Stephanie Is All About February

1.  Name: Stephanie

2.  Be honest, did you watch the Superbowl? Yes, I watched it. And by “watch” I mean it was on in the background while I procrastinated about my doing homework by Facebook stalking.

3.  Romantic comedy or love story? Romantic comedy–love stories just give us poor perceptions of reality. Sorry, someone’s gotta be the Negative Nancy!

4.  Favorite ‘love’ movie(s): Runaway Bride, The Notebook, My Best Friend’s Wedding

5.  Love getting or giving Valentine’s cards? Both!

6.  My Valentine’s cards have to have the following cartoon character: Spiderman!

7.  Chocolate or flowers? Flowers. I can’t eat them … or at least it would be really awkward if I did.

8.  Favorite flower: French tulips (and, of course, the wine carnation)

9.  A great Valentine date would be: tall, attractive, wealthy, have a great sense of humor and adore me (that’s the kind of date you meant, right?)

10.  My favorite love quote: “This love is difficult, but it’s real.” Thanks for that, T-Swizzle.

11.  Things that ‘make my world go round and I love’: 5-hour phone conversations, cuddling, that “new love” feeling, srat sisters, Christmastime at Starbucks, Michigan sunsets

12.  Favorite Winter Olympic sport: Bobsled!

13.  Anything else you love about February: It only has 28 days, and it’s Black History Month. Plus my school gives us a week off for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Stephanie Hardiman is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM). She is a senior journalism major at Washington and Lee University. She is a proud sister of Pi Beta Phi and will be drawing anatomically correct hearts on her valentines.

Healthy, Nutty Snacks for College Girls

Every now and then, we all need a quick pick me up. Alright, I take that back… as college students, we need energy boosters at least every three hours because of our crazy busy lives!

At College Lifestyles, we recently discovered the extraordinary and healthy nut line of Sahale Snacks. Sahale Snacks (pronounced sah-HAH-lee) combines decadent and exotic flavors into their nut blends. One of the company’s motto is,  “Who says indulgent can’t be healthy?“

Here is our review of Sahale Snack’s Glazed Nut and Nut Blends Line:

Cashews with Pomegranate +Vanilla

These were so delicious! I’ll admit I am a huge cashew fan and could probably eat an entire container of them in two sittings. These Glazed Pomegranate and Vanilla Cashews completely hit the spot and would taste amazing as a late night study snack.

Valdosta Pecans with Sweet Cranberries, Black Pepper + Orange Zest

This southern inspired nut blend flavor had a very peppery taste to it. I think you’ll either love the subtle hint of black pepper, or hate it. For me the black pepper was a little too overpowering, but I did enjoy the dried sweet cranberries!  I wouldn’t buy these again because I like cashews and almonds a lot better than I do pecans. If you’re a pecan kind of girl though, these are definitely for you!

Almonds with Cranberries, Honey + Sea Salt

All I can say is that this glazed nut blend had me at hello. The combination of sweet and salty made my taste buds jump for joy as soon as I began snacking on them. The Orange Blossom Honey glaze is an exquisite ingredient that makes these almonds taste a million times better than the average, bland almond. Mix this delicious glazed nut blend into a warm bowl oatmeal  tomorrow morning for a healthy and satisfying breakfast.

Soledad Almonds Nut Blend

Almonds with apple, flax seeds, dates, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper.

This was the most interesting flavor out of all of the samples Sahale Snacks sent me! And when I say interesting, I definitely mean it in a good way. From the first bite, the Soledad Nut Blend tasted like an exotic, rare treat. The combination of spicy peppers and the sweet zing of dried fruits make for an amazing snack. The package says that this flavor is, “influenced by the heat of Mediterranean sun.”

Almond PB&J with Peanuts + Berries

It’s peanut butter jelly time! (peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly and a baseball bat!) Sorry, you knew it was coming. I suppose I had really high hopes for this specific flavor because of the many PB&J sandwiches I devoured throughout my childhood. For some reason, this flavor just wasn’t cutting it for me! Though the dried strawberries and raspberries tasted delicious, they were way too small. Also, a giant pile of sugar was sitting at the bottom of the bag which was disappointing. Overall I was just hoping the almonds and peanuts would have more of that PB&J flavor we all know and love. I do think these would taste great sprinkled over the peanut butter in a real peanut butter and jelly sandwich though. The more flavor and crunch the better!

Visit the Sahale Snacks website to learn more about their products and to see how they’re made. You can purchase their delicious nut blends exclusively at most Starbucks locations.

Shannon May is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM).  She is a Marketing Major at the University of Florida and a member of Alpha Kappa Psi. Feel free to contact Shannon at intern@collegelifestyles.org to share your favorite healthy snacks for college girls on the go.

We receive no gifts or compensation for reviewing these products. Our product reviews are based on our sincere personal opinion of the product.

A CL Girl’s Guide to Vancouver: The Hottest Places to Dine and Play during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

 

For those of you who are lucky enough to be attending the 2010 Winter Games (or better yet, participating in them), half of the fun is exploring the culture and happenings of the host city. This year, all eyes will be on Vancouver, BC which happens to be my backyard and playground. As a seasoned Vancouverite (I was born and raised here and am now furthering my education and social life at the University of British Columbia), I’ve put together a city guide for the 17 – 25 year old set — for all you fabulous ladies who are looking to experience the best of young life in Vancouver. Lonely Planet and Fodor’s may give you a comprehensive list of every possible restaurant, activity, and nightlife destination in the city, but no one can pinpoint the best of that list like a local can …

Part I – Dining à la Best Coast

One of my personal pet peeves about traveling is getting sucked into the black hole of gross and/or overpriced meals because you were half-starved and simply didn’t know where to dine. McDonald’s and Starbucks may often seem like the easiest (and loudest) options, but who are we kidding — they will hardly satisfy your cultural craving.

Vancouver offers tons of delicious dining options inspired by tastes and cultures from around the world but with so many dining districts and varieties of food to choose from, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. To make your decision a little easier, here’s a personal list of my favorite places to dine and wine, all reasonably priced with awesome menus and each boasting some of the trendiest and most unique vibes in the city:   

 

For Breakfast:
Sophie’s Cosmic Café
2095 West Fourth Avenue
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the past or just back down South with this 1960s-inspired American diner. Half the fun is looking at the hundreds of nostalgic items that adorn their wall! Famous in town for its generous portions, Sophie’s serves up traditional breakfast items with a bit of a twist (eggs Benny with salsa and avocado, anyone?).
You’ve gotta try: the Belgian Waffles, or any of their eggs

Bean Around the World
Numerous locations around Vancouver
For those of you who are dashing up to Whistler early in the morning and in need of a quick fix Bean around the World is your best bet for a light breakfast to start off the day, or even just to grab a snack for the road. A bakery and coffee shop that creates its hearty goods in-house and imports unique coffee from all around the world, “the Bean” is like your portable neighborhood coffee house dipped in a whole lotta granola.
You’ve gotta try: hot chocolate (with whipped cream) and any of their muffins or scones (personal favorite: chocolate chip-raspberry)

Grounds for Coffee
2565 Alma Street
Ever bought a cinnamon bun and found it devastatingly hard and dry? This will guaranteed not be a problem at Grounds which serves the most amazing gooey cinnamon buns you’ll ever experience. Make sure to grab a handful of napkins on your way out or you’ll be sporting sugar and icing on your face all day long.
You’ve gotta try: cinnamon buns, cinnamon buns and more cinnamon buns

For Lunch
Burgoo Bistro
3 locations around Vancouver
With their vast selection of (random!) comfort foods from around the globe, I often consider Burgoo my kitchen-away-from-kitchen. The menu itself is fun to read with its details of the nationality of every dish (for example, did you know Caesar salads are a Mexican concoction?) Filling dishes are served up in a chic rustic setting – you’ll feel like you’ve packed up a homemade picnic!
You’ve gotta try: their homemade strawberry lemonade and the Straight-up Tomato Soup with Gooey Cheese Grillers – hands down, my favorite lunch meal of all time.  

Noodle Box
1867 West Fourth Avenue
This south-east Asian noodle bar boasts an extremely funky and fresh vibe and the food equates! The freshest vegetables imaginable are mixed up on a fiery wok with a variety of meat choices, and you get to choose your spice level ranging from mild to suicide hot (the latter is not recommended!) Service is super quick as everything is pre-paid at the counter and they pride themselves on their take-out orders which is perfect if you need to head off to the arena.
You’ve gotta try: Roti Bread for an appetizer and the Spicy Peanut Noodle Box for your main course

For Dinner
Joey’s, Earl’s, and Cactus Club Café (A.K.A. the corporate restaurants)  
Locations EVERYWHERE (actually.)
Other Vancouverites may chuckle that I included such an obvious grouping, but Vancouver prides herself on these three restaurants which are, without a doubt, the most popular and regularly frequented dining hotspots in the city. Each is slightly different in terms of its menu but all boast an extremely upbeat and unique vibe that many foreigners have told me is unlike anything they have experienced back home – think a classy night out on the town crossed with a casual dining experience (who knew that was possible?). On any given night, model-esque singles will be flirting at the bar over Bellini’s while families will be enjoying quality time over large meals less than one meter away. If you can manage to get a seat, each restaurant boasts outstanding bar and lounge set-ups with massive TVs that will be great for watching the Games! As a final note, it’s practically required that you be ridiculously good-looking to work at any of these restaurants which often turns out to be treat in itself … Dessert not necessary?
You’ve gotta try:
Joey’s: start with the Pan Fried Gyoza and then get the Ahi Tuna Salad or Cab Top Sirloin Steak (with the crispy mashed potatoes)   
Earl’s: Chili Chicken as your appetizer and then the entrée-sized Cesar Salad
Cactus Club Café: Blackened Creole Chicken or the Pesto Chicken Quesadilla

Italian Kitchen
1037 Alberni Street
The best and most plentiful Italian food for miles around! Huge portions of rich pastas and pizzas will make you think we’re celebrating Roma 2010, not Vancouver 2010. The atmosphere is luxurious but at the same time, super cozy.
*If you happen to be in the Kitsilano area, stop by Italian Kitchen’s sister restaurant Trattoria which features a similar menu in a more intimate setting.  
You’ve gotta try: the Bruschetta Sampler (order one for the group to share) followed by the Penne Arrabbiata as your main dish  

The Eatery
3431 West Broadway
My roommate (THE sushi aficionado) INSISTED that I put this selection in here. And with good reason! West coast cities are famous for their sushi, after all, and The Eatery does not disappoint. If anything, it’s funky and delicious twist on traditional sushi creations will blow your taste buds away! Who knew cream cheese and chicken in a sushi roll could actually work? The restaurant’s atmosphere in itself is an experience; with its red-tinted lighting scheme, Andy Warhol-inspired paintings and larger-than-life action figures you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped out of a Japanese comic book.
You’ve gotta try: the Bob Marley Roll and the Ichi Roll  

For Dessert
La Casa Gelato
1033 Venables Street
Known simply as ‘Venables’ to locals, this ice cream parlor offers an astounding 504 flavors of ice cream (all made in-house) ranging from non-fat to non-dairy to low-fat to sugar-free. The most amazing part, however, has to be their crazy creations. Ever wondered what wasabi-flavored ice cream would taste like? How about balsamic vinegar? Or curry? Venables is very liberal with their samples so why not dare to try? 
You’ve gotta try: one scoop of Rainbow Chip Vanilla with a second scoop of Ferrero Rocher is my personal fave.  

Big City Cupcakes
Numerous locations around Vancouver and Whistler
The cupcake creations look so delicate and colorful you’ll be hesitant to bite into such a pretty piece of art. But make sure you do — these moist cupcakes with their rich and heavenly icing and cream fillings are absolutely to die for. You’ll never have the same respect for Betty Crocker again.
You’ve gotta try: the Red Carpet Cupcake (red velvet cake with a thick icing top) and the Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake (cream filling)

Stay tuned for part II of this article series: the hottest places to play in Vancouver!

Marisa Woodham is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM) and an English major at the University of British Columbia. She took breaks writing this article at numerous points because she got too hungry. She is now extremely obese.  

Benefits of Coffee

Did you know that there have been 19,000 studies done looking at the impact of coffee on your health? Studies show that 2 cups of coffee daily (compared to not drinking coffee) can:

• Lower risk for Parkinson’s disease by 80%
• Reduce risk of colon cancer by 25%
• Reduce liver cirrhosis risk by 80%
• Lower risk of gallstones by 50%
• Enhance exercise performance
• Lower risk for diabetes

• Coffee also has a ton of antioxidants
• Coffee helps things, er, “move along” in your digestive tract.

Wait, what? Are you telling me that coffee is good for me? Well, yes and no. If you are talking about a cup o’ black joe (with a little sweetener or milk), then yes. The benefits listed above refer to that kind of coffee. However, if you are drinking the whole milk version of your drink, have extra syrups, or are drinking the full-sugar version, then no (but something tells me you probably knew this already!).

One of the controversies with coffee is the amount of caffeine it contains. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it has been shown to increase your alertness and can improve mental performance. Sometimes this can be unwanted, especially in the later hours of the day. Side effects of coffee include decreased reaction time and improved information processing. Most of us would rather not develop a twitch or get on a caffeine high, so do not drink massive amounts daily (more than 5cups) or drink it all at night. How well your body handles your “dose” of coffee varies individually.

As always, more research is needed to re-confirm all of the above. Until then, drink up, but do so in moderation (4-5 cups a day).

For more info, check out WebMD’s info on coffee or Positively Coffee’s site

Christine is a Nutrition Science student at Baylor University. She loves black beans, the elliptical machine, and a little kick of caffeine.

Food Labels: You Got Some ‘Splainin to Do!

So I walk into Starbucks last week to get my Venti light coffee frappuccino (can you say 180 calories, delicious, and filling?) to get my treat for the week. I noticed the colorful arrangement of pastries, muffins, and sandwiches in the display case. I saw that they have a reduced fat product and a low fat product. Being a nutrition science student, I was very excited that Starbucks had healthier options for the calorie-conscious collegian.

WAIT! Hold up. How do I know which one is better for me? Reduced. Low. Light. What does it all mean?!?!

Instead of flipping a coin to determine which choice is better, here is some info for you about food labels from the FDA. (Don’t be scared by all of the numbers!)

Free: less than 5 cals/serving, less than .5 gram fat or sugar/serving, less than 5 mg sodium or cholesterol per serving

Low: less than 40 cals/serving, <3g fat, <1 g sat fat, <20 mg cholesterol, <140 mg sodium, not defined for sugars

Reduced/less: 25% less compared to original product. Example: reduced fat, reduced sodium, etc

Go back to my signature Starbucks drink, the frappuccino light. It has 180 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 23 grams of sugar (yes, nutrition majors EAT too!). The original frapp has 340 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, and 57 grams of sugar (my blood sugar is spiking just thinking about it). According to the U.S. FDA, a light version  has  to have calories reduced by 1/3 and fat reduced by 50%.

Ok, ok, enough with the numbers! So what does this all mean? In my scenario, what was the best choice? I did not find the “original” product to compare to the reduced options (such as the  blueberry or banana chocolate chip reduced fat coffee cakes). For simplicity’s sake, since we do not have the original product, go with the light or low baked good.

However, the best rule here is to go online to a restaurant’s website and know what the choices are before you go. Knowing before you go takes the stress out of the way, so you know exactly what you want when you get there. Most restaurants have their nutrition information on their websites (think Panera Bread and Jason’s Deli, to name a few). Now, if they do not have what you want when you get there…

Try out this FREE app for your iPhone called Restaurant Nutrition from the Foundation Care Network. Popular restaurants/fast food places like Chili’s, Subway, and McDonald’s featured on this app. I have this app on my iPhone in case I get in a bind. Takes the guesswork out of the food labels AND gives you more options! Thank you, 21st century technology.

For more information about informative food labels, please refer to the FDA’s website

Still hooked on Starbucks? Click here for Starbucks’ 20 Delicious Choices Under 200 Calories and here for all the Starbucks food choices

Christine is a Nutrition Science student at Baylor University. She loves black beans, the elliptical machine, and a little kick of caffeine.