This post provided by college nutritionist, author, and all around excellent source of healthful info, Melanie Jatsek.

If I were to tell you that eating certain foods in the right combination will make you more alert and focused, would you give them a try?  How about if I told you that some of your food choices are literally draining your brain power? Would you think twice before chowin’ down on them?

The bad news – it’s true!
The good news – you don’t have to completely overhaul your diet in order to get results.

Three factors influence what I like to call your “brain power”:  meal composition (the foods that make up your meal), meal size and meal frequency. Allow me to break it all down for you: Read More »

If you’re a bit calorie-conscious like me and won’t go near any form of full-fat, greasy potato chips, here’s a great alternative to satisfy those pesky salty/crunchy/carb-loaded cravings.

I can’t believe we’ve never talked about them before on CC. Because Popchips are off. the. chain!

I had heard a lot about Popchips, but was a bit skeptical the first time I brought them home. That lasted about 2 seconds.

When I opened the bag, I could smell the deliciousness of the BBQ-flavored chips just waiting for me to devour them. And so I did. And they were awesome, down to the last finger-licking crumb. I found them to be light and airy, kind of like popcorn, but a lot more flavorful and crispy.

The best part is that they’re completely guilt-free! Since they’re not fried in oil, but rather “popped”  using heat and pressure (don’t worry, I don’t get it either) the chips have half the fat of a typical potato chip with no trans fat, no saturated fats, no cholesterol and no preservatives. Read More »

Thanks to my dad making breakfast for me every morning until the day I left for college, I now feel incredibly weird and sick if I don’t eat it, like I’ve left my nose or my left leg at home.

But I know it’s not that way for everybody, and some of us struggle to find the time to even make breakfast. Is it worth it? Hell, yes! Eating a great, healthy breakfast will prevent mid-morning munchies and leave you feeling much more alert and energetic. Not a fan of oatmeal or cold cereal, though? No problem. Try these fab alternatives:

Breakfast Burrito: No, I’m not talking about that abomination they serve up at McDonald’s that’s stuffed with sausage, cheese, and trans fats. I’m talking about utter deliciousness. In a bowl, mix two tablespoons of peanut butter (crunchy or creamy, your choice) with one sliced banana, a generous dollop of honey, and a few walnuts or bits of crunchy granola. Spread the mix on a tortilla, pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds, and you have a tasty power breakfast to go.

Mighty Muffins: I’ve tasted a lot of muffins, and these are hands-down the best and healthiest I’ve ever tried. You’ll need one banana, 2/3 c of whole-wheat flour, ½ tsp baking soda, 3 tablespoons of shortening or butter, 1/3 c of sugar, one egg, 1 tablespoon of honey, ¼ tsp salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and ¼ c sour cream. Read More »

Sure, you’ve had a rough day. You failed a quiz, got in a fight with your mom and your roommate’s boyfriend has become a constant presence in front of your t.v. You go to The Cheesecake Factory and decide for a much needed indulgence, you’ll soothe yourself with Chris’ Outrageous Chocolate Cake.

But did you know the treat contains more than half the calories you need for the day? This cake clocks in at 1,380 calories and a whopping 33 grams of saturated fat.

Shocked? Soon, if you live in New York City, there will be no more snack surprises. The city’s Board of Health unanimously approved a new law requiring chain restaurants to display the calorie content of their foods. Hopefully this new transparency with menus will spread across the nation, along with New York’s 2006 ban of trans fat.

For ladies who work hard to stay slim and eat healthy, this is welcome news. It’s not tough to get duped when eating out. Remember how those fast food salads can be just as dangerous to eat as Whoppers once you figure in the high-fat salad dressings?

With this new law, it will be easy to go out and have fun with friends without freaking out about our diets or accidentally taking in too many calories. Get those forks ready and nix the freak out!