To the man (actually, I have a feeling it was probably a woman with PMS) who first decided to mix salty and sweet all in the same bite, I tip my fedora to you. Why we don’t have a chapter dedicated to you in our history books (between the first space expedition and the Civil Rights movement), I’ll never know. Because you were a revolutionary. A game changer.

You saw a gap and you filled it with sweet and salty goodness (and if you’ve ever had caramel popcorn or a chocolate covered potato chip then you know JUST what I’m talking about).

You REALLY understood what it means to be a w-o-m-a-n and our inability to make up our minds. First we want salty, then sweet, then a tuna sandwich (or is that just me?), then the whole cycle repeats itself.

But you went ahead and put it all together into one perfect little package and all was good in the world. And in my belly. Thanks to you, these 5 delectable sweet/salty treats were made possible. And thanks to me, everyone can know about and indulge in them.

Food Should Taste Good Chips in “Chocolate”: Not what you think. Not chocolate covered chips, but chips infused with chocolate. It’s completely different and totally unlike anything I’ve ever eaten before. Would you judge me if I admitted that I once ate an entire bag in a day? True story. Totes worth the muffin top. And hey, with all-natural ingredients it can’t be that bad for me, right?!

Pretzel M&Ms: I mean seriously ,does the newest addition to the M&M fam need any explanation (aside from that they’re even better with a little peanut butter on a spoon?!) And at 150 calories a pack, these aren’t TERRIBLE in portion controlled amounts.

Popcorn and Chocolate Chips: Pop a bag of healthy popcorn (like Orville Redenbacher’s 100 calorie packs) and sprinkle a few chocolate chips in there for a little bit of sweet without too much guilt. It’s a snack fit for TV premiere week.

Pretzels and Frosting: Sounds weird, tastes like a total unrealness. We used to gorge on this in high school (which explains the baby fat I sported until college….). Any flavor of frosting will do, but Funfetti is always a good choice.

Lara Bars: Specifically, PB&J and their newest (and most heavenly) addition, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.

Got any other salty/sweet must tries? Share below!

But that happy feeling won’t last if you don’t eat a little something after all that exercise. You need something to replenish your body, girlfriend! You want to get stronger, not burn yourself out. Your friends have suggested everything from protein shakes to lemon juice.What should you really eat after you workout? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not lemon juice.

Let’s start out simple. First, drinking water is essential for replacing what you  lost in that intense cardio sesh! Everyone knows you should drink 8 glasses of water a day, but you should increase that to 10-12 on days you’re working out.

Now for food: when it comes to eating after a workout, the key is getting a snack in within 45 minutes of finishing. But that doesn’t mean chowing down on a piece of cake or snacking on a few celery sticks. Post-workout snacks should have both carbs and protein in them. The carbs help replenish glycogen, and the protein helps rebuild and rehydrate muscle tissue, as well as stimulate your immune system to keep you healthy.

So it’s CRUCIAL that you eat after a workout. If you miss that 45-minute time period, you risk slowing “carb replenishment by 50 percent and protein repair by 80 percent.” Not only does that make your workout less effective, but it also leads to that so-sore-I-can’t-cough-without-crying muscle pain that we all know and loathe. Getting that protein keeps your muscles happy so you don’t have to hold your obliques to laugh after a difficult Pilates class.

So what would the ideal carb/protein snack be? Ideally, you need a 4:1 ratio of carbs to protein, as too much protein right after a workout can slow rehydration and glycogen replenishment. (So no 20-ounce steaks….)

Here are some tasty, easy and healthy carb-protein suggestions:

* Yogurt with fruit (Greek yogurt is best as it has more protein than your usual stuff)
* Peanut butter on whole wheat bread
* A handful of nuts
* Banana protein shake (bananas are an excellent source of potassium, which is great for those muscles)
* Peanut butter and banana on rice cakes
* Hummus and pita
* Turkey, cheese, and apple slices
* Tuna on whole wheat bread
* Pasta w/ chicken and spinach

I know many of us tend to skip out on eating after a workout – why gain back all those calories we just burned off? – but don’t! Eating will keep you healthy, strong, and actually increase those workout results.

Happy snacking!

I knew I just couldn’t lie to the intelligent ladies that you are, so I scrapped the article and came up with this.

Here are some of the worst snack options and their greener replacements to reduce your environmental impact… and your waistline. Seriously, think about this next time you go shopping; we’re all probably doing more harm than we even know.

Culprit #1: Tyson
Why it sucks: Tyson is one of the largest companies in the meat industry.  According to the movie Food, Inc. (which you all should see!), such large scale farming contributes to pollution, greenhouse gases, depletion of resources, antibiotic resistance and illness in workers and consumers, and poor employee treatment.
Don’t eat: Tyson’s fried chicken fillet sandwich. For so many reasons. Gross.
Eat instead: Gardenburger’s Original Veggie Burgers

Culprit #2: Smucker’s
Why it sucks: In environmental impact scores, Smucker’s ranks a lowly 463^rd out of 500 U.S. companies with a score of 7.8 out of 100.  I think if you got a 7.8% on a test you’d officially get an F-.
Don’t eat: Smucker’s Goober Jam/Peanut Butter sandwich
Eat instead: Trader Joe’s Organic Peanut Butter and banana sandwich

Culprit #3: Dr. Pepper Snapple Group
Why it sucks:  This beverage company, like most, use large amounts of plastic to make single-serving bottles of soda and juice.  Not only is soda linked to obesity and diabetes, but the plastic is also very energy intensive to make and often end up in landfills.  Yeah, Best Stuff on Earth, my a**.
Don’t drink: Dr. Pepper, Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, or any of that crap.
Drink instead:  Club soda with a squeeze of lime.

Culprit #4: Hormel
Why it sucks:  All of their products are heavily packaged in unnecessary amounts of plastic and glass, both of which use a lot of energy to make and never decompose.
Don’t eat: Hormel Compleats Microwave Meals
Eat instead: Amy’s Microwave Meals

Got an opinion on the food industry or specific corporations?  Have your say in the comments section!

Sadly, this is not a picture of the snack mix. My roommate ate it before I could snap a photo. No joke.

Thanksgiving to New Year’s (and the few days after when you’re lying around attempting to kick the hangover) is pretty much the universal stuff-your-face time period. It’s suddenly acceptable to drink gallons of Starbucks holiday drinks and eat desserts like there’s no tomorrow.

It isn’t the healthiest thing, but we’ll worry about that tomorrow when our ambitious “go to the gym at least 5 times a week” resolution kicks in.

Or we won’t, because there are some things in life that are more important than your flat abs, and this snack is one of them. Seriously, this stuff is the reason I go to the gym. Not to burn off the calories from eating bowls full of it, mind you, but to work up an appetite so I can eat more of it.

My grandma has been making this snack mix for years and it never fails to make it into my belly. It’s just the perfect combination of salty and sweet resulting in a savory, dessert snack mix combo. It’s super easy to make, looks great in a bowl on the table and will be the hit of any party you may be throwing. It also happens to go swimmingly with long study sessions, a few back-to-back episodes of 30 Rock, or when you’re barefoot and standing over the counter late-night.

Or, you know, whenever.

The good news? You can adjust the ingredients to make it your own. You can use dark chocolate to make it a bit healthier, or mix all three for a fun (and delicious) tie-dye batch.

Ingredients:
10 oz. pretzels
1 can (14 0z.) cashews
5 cups corn Chex
5 cups Cheerios
2-12 oz. packages of white chocolate chips
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Recipe:
1)    Mix pretzels, cashews, corn Chex and Cheerios in a large bowl. Set aside.
2)    Melt the white chocolate and vegetable oil in the microwave (2 minutes).
3)    Add chocolate mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until covered.
4)    Spread out on wax paper and let cool (it will dry into one big block).
5)    Break into pieces and eat away!!

Warning: Do not sit in front of the bowl, I repeat: DO. NOT.  It is extremely addicting and you will eat the entire thing. Instead grab handfuls as you pass through the room to control consumption.

You know that really annoying friend of yours who feels the incessant need to point out that they were the first to know about a now really popular band? Every. single. time. it comes on the radio?

As annoying as they are, there is something exciting about the knowing of a new band, new clothing brand, great sale, awesome book or recipe, and sharing it with the ones you love. And by ones you love, I mean the ones you go back and forth with right here on the CollegeCandy message boards.

So here’s the deal: every week, we will feature things that YOU think other CollegeCandy readers just have to know about. Anything at all. Nothing is off limits. You share it with me and I’ll pass along the goodness.

Old Soul, New Heart
If there is one great way to make that old black frock new again it’s with accessories. And if there is one new amazing accessories website to do just that with it’s Old Soul New Heart. This mother/daughter duo has made a brand new spot in my big ol heart. I’m obsessed. Obsessed as in, I’d buy the whole line. Obsessed as in, if Old Soul New Heart were a boy, I would be standing outside his window right now proclaiming my love for all things feathered and sequins. (And I wonder why I’m single.) And if the sheer cuteness of the product wasn’t reason enough to go stalker crazy on this line, it’s price point will having you make room in your heart and your closet, as well.

Kind Bars
We all know that 4pm “time for a snack” feeling. You’re back from lecture and nothing good is on TV so you are stuck watching Pimp My Ride because, in the moment, that seems far more appealing then reading for class. And eating seems like a far better activity than going to the gym. Well, the least you can do is eat something healthy while you rot your brain with MTV mid-day programming. Like the Kind Bar. It is not only good, but – wait for it – good for you! (Now there’s a line I bet you’ve never heard.) Kind Bars are all natural, gluten free and these bad boys hit the spot with their perfect mixture of salty/sweet/crunchy goodness. And now you can find them at most Starbucks locations. With an average of 190 calories a pop you can bet that they will be kinder (ha!) to your waistline than that pumpkin loaf staring you in the face.

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, right now. Well, not right now, but soon. Like, every Thursday.

You know that really annoying friend of yours who feels the incessant need to point out that they were the first to know about a now really popular band every. single. time. it comes on the radio?

As annoying as they are, there is something exciting about the knowing of a new band, new clothing brand, great sale, awesome book or recipe, and sharing it with the ones you love. And by ones you love, I mean the ones you go back and forth with right here on the CollegeCandy message boards.

So here’s the deal: every week, we will feature things that YOU think other CollegeCandy readers just have to know about. Anything at all. Nothing is off limits.

Guffly.com
We all are trying to be green: wear more green, eat more green, recycle more green, earn more green. But sometimes it’s hard because we don’t know where to look for the best products. And let’s face it – some of those eco-friendly fashions have been hit with the ugly stick one too many times. Not to mention the sometimes way-out-there price tags – I mean I could buy some Jimmy Choo’s for the price of some of these reusable forks, frocks and eco-friendly gym bags! But thankfully, Guffly has come to our rescue. Guffly is a one-product-per-day online store (perfect for those of us who get overwhelmed by too many fabu products at once!). They feature eco-friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. They have made it their jobs (literally!) to find only the most stylish eco-friendly and fair trade products out there.  Now you can actually do something good for the environment, feel good about yourself AND still look cute. Sign me up. 

Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds (Dark Chocolate Flavor) 100 Calorie Packs
When 4:00 rolls around, you will not want to be my friend if I don’t have a snack first. This is the honest truth. But it’s always so hard for me to find a snack that:
1)      Fulfills the cravings for both something sweet and crunchy/salty (something I believe all girls can relate to)
2)      Will actually keep me full until dinner (AKA has protein)
3)      Isn’t so high in calories that I will have to resort to a bag of lettuce for dinner
4)      Is damn good

Okay so I’m high maintenance when it comes to snacks. But I’ve found the answer and it’s the 100 calorie pack of Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds!  I am usually not a proponent of 100 cal packs; they are filled with chemicals, artificial sweeteners and empty carbs that do nothing but spike your blood sugar leaving you ravaged and ready to tear into any vending machine goody you can get your hands on. (Read: first stop, my thighs!)  But these little gems (or Emeralds, rather) are a delish, protein (with chocolate!) filled treat. Throw one in your purse so you won’t have an excuse to buy that pumpkin loaf on your way to the lib.

Glee
You may already know about Glee, but it’s so good in that cheesy I-can’t-believe-it-takes-me-to-my-happy-place-but-it-does kind of way that for those of you who don’t know (or watch) I just had to share. The music: amazingness. The eye-candy: heavenly. Everything about this show screams “Guilty Pleasure!” except I don’t feel guilty. Not even a smidgen. When Lea Michele hits those high notes  the inner “I wish I was a pop star” comes right up to the surface and, before I know it, I’m singing in my hairbrush and dancing to Journey or Celine in front of my window (until my neighbors notice). Too much? Trust me – watch it and you will be doing the same!

Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, right now. Well, not right now, but soon. Like, every Thursday.

Who doesn’t love a little Southern cooking? Fried, greasy goodness? I wouldn’t trust someone who didn’t dream about it once in awhile.  And better yet, who doesn’t love a little Southern dessert? There is nothing. better. on earth. (I love you, Paula Dean!)

This recipe comes from my best friend’s mother, Mrs. D, a Southern mom who doesn’t have time to bake like all those other mommas.  These Oreo Balls are easy, quick and delicious, which is perfect for the college girl with a sweet tooth. You’ll need zero to no cooking experience or talent, so don’t fret if you’re not Betty Crocker. Hell, you don’t even need a full kitchen; you can make these balls of heaven right in your dorm room.

There are a lot of different recipes for Oreo Balls out there, but, again, I’m sticking with Mrs. D on this one. That woman totally knows her shiz.

Ingredients:

- 1  Package Oreo cookies, crushed
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 bag chocolate chips, melted or 2 packages dipping chocolate  (white, dark, milk – whichever you prefer!)

Directions:

1. Mix the crushed Oreo cookies and cream cheese together in a bowl. Use food processor or blender to speed up this process.
2. With your hands, roll Oreo and cream cheese mixture into small balls.  Place on baking sheet lined with wax paper.
3. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes.
4. Melt chocolate chips or dipping chocolate in the microwave until melted.
5. Using a toothpick, dip the Oreo balls into the melted chocolate.  Cover well.
6. Let Oreo balls harden on a wax-paper lined cookie sheet in fridge or freezer. Takes about 15 minutes.
7. Keep in fridge! Serve cold and enjoy!

Makes about 25 – 40 Oreo Balls, depending on how you make them.

*To make a healthier version of these Oreo balls, try using low-fat cream cheese! But, really, what difference does that make?

1. Sunglasses - With the sun reflecting off the ocean and the sand, you need dark shades to protect your eyes. Plus, you can check out the hotties playing football down by the water without looking like a total creep.

2. A magazine or trashy novel – It’ll keep you entertained when you’re lounging in the sun, and it’s also a good way to look like you’re doing something else when you’re really staring at afore-mentioned hotties.

3. Sunblock – Again, seems totally obvious, but the LAST thing you want is to come back from your vacay looking like a lobster. Not to mention that you’re putting yourself in danger for skin cancer without it!

4. Beach-friendly makeup -If you can’t go out without makeup, even at the beach, know that your regular makeup routine isn’t going to hold up to the heat, sand, and water, so just keep it simple with some basics: tinted moisturizer (don’t forget the SPF!) and tinted lip balm or an all-over color stick to keep you looking fresh and naturally pretty all day (like this one from E.L.F.).

5. A cute cover-up – A tunic or minidress is perfect, because it’s small enough to fit into your bag, and you can throw on over your bathing suit if you and your friends decide to browse the beachside shops or grab some much needed margaritas.

6. Antibacterial Wipes – There is nothing worse than rubbing the sand out of your eyes only to realize you rubbed the SPF right into them.  Eliminate the burn by wiping off those hands after you slather on the sunscreen.

7. Tissues/T.P. – Laugh at me if you will, but who knows that those public restrooms have in store for you. Do you want to drip dry in a bikini? I think not.

8. Ziploc baggies – For everything from your wet swimsuit to protecting your precious iPhone from the sand.

9. A flask - What? It’s spring break!

10. Snacks – Whatever is in that flask is bound to give you the munchies. Besides, beach-side restaurants and shops charge a boatload of money for a bag of chips, so bring your own. If you don’t end up eating them, someone will, making you the most popular lady on the beach.

Don’t worry; you can still eat some of the chocolatey peanut butter thing.

1. Exercise: Whether it is Christmas dinner, or a plate full of latkes, you know you will be eating something out of the ordinary (and off the charts in terms of calories) this holday season. Prepare in advance by getting a workout in. Most gyms are open – even on Christmas day – so don’t use the holiday as an excuse to take a vacation from fitness. Unless you want everyone to buy you a size up in the clothes on your holiday wish list.

2. Eat Before You Go: Whenever I go to holiday meals I tend to starve myself all day to make room for the scrumptious treats that will be served. That is a good idea in theory, until I find myself taking second and third servings of very unhealthy foods (and feeling horribly guilty/angry at myself later). Don’t go to these meals hungry! Eat a little snack before you go to curb your hunger, that way you can have a little bit of the foods you love without going completely overboard.

3. Survey The Scene: Your meal will most definitely have a ton of options, so take a lap and see what there is before you start loading up the plate. Once you see everything there is to offer, choose your dinner wisely – and, yes, you can take your favorites! – so you eat what you like without going nuts. But…

4. Moderation is Key: No one is telling you not to enjoy those special holiday foods. That would be unfair. (And totally hypocritical considering we are chowing down on a holiday cookie right now.) But just because you have to eat some of Grandma’s special pie, doesn’t mean you need to eat three giant hunks of it. Have a little slice and savor it; you will get the flavor without getting the gut.

Fall is finally here, and that means the end of bathing suit season! What better way is there to celebrate than with chocolate? And caramel? And peanuts? And popcorn? Exactly–there isn’t.

So light some pumpkin scented candles, throw open your windows and kick off fall with some delicious, sinful goo-goo clusters, and smile smugly about the fact that you can guiltlessly eat three (or four) without worrying about string bikini jiggle.

You will need:

1 bag of classic caramel squares (not the hard candy)

3 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. water

2 bags light butter microwave popcorn

1 cup peanuts, lightly salted

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cinnamon, to taste

Get Poppin’

1. Set your oven to 300 degrees.

2. In a large pot, heat caramel, butter and water on low to medium until melted, stirring occasionally, until smooth. The mixture will be smooth and drizzly (mmm) when it’s ready. Tip: peel all your caramels BEFORE you turn the stove on…I learned the hard way, and ended up with burnt caramel.

3. While your caramel melts, start popping your popcorn.

4. When caramel is melted, turn heat to low.

5. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. On it, combine your pop corn with the peanuts and chocolate chips. The chips will turn slightly gooey (in a completely delicious and mouthwatering way), so fight the urge to eat it all immediately.

6. Drizzle your caramel mixture over the entire mixture with a spoon, occasionally stirring the mixture to make sure it’s evenly coated.

7. Sprinkle the whole mixture with cinnamon, then pop the baking sheet into your oven (it should be done pre-heating) and set the timer for 15 minutes.

8. Your entire apartment, at this point, will smell like heaven, chocolate, magic, David Beckham’s pillow (at least what I think it smells like) and sweet, sweet caramel. I give you permission to peek in on your concoction every few minutes to make sure when it’s ready.

9. When the chocolate is evenly melted, take the sheet out of the oven. Make sure it’s totally cooled for about 10 minutes (agonizing, I know) then break into small clusters and spread out on another sheet of aluminum, or wax paper if you have it handy. Let it cool for about 5 more minutes.

And voila! You have perfect caramel popcorn goo-goo clusters to enjoy!