idea of making it possible for me to enjoy my friends on a day when they enjoy nothing besides smoking…and things that are crunchy. I’ve come up with the top five best party themes to end 4-20 on as high (get it?) of a note as possible.

So invite your friend Mary Jane (yes I googled marijuana nicknames) and let’s party!

Amsterdam party
Nothing says mature and classy like a European party. So get out your clogs and grab your tulips because your party guests are going to Amsterdam. Give every guest a blank canvas and a pack of crayons when they come in and let them (Van) Gogh crazy as they create their own masterpieces.  Serve Rastafarian Rum.

Jay and Sexy Silent Bob Party
This one’s pretty self-explanatory. It’s a boy’s only party and your boyfriend is going to love you for putting it together. The tables are finally turned on the sexy costume stereotypes and the men are getting in on the action. Make sure each guests knows that if they choose to be a Sexy Silent Bob, they can’t speak all night. Oh, and don’t forget the munchies. Read More »

We all get the munchies from time to time. No, not just the “It’s 2 AM on a Friday, I’m seven drinks deep, how much does that pizza cost?” munchies, I’m talking about the “It’s 8 AM on a Tuesday and everyone in my lecture hall just looked at my stomach because it made a noise reminiscent of the MGM Lion” munchies.

So, how do you feed the in-class hunger? You’re in college, so no one is going to reprimand you for eating, but that doesn’t mean you should go buckwild and order pizza to the lecture hall, Spicoli-style.

Here are the best and worst snacks for those mid-class munchies.

THE BEST

Cereal Bars, protein bars, PowerBars, you know, the edible bars that don’t serve alcohol: These are lightweight, filling and easy for on-the-go. If you have a long day of classes, throw a couple of these suckers in your bag and you should be set for the day. If you’re heading to the dead silent section of your library, stay away from the extra-crunchy bars, as you might receive dirty looks from people trying to study.

Nuts!: Almonds, peanuts, cashews, whatever your nut of choice is, throw a handful in a baggie and bring ‘em! They’re great protein and fill you up, fast.

Bananas: If this snack isn’t annihilated courtesy of your twenty pound Calculus book, bananas are one of the best mid-class snacks. Sure, you might look a little ridiculous eating it, but bananas are quiet and not stinky, two very irritating factors of the “in class snack.” Read More »

Nothing says summer like sangria. Whether you’re planning in advance for Cinco de Mayo (beware of drunken frat boys in sombreros…) or feel like you should upgrade from Carlo Rossi’s gallon jugs, here’s a simple recipe anyone can follow, courtesy of DrinkoftheWeek.com

You’ll need:

* 2 bottles of red wine (750ml)

* 1/2 cup Triple Sec

* 1/4 cup tequila

* 1/4 cup sweet vermouth

* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

* Lemons, limes and oranges (sliced)

* Sugar to taste

* 2 cups Sprite or 7up

*And a punch bowl or pitcher to mix them in

Mix your wine, Triple Sec, tequila, sweet vermouth, and lime juice in your container of choice. Add sliced fruit and refrigerate for a few hours, just so your alcohol picks up the fruit flavors and vice-versa.

You don’t want your sangria to be all fruit, but the more you add, the more flavor will be picked up. If you’re feeling creative, you can add slices of apple and grapes to the concoction as well.

After your mixture’s thoroughly chilled, add your Sprite/7up and sugar to taste. Serve over ice and you’re ready for one cool evening… or afternoon. It’s always five o’ clock somewhere, right?

If you want to make this part of a perfect theme party, make some guacamole and bust out the tortilla chips. Or even make it part of a dinner party and keep it light with taco salad.