Eating Clean: The act of eliminating foods that are processed and/or nutritionally devoid.  (This includes choosing complex carb products over simple – i.e. brown rice over white rice.)

Advocates of “eating clean” tout a laundry list of benefits – more energy, better skin, weight-loss, and better muscle definition, etc…  They say that one should see a different within a couple of weeks – so I thought, how about a month? Then I thought, why keep all these benefits to myself? As your kindergarten teacher would say, sharing is caring!

So how is this really a challenge? As a recent college grad trying to make my way in the big city (NYC) with a roughly 50-60 hour work week on average, my schedule is pretty tight – especially if I want to fit in regular workouts, maintain my friendships and read CollegeCandy! [Editor's Note: Awwww!]

Originally, I had sort of thought it would be an easy challenge since I usually make a point of eating as healthily as possible. Well, as I went to the grocery store to do some preliminary research, I noticed that one had to be focused on finding foods that fit the criteria for “eating clean.” Shockingly (or maybe not), some of the worst offenders were the “healthy” or “diet” choice options. Now I realize that successfully completing this month’s challenge is going to take commitment, and so the next week will be about making a plan to deal with any potential pitfalls – i.e. working late at the office (a major point of concern in my line of work).

I just want to emphasize that this challenge is not about promoting a new diet fad nor a quick fix for rapid weight-loss.  In fact, in some ways it’s about just the opposite – it’s about forcing myself to take a hard look at what I am putting into my body on a day-to-day basis.  It’s high time that I deal with the inescapable fact that I cannot recognize half the ingredients present in my dinner – without a degree in Biology or Chemistry…

Feel free to join in and share your own experiences and of course yummy recipes are always appreciated!

Hot Pockets. Tiny capsules of molten hot cheese and questionable meat products and even more questionable vegetables. For a quick lunch, they aren’t terribly satisfying. They’re also packed with fat… even the low calorie varieties are packed with salt and MSG flavorings that aren’t too good for you.

You know what’s an easy, healthy solution? Making your own at home. Don’t panic. It’s easier than it sounds. Plus, these guys are delicious.

The main vegetables I use are broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and spinach. Broccoli is a great source of vitamin E, protein, and calcium. Carrots are great sources of vitamin C and iron. Tomatoes are known for being excellent sources of lycopene, which is believed to prevent certain types of cancer. Spinach is one of the most nutrient rich foods out there – it’s a great source of fiber, iron, protein and a slew of vitamins

Quick and Easy Veggie Pockets

You’ll need…

• 2 packages of low-fat crescent rolls OR 1-2 packages of pie crust dough (whichever you prefer)
• about 2-3 cups of spinach, roughly chopped
• 1 head of broccoli, trimmed and cut into small pieces
• about 1/4 of a package of shredded carrots (or you can use a cheese grater to shred about 1-2 handfuls of baby carrots)
• 2 tomatoes, cored and diced
• 1/4 tablespoons of Alfredo sauce
• Salt and pepper
• A pinch of garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• Additions: shredded or chopped up roasted chicken or turkey, smoked mozzarella cheese, green and red bell peppers, onion, celery

How to make it…

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or follow the instructions on whatever dough you are using).

In a bowl, combine broccoli, spinach, carrots, and tomato. Stir to combine. Add Alfredo sauce, salt and pepper, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Stir to combine. The mixture should be just wet enough to stick together – but not soaked in Alfredo sauce.

On a cutting board, form about 6-7 square pieces of crescent dough (keep the triangles together) or trim pie dough into square shapes. Add about 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture (until it looks full enough to you) to the middle of each square and fold the dough over to form a pocket. Use a fork to press the edges firmly so they don’t come apart while  baking. Repeat and place all of the pockets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake according the package instructions of the dough you used (usually about 10-15 minutes). These are great served warm or you can let them cool and wrap them individually in aluminum foil to take to class or work for a quick lunch!

(Don’t worry if you have left over filling. It can be kept in the fridge for about 24 hours and is great warmed up and tossed with a little bit of pasta!)

I am destined to be big-boned

1. Do not skip meals.

Sleeping through breakfast seems like the easiest way to cut calories and lose weight, right? Wrong! In high school, I did just that. I also decided to spend my lunch period most days talking instead of eating. I would never put food in my body until 3PM, and I wouldn’t stop eating until around 10PM. I justified my grazing by saying, “Hey, I haven’t eaten all day, after all!” By the time my body got fed, it had no idea what to do with so much disgusting, unhealthy food. The pounds finally started to budge when I put my body on a system. Eat something wholesome (oatmeal, whole-grain toast, an egg) as soon as you wake up. Give your stomach something to work on all day. Our tummies love consistency, so don’t forget lunch and dinner, either!

2. EAT your calories.

Even on days when you don’t think you’re eating much, you might be loading up on “blind calories” — calories you don’t even realize — just by what you drink. Anything other than water, black coffee, or plain tea is a weight conscious gal’s worst nightmare. While sports drinks and mineral water may be alluring, the sugar and additives are sure to sidetrack your best intentions. It’s the common misconception that fruit juices are must-have staples to a diet. The truth is, you are getting loads of sugar from the fruit itself (even if it’s unsweetened juice, check out the grams of natural sugar) and none of the fiber. Don’t have a glass of orange juice – eat an orange. Same goes for apple juice or cranberry juice or…, well, you get the idea. In general, allotting your calories for food rather than beverages will leave you much more satisfied.

3. Go do something!

I used to think that walking around the hallways to get to class was sufficient exercise for me. Like me, you may be stunned when you realize that your exercise isn’t as effective as you think it is. It also didn’t help that once I came home from school, I tended to spend hours and hours on youtube loaf around all night. The more often you can get your heart rate up, the better off you will be. Can’t commit to a strenuous gym regiment? Don’t despair. The most successful exercise is what can be incorporated into your daily life. In other words, park farther away, take the stairs, grab the bike instead of your car. Trade one TV program for a half-hour walk a day. You’ll be surprised at how gratifying it is. (And there’s always Tivo, after all).

4. Embrace veggies.

Growing up, I never never, ever ate vegetables. Mashed potatoes and corn on the cob was about as close as I came. Today, I can’t get enough of them, and I actually crave them. I love a huge plate of wilted spinach with a touch of sea salt, pepper, and olive oil as a base for my meat or grains. 50 calories for a cup of spinach keeps me way more satisfied than a small McDonald’s french fry order (230 calories) ever did. And I’ve never felt more alive since making veggies the bulk of my meals. I smile and run more than ever. That alone is worth it to me.

Don’t despair about weight loss. Just listen to your body. It can tell you more than any dieting book can. Being the person you’ve always dreamed of being is far from impossible for anyone. The former big-boned blob has spoken.

But before we start counting down the days until the end of the summer, let’s stop time and relish in the week that was:

* Behold: the 30 most overrated dudes in Hollywood.

* Stuck inside without a chance to see the sun? Have no fear, my friend; there is a better, more natural way to get your tan on this summer.

* And here is a tasty, refreshing and couldn’t-be-easier-to-make recipe that will get you through the humid, hot, and brutal summer ahead.

* We all know we get by with a little help from our friends, but do you know what type of friends will help you out the most? We do. And did you know just how good your friends can be for your future? Now you do.

* What is “healthy”? Is it skinny? Is it athletic? Is it one of these gorgeously curvy women?

* You know what’s not healthy (or remotely attractive)? Camel Toe. There, we said it. Hope you’re listening, Hollywood!

* By the way, why are teens still using the rhythm method? Come on, kids – we thought you were smarter than that.

* If you’re single and you know it clap your hands. And if you feel like there’s no one else out there to date…. join the club, girlfriend. Sad face.

But cheer up, little lady; at least we know there’s more Glee coming this summer. And summer BBQs! And flip flops! And most of all: the weekend! Put down the books, step away from the computer, and soak it all in!

This week’s ingredient: Kale!

If you’re sick of spinach and balk at Brussels sprouts, kale may just be the leafy-green vegetable for you! It’s a sweeter vegetable that is jam-packed with nutrients for very few calories. Among it’s all-star roster of vitamins are A, K, and C (just 2oz will give you more than your recommended daily value) as well as manganese, calcium, fiber, and iron. And at 70 calories per serving, you can’t miss.

Easy Meals

1. Liven up your omelet by adding chopped kale (available in the frozen foods aisle for convenience) and some goat cheese to two eggs, and serve with salsa.
2. Coat some kale leaves with extra virgin olive oil, set on a baking tray and bake at 375 for 10 minutes for crispy, crunchy kale chips.
3. Wrap some deli meat (turkey is my fave!) around your kale chips for extra protein.

The Recipe: Sweet and Savory Kale

This baby has it all: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even a dash of sweet maple syrup! If you’re not sure what your taste buds are craving, whip up this healthy side dish to satisfy every sensory desire.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 teaspoons all-natural maple syrup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups water with chicken bouillon
4 cups stemmed, torn and rinsed kale
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Mix mustard, sugar, vinegar, and bouillon water in a small bowl, then add to pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Stir in the kale, cover, and cook 5 minutes until wilted.
4. Stir in the dried cranberries, and continue boiling, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced by about half, and the cranberries have softened, about 15 minutes.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with sliced almonds before serving.

Nutritional info: Calories: 125 | Total Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 1mg

I have never really liked meat. The idea of a bloody (or even well-done) steak with neatly criss-crossed grill marks on my plate has never been appealing to me, and I have basically limited my carnivorous intake to the occasional chicken breast. My boyfriend is a vegetarian, and I can go for long stretches of time without eating any meat at all. So why am I not a vegetarian, too, already?

Here are the reasons I’ve come up with (while sitting over a bowl of my mom’s famous beef stew):

- It still doesn’t seem to be quite accepted. If you’re invited to dinner at someone’s house or invited to a wedding or some other bash, it’s assumed that you eat meat. If you don’t, you either have to make everyone feel bad by arranging for a special plate or you have to forage for roots and berries among the side dishes.

- Some of my favorite dishes from childhood have meat in them. Sure, I don’t eat them now, but when I go home and my mom makes them, it’s sweet (and they’re still delicious). Knowing I couldn’t eat those anymore would kind of depress me. Wait, who am I kidding? It would totally depress me.

- One of my goals is to travel around the world, and I don’t want to have to limit myself in any way when I do that. Especially when it comes to eating local fare that may or may not come from an animal.

- BACON. Need I say more?

Okay, but lately I’ve been giving these things more serious thought. World Vegetarian Day – which is happening right now! – is arriving at a perfect time for me, because I’m finally considering just making the plunge and going full veg. After all, none of my reasons from above are really relevant on an everyday basis, and here’s something else: fake meat is surprisingly good. Yeah, that’s right. I said it. That Morningstar bacon will never come from a real hog and will always look and taste just a little bit off, but honestly, it’s pretty damn good. Good enough for me to give up the real stuff.

Plus, protein is everywhere. I didn’t realize I ate so much protein on an everyday basis until I started tracking my food with The Daily Plate and saw that I usually get about 250% to 300% of my daily protein requirement – all without eating meat. These foods are just bursting with protein and I happen to eat them (in large quantities) on a daily basis:

Eggs
Milk
Soy milk
Cottage cheese
Regular cheese
Yogurt
Peanut butter
Nuts
Lentils

I don’t need some artery clogging meat to survive. I can live meat-free and still get everything I need. So here it is: October 1, 2009 just might be the onset of my own personal journey toward vegetarianism.

PETA, call me! I wanna do one of those naked ads!

What do you vegetarians think? Is it easy? What made you decide? Why should I do it?

What do you do when you’re craving delicious, spicy quesadillas? Put down your car keys — there’s no need for Taco Bell (especially when you are sober…that stuff is nasty!). This awesome dinner for two is healthy, inexpensive and easy. No drive-thru required.

You’ll need:

Whole wheat tortillas
1 cup instant brown rice
1 can black beans
1 green pepper, chopped (or you can buy frozen, diced peppers to save time!)
1 onion, chopped
Corn (on the cob is in season, therefore inexpensive and delicious, right now)
Organic salsa (or a chopped tomato)
Mojo marinade/sauce (sold in bottles at the grocery store)
6-8 oz. of chicken, marinated in the Mojo
Cayenne pepper
Black pepper
Salt
Your favorite toppings (lettuce, cheese, sour cream, guac, etc.,)

How You Do It:
1. Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the corn, bring to a boil, then add corn.

2. In a deep skillet, sauté half the peppers and onion in canola oil spray, about 5 minutes or until they’re tender. Set aside about half of them, leave the other half in the pan.

3. Add the black beans (with sauce) and bring to a boil. Add rice and bring to a boil again, let it cook for about 5 minutes.

4. Cover the rice and beans, reduce heat to low.

5. For the chicken, the quickest way to cook it is on the grill or in a skillet on medium-high heat, for about 5 minutes on each side (just make sure the center isn’t pink). If you’re short on time, you can use frozen, diced chicken and just cook it in some Mojo sauce to skip marinating it.

6. Spray both sides of a tortilla with canola oil. Add toppings, chicken, peppers and onion, then fold in half.

7. Remove corn from water. Spread with half a tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with cayenne pepper.

8. Heat a small pan on medium heat, then add the tortilla with all the fixins’. Grill on both sides until it’s golden brown.

9. Serve with corn and black beans and rice, margaritas optional!

For some reason I feel a sudden urge to be vegetarian.

Ew. Ew. Ew.

I always knew I was consuming extra calories when I had a bar night. But, if you ask me, if you can’t read the “Nutrition Facts” label, the calories don’t count. That’s why I refuse to buy full-fat Ben and Jerry’s, but don’t mind ordering dessert at Olive Garden. What you don’t know can’t hurt you, right?

If that’s your mantra, you may not want to click here.

This lovely little program lets you enter in how many drinks you consumed last night… and then tells you approximately how many calories you imbibed… and then proceeds to tell you how much food would be equivalent to that number.

Let me tell you, I wanted to cry after what was a reasonably low-key night, by my standards. Since I want to lose weight, I’ve been torturing myself with Smart Ones and steamed vegetables. Little did I know, I could have eaten three slices of pizza and a few donuts if I hadn’t downed a bottle and a half of wine last night.

It sucks, because you don’t always get full from drinking, and it’s hard to look at liquids as fatty foods. So many of us brush it off, gain the freshman fifteen, and have new beer guts for bikini season. Well, the new year is upon us, and it’s time for some resolutions. You want some motivation? Click the link.

This is my tribute, my thank you, my ode to certain foods for being so delicious (albeit not very nutritious) that I consume them in mass quantities and therefore am forced to spend far more time at the gym than I’d like. In no particular order the foods that I’d do anything for are:

1) French fries: Regular, sweet potato, waffle, frozen, deep fried to crispy, baked – I don’t care how they were cooked or in what form I get them, but I need them and I need them with like half of a bottle of ketchup. They’re vegetables though, right? No matter how much I eat, I always always always have room for fries, whether I order them or you do. I especially have room if you ordered them and I got a side salad.

2) Nutella: It’s really versatile if you consider all of the pairing options. Fruit like strawberries and bananas are begging for Nutella and it’is fantastic on bread or waffles or crackers. I am such a mixer that I also add it to ice cream and cake and you can use it in pies to line the graham cracker crusts with chocolately goodness (well, I do). Despite the mixing options, my favorite way to consume it: off of a spoon, straight from the jar.

3) Peanut Butter: It’s normally good for you because of the vitamin E and because of fiber and protein as well, however, the way in which I consume is it anything but healthy. Because usually I chase spoonfuls of Nutella with PB. Seriously the best sandwich in the world is peanut butter and Nutella on toasted potato bread. My favorite PB brand is Peanut Butter and Co. because not only is natural peanut butter simply amazing, the good people there have found ways to incorporate dark chocolate, white chocolate, honey and maple syrup in their already delicious PB to enhance the peanut butter experience.

4) Cookie Dough: It’s the perfect food because whether you consume it raw or cooked it all, it equals the most yummy thing ever. I remember one night making a dinner entirely of raw Pilsbury chocolate chip cookie dough. And I remember the day that I discovered that some genius put cookie dough in ICE CREAM. Sweet, sweet perfection. Despite my allergy to wheat, I still get my cookie dough fix because they make some pretty great gluten free varities. Score.

5) Fritos: Dipsy Doodles (or any other corn chip for that matter) never compared. God, I love Fritos. Scoops (the best because they are the biggest), regular, whatever, just give me Fritos. Especially after all of that Nutella and cookie dough. Frito Lays people, if you read this – please make a scoop the size of my face. Because I’d totally try to finish that.

Does your top five look anything like mine, which is carb and sweet chocolate and salty carb/fat followed by more sweet with chocolate and salty carb/fat?