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.

I’m going to be completely honest and admit that when I am stressed, I just want to EAT. Everything. As a nutritional sciences major, I can’t get away from thinking about food and studying it just makes me want to eat it more. Thankfully, as said nutrition major, I am also equipped with some pretty awesome information to prevent myself from becoming overweight. As a person who believes in walking the walk, not being overweight is a career decision for me as well as a health decision.

So what’s some of my stay-skinny secrets you ask?

Well my friends, one of my best secrets is eating nuts and seeds at least once per day. It might seem counterproductive to eat nuts and seeds, which are high in fat, to lose weight, yet studies show that nuts and seeds promote weight loss. Big time.  Research on the issue shows when an equal number of carbohydrate calories are replaced with nuts and seeds, weight loss increases. Scientists from Purdue University did a thorough review of all the research studies that looked at nut intake and weight loss. Guess what? They found a surprising inverse association between nut intake and Body Mass Index. As a lover of almond butter and walnuts, this news could not thrill me more.

Not only did they find nuts were conducive to weight loss, they also found that nuts and seeds are a rich source of nutrients and protect the heart and blood vessels.  So basically, in addition to keeping me skinny, my heart loves the stuff.  For example, almonds have a potent antioxidant effect, which leads to decreases in levels of bad cholesterol, and help to keep our arteries clear of nasty buildup. Read More »

Remember those nasty instant-oatmeal packages you would toss in the microwave on those mornings when you were all hungover but starving? Yeah, forget them. This isn’t that. This is waaaaay, way better.

Oatmeal is the perfect breakfast to warm you on a cold winter morning, or to keep you full and alive in a long, boring lecture until lunch. It’s tasty, healthy and super versatile, meaning it’s pretty much the perfect college meal.

So how do you make it well? It’s simple.

First, you need to get yourself some rolled oats. Not the quick-cooking kind – the regular kind. The only other staples you’ll need are milk (any kind, even soy is OK) and salt. And we all have that stuff lying around, right? Once you’ve got that down, then you can lay out your own personal oatmeal sundae bar: nuts, dried fruit, cream, sugar, honey, fresh berries, yogurt, chocolate chips, etc.

So here’s how you make your oatmeal:

1. In a small saucepan, put 1 cup of milk (or 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk) and a sprinkle of salt. Set the saucepan on medium-high heat.
2. When the milk starts to bubble up and simmer, pour in 1/2 cup rolled oats. Reduce the heat to low.
3. Cook at a simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring every so often so the oatmeal doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
4. When the oatmeal is the consistency you like, scoop it out and serve it! Read More »

[Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, saddest things he hears on his college campus. Join the Overheard revolution!Leave your own overheard convos in the comments or send ‘em over!]

(Heard from physics students walking behind me.)
Guy 1: So the senior design engineer says, hey, that’s a mismatched transistor! The deficient fusion constants differed from the manufacturing!
(General laughter.)
Guy 2: Oh, naw, man, you told it wrong. You messed it up.

(From a reader: Two girls, talking earnestly in a shopping center.)
Girl 1: Yeah, I know, that’s like… the worst fish to be, if you were a fish.
Girl 2: Yeah, like I would never want to be that fish. Literally.

(Two guys on a bench.)
Guy 1: You can’t just push people over because they’re poor!
Guy 2: Why not? I think that’s a great reason! Read More »

I’m starting to think that there is some truth to the rule, “You are what you eat.” I think my muffin top would attest to that statement. In general, I stick to a healthy diet (of cupcakes), but when it comes time to crack the books I know that my typical eating habits will affect my scholastic performance. While I usually opt for a bag of M&Ms at the library, I now know that a giant bag of sugar is not the best thing to get me through the hours of cramming.

In contrast, there are foods out there that have been shown to improve memory retention and attention span. Read: The foods I should be eating. I am one who will do anything to pass an exam, even if it means eating my way to better grades. Because what could be better?

Eat? For better grades? Grad school may be for me after all. Read More »

This show kind of makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit. Some of the folks are genuinely talented. Others just have a sob story gut-wrenching enough to tug at your heart, and your tear ducts.

But instead of talking about the good, the bad or the weepy, I’ve decided to share the crazy with you. Tonight’s freakshow? A performer by the name of Miss PussyKatt. You can already tell she’s batsh*t nuts by the gratuitous “T’s” and random “K.”

She solidified her place in the America’s Got Talent with this statement: “It kind of grew from dancing and I kept on taking the next step…This is a lot of hard work and the creativity and the process of it and it does take a lot of skill. And I constantly train and I always look for the next thing to do.”

I know, it doesn’t sound crazy, and it’s not until you see what this woman calls a talent.

Book her now folks! Miss PussyKatt is playing at a wedding, graduation, Bar Mitzvah or emergency room near you!

If nothing else, Miss PussyKatt gives me hope. Maybe next year I’ll take a belt sander to my legs and call it innovative. Or if I have some spare time I’ll learn how to juggle band saws. Sheesh. This is why some people aren’t too fond of America…and our lack of talent.