Category Archives: Health & Fitness

5 Healthy Foods to Keep in Your Dorm / Apartment

Filed under: College Life, Health & Fitness - Angelina
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When you go grocery shopping every few weeks, which foods do you find yourself buying the most of? If it’s chips, sugary cereals, or lunchables, you might want to reconsider where you’re spending your money. They may taste good, but they’re not the best thing to put into your body. Splurge on a treat once a week if you must, but the rest of the time, focus on the “good stuff.”

Take a look at the list below to see five healthy foods that should always be in your dorm room or apartment.

1. Soup

A well-known comfort food. Soup is cheap, takes little effort and time to prepare, and pairs well with grilled cheese sandwiches, a side salad, or even just crackers. Eat it at home, or fill a thermos for when you’re on your way to class.

Hot Bowl of Soup

Photo © dmarkj22

2. Greek Yogurt

You may have heard rumors that Greek yogurt tastes bad, but try it for yourself. I recommend Oikos and my personal favorite, Chobani. Greek yogurt can have twice as much protein as regular yogurt, which means you’ll feel fuller and more satisfied longer. It also works in smoothies, desserts, and with fresh fruit mixed in.

Delicious Greek Yogurt and Fruit

Photo © raylynntexas

3. Brown Rice

Nowadays, cancer is a huge cause of death, but studies have shown the more fiber you have in your diet, the less risk you have for getting it. Brown rice, oatmeal, and most kinds of beans will help you get this fiber in each day.

Hot Bowl of Brown Rice

Photo © musicpb

4. Fruit

Switch it up and keep a few bananas, kiwi, pears, pomegranates and/or peaches around. Buy them in bulk or ready-to-eat. It might be more expensive, but at least you’ll reach for it first if it’s already cut up.

Bananas and Peaches, Fruit

Photo © Annalisa-

5. Almonds

They reduce bad cholesterol and help you lose weight, what more could we ask for? They’re also a great in-between-classes snack, giving you that extra boost of energy you may need to get through your last class. Also try: walnuts, pecans, or cashews.

Bowl and Bag of Almonds

Photo © Nutsinbulk

Unless you shop when you’re hungry (which is a big universal no-no) it should be easy to shop healthy with a list like this in hand to guide you.

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4 Foods Every College Student Needs

Filed under: Health & Fitness, Money/Budget - BookRenter Team
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College students are always on a budget when it comes to food. After factoring textbooks, tuition and rent into their budget, there’s usually not much money left to splurge on food! Here are four essential foods every college student should have stocked in their pantry. Below are attached links for other alternative recipe options students can make using the products. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to cook and eat the same meal every day. Spice up these boring products with some of these alternative recipe suggestions!

• Spaghetti/ Pasta Sauce: Every student uses spaghetti sauce. It’s an essential part of the college food group system, and the possibilities are endless. You can make the typical spaghetti, add in some meatballs or hotdogs, and you’re good to go! Other alternatives using pasta sauce: Sloppy Joes, Tomato Soups, Tomato Stews, Casseroles, Marinade and more! Check out this website for 50 recipes you can make with pasta sauce.

• Spam: This meat in a can fulfills the meat cravings for students on a budget! Buy this product in bulk at a local Costco or Walmart. Most people fry spam and eat it with salads, egg, rice or bread – and there are many ways of serving Spam that many college students don’t know about. Other alternatives using spam: Spam masubi, BLT spamwiches, Spam Turnovers, Burritos, 7-layer dip, Spam meatballs and more! Check out the top-rated Spam recipes for more ideas.

• Ramen Noodles: When people think of college student’s diets, they think ramen noodles. Ramen is the most affordable food product that majority of college students eat. You can find them for 25 cents each at a local grocery store. It’s the quickest meal for students on the go, just boil water, add noodles, flavor powder and you’re done! Other alternatives using ramen: Ramen noodle alfredo, stir-fried ramen noodles, 3 bean ramen salad, chicken parmesan over ramen noodles. Here’s 100 recipes to spice up your ramen noodle diet.

• Canned Tuna: Canned tuna is a great option for students who are vegetarians or are sick of eating Spam. Most people eat canned tuna straight out of the can with crackers. Another popular way of using canned tuna is to make a tuna sandwich using mayo, egg and relish mixed in with the tuna. You can buy canned tuna in bulk at a local Walmart or Costco. You can also find them at the dollar stores, but be sure to check their expiration dates before buying! Other alternatives using canned tuna: Pasta Salad, tuna melt, casserole, tuna burger, tuna meatballs, tuna salads. Take a look at all the top-rated canned tuna recipes.

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Snooze or Lose!

Filed under: College Life, Health & Fitness, Tips - Angelina
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As a college student, a lot of our nights are spent staying up late studying, finishing a paper, going out to the bars, or trying to find some time to ourselves to finally relax. It is quite rare for any student to go to bed early and sleep in to a sufficient time. A lot of students (even after staying up late the night before) wake up early to do last minute studying, early morning work-outs, or go to class. Between going to bed late and waking up early, the quality of our sleep is significantly declining.

The Facts

College students are supposed to sleep on average between 7-9 hours per night. However, the real average comes to less than 6.9 hours per night. Sleep is a time to put our body and mind to rest. The typical university life requires sleep time for the body to refuel and for the brain to refresh and improve learning and memory, yet sleep time keeps decreasing.

Girl sleeping on pillow

Photo © RelaxingMusic

Impact

Sleep deprivation has a major impact on your body, mind, and studies.

  • Decreased Immunity
  • Mood Swings / Bad Mood
  • Decreased Flexibility and Strength
  • Weight Gain
  • Impaired Attention Span
  • Memory Deficiency
  • Poor Academic Performance
Failed Exam Grade

Photo @ Ryan Yam

Better Habits

Get yourself into a better sleeping habit to avoid sleep deprivation. Here are some tips:

  • Bed Time Ritual - Do certain tasks right before sleep to let the body know it’s time to wind down and prepare for bed (ex. Brush your teeth, wash your face, relax). Also, go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.
  • Relax – Calm anxiety and daily stress away by making time for yourself. Include this in with your ritual (ex. Read a book, listen to relaxing music, take a bath).
  • Light Snack – Eat something small (ex. Yogurt, Granola Bar, Mixed Nuts).
  • Avoid Naps – This will prohibit you from sleeping later and ruin your routine!
  • No Stress Zone – The bed is not a place for thinking, worrying, or making to-do lists. Try to get this all out BEFORE you hop into bed.
Relaxing in bubblebath while reading

Photo © Kevin H.

Our whole day depends on proper sleep, so it is time to stop neglecting an important part of our daily schedule! Sleep right – sleep tight!

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Cool Dinners for Hot Days

Filed under: Health & Fitness, Seasonal Celebrations - Social Community Manager
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“It’s too hot to cook.” How many times have you heard this from your friends or family when it’s time for dinner? It can be easy to use this as an excuse for not cooking a real meal when the weather is warm and cooking requires using the oven, but – surprise, surprise – there are actually meals out there that are perfect for warm weather, and don’t require the use of an oven!

fruit salad

Photo © Dinner Series

Fruit Salad

Besides being totally healthy and thirst-quenching, fruit salad is super easy to prepare and put together! You can either cut up a lot of fruit the days leading into hot weather, or put the salad together the day of for a fresher taste. For a twist on the traditional “just fruit” fruit salad, try adding some yogurt, walnuts, coconut shavings, or raisins. For an extra special twist, add marshmallows.

bread and cheese

Photo © Geoff Peters

 

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Rachael Ray’s recipe for black bean and corn salad doesn’t require too many ingredients and it takes less than half an hour to prepare. Add some tortilla chips on the side and you’ve got a meal!

Tapas Plate with Marinated Chickpeas

Sounds fancy for a college student, right? Take a look at Real Simple Magazine’s recipe and you’ll see that although it has a fancy name, it’s super easy to throw together.

Creamy Shrimp Rolls

Getting hungry yet? If you love seafood, this recipe is for you, and there’s no better time to have it than during the summer! You can add some chips or salad on the side, but from the photo, the shrimp roll might be pretty filling on its own.

Sandwiches

sandwich

Photo © flavorrelish

I’m not talking PB&J here, kids. Ham, tuna, and chicken are all healthier choices and they all taste great with fruit; this is the perfect time to get creative! Try Tasty Kitchen’s Fancy Chicken Salad or the super easy Hearty Apple Sandwich. If you don’t feel like taking the time to cook chicken, buy some already cooked from the store and chill it for a bit.

Feeling inspired? Cop a few recipes from your mom, ask your friends what their favorite hot day meals are, or do some experimenting in the kitchen on your own. Whatever you do, leave a comment letting us know what you recommend!

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The Benefits to Your Coffee Craze

Filed under: Digital Interns, Health & Fitness - Social Community Manager
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Where would us college students be without coffee? It has been there for us through rough mornings, late nights, and our sweet cravings!

It is there for us in more ways than you may think – some of which are positive, among all the negative buzz. So sip down these facts with your next cup!

1. Health Advantages

  • Free Radicals – Free radicals are molecules in our body responsible for tissue damage, aging, and some diseases. They end up bonding with and damaging         other molecules in our body. Antioxidants end up preventing free radicals from harming healthy tissue. Coffee beans contain more than 1,000                   antioxidants called phytochemicals to help keep those free radicals tamed!
  • Prevents Muscle Pain – About two cups of coffee may actually cut post-gym muscle aches to those who are not casual drinkers.
  • Weight Balance- Drinking after a meal causes your body to slowly digest the meal you just ate, making you feel full for a longer period of time. It also    increases your overall metabolism to help you burn off calories.

2. Intellectual Improvement

  • Memory – Sustained attention and memory have been proven to increase with consumption of caffeinated coffee.
  • Grammar –  It can also help you proofread with increasing your odds at finding grammar errors.
coffee

Photo © Dedie Deryder-Pope

3. Sex Life Boost

  • Sex Drive – Coffee may enhance sex drive among those that do not drink coffee habitually.
  • Fertility – It has also been claimed to increase fertility in men by increasing sperm mobility.

4. Reduce Cancer Risk

  • Skin Cancer – Women who drink more than three cups of coffee a day have a 20% lower risk of skin cancer, while men have 9% lower risk.
  • Prostate Cancer – Drinking 1-3 cups a day could reduce the risk of prostate cancer for men by 30%.

5. Disease Decrease

  • Alzheimer’s - Coffee boosts the levels of GCSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) that fights off Alzheimer’s.

About 4-5 cups can remove the beta-amyloid plaques associated with the disease in the brain.

  • Parkinson’s – A few cups a day can also lower the risk of Parkinson’s Disease by 25%.
  • Diabetes – Also, the more coffee you drink (caffeinated or decaffeinated), the lower your risk is at developing Type 2 Diabetes.

6. Make You Happy!

  • Mood Boost- Regular coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of depression than non-coffee drinkers. Caffeine is known to affect the brain since it modulates mood transmitters.

    coffee

    © Health Mentor

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