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With winter here and the cold winds (or snow!) gusting, some days all I want to do is curl up with a mug full of coffee and a good book. In fact, that is exactly what I’ve been doing this past week. My stereo shakes with the sounds of Christmas tunes and my oven stays warm from the countless batches of home-baked bread, granola, and roasted nuts.

Warm bowls of oatmeal start off my morning to fuel the rest of my day. The typical raisins with cinnamon toppings have made an appearance along with sliced bananas, toasted almonds, and coconut shavings. When in the mood for something more filling and savory, however, I turn to savory oatmeal. Savory oatmeal can transform creamy oatmeal into spicy, nutty dish with the help of certain vegetables and spices. It reminds me of southern-style grits without the grittiness.

Health Benefits of Oats:

Oats contain loads of vitamins and minerals to keep you full and energized throughout the day. They can lower cholesterol, burn fat, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, regulate bowel movements, reduce blood pressure, reduce risks of cancer because of oat’s phytochemical, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you tried savory oatmeal before? What are your favorite toppings and add-ins?

Hello faithful readers and Happy November!

It has been a long absence from my site, and I am sorry! College has been whizzing by quickly here, but I am really enjoying myself. With midterms finally out of the way I thought I’d sit down for a few minutes to write a quick post. While I wish I had a bunch of tasty, quick recipes to share with you, the truth is I don’t! Not enough time or equipment in my little dorm. Instead, here are some recipes I’ve been day-dreaming over:

What I wish I could make if…

I had time, equipment, an actual kitchen, a Whole Foods, money, personal chef, my dog<–wait, what?

Creamy CrockPot Risotto from Tasty Yummies

Indian-Spiced Sweet Potato Patties from Soni’s Food for Thought

Salt and Vinegar Veggie Chips from eBakerie

Portobello Orzo with Vegan Lemon Mint Cream Sauce from Healthful Pursuit

Grain-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls from Real Sustenance

Grain-Free Peanut Butter and Bacon Truffles from Katie Did

Chocolate-Covered Pumpkin Fudge from Purely Twins

Pumpkin Spice Latte Granola

This is actually a recipe of mine I made last year. I want to make it again because it screams fall!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What do you wish you had time, money, equipment, etc. to make? (links welcome)

The one food I can usually always rely on having around when I travel is bananas. Hotels, grocery stores, and even convenience stores usually sell bananas. They are also cheap-perfect for the college student’s budget. I always grab one or two more bananas before I leave the cafeteria, so I have a nice little pile in my room for snacks or for making new recipes.

Here’s why you should eat more bananas:

• Rich in potassium, bananas help the body’s circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain. Perfect for when you have a big exam to study for!
• Helps maintain a regular heartbeat and a proper balance of water in the body.
• The perfect form of quick-energy. It even has it’s own packaging!
• It also contains tryptophan to help relax you and lift your spirits. We all get stressed at college, eat a banana.

Easy college banana recipes: 

Besides simply eating it plain or with a dab of peanut butter, here are some easy-to-make banana recipes that you can make in your college dorm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluffy Banana Chocolate Chunk Cookies          Chocolate Covered Monkey Tail Oatmeal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic Banana Ice Cream                               If Elvis Liked Chocolate Bites

You can also put them in smoothies and pancakes. Freeze them if they turn brown!

I have a new “college cookie” recipe that uses bananas. My roommate and I have gone through about 5 batches of cookies so far. Hopefully I can get the recipe written down by next week and take a few photos.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What are your favorite ways to eat bananas? Do you have a go-to snack?

My magic bullet is a must-have college cooking device. It’s small, portable, doesn’t take up space, easy-to-clean, and makes a lot of different recipes for me so I won’t get bored! Any type of small blender would work, too, but the magic bullet is the only one I have experience with (please note that they are not paying me to write this post).

For today’s Healthy Eating College Tip Thursday, I will be highlighting a few of my favorite recipes with the mini blender. They are all easy and quick to make with minimal ingredients. Perfect for the typical college student!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites       Chocolate Almond Cookie Dough Bites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookie Dough Bites                   High Protein Cookie Dough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simply Hummus                                                     Raw Bloody Mary Flax Crackers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream Sundae                      Magic Banana Ice Cream 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting                      Healthy Orange Julius

All of the above are no-bake, and are easy to make in a college dorm.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What is your must-have kitchen appliance?

Also, do you have any favorite mini-blender recipes? Please share below! (links welcome)

Many of you might be wondering how in the world I survive in the college dining halls with my dairy, gluten, and sugar sensitivities. While I do supplement with a lot of snacks, I also have a meal plan to eat in the dining halls. It has been really great so far because I talked with the director of the Dining Services  to tell her about my food allergies. She worked with my food allergies and actually already had a few other gluten-free students for whom she bought gluten-free breads, pasta, and pizza crusts for.

Simply call or email your director of dining services.

Talk with them! Their email and number can usually be found on your school’s website. Set up an appointment to discuss what kinds of options they have for those with food allergies and special diets. You might find that they will feed you even better food than what they have at the cafeteria!

Here are just a couple of meals I have had from the cafeteria:

Breakfast of an egg white and veggie omelet with plenty of fresh fruit.

Turkey sandwich with hummus on gluten-free bread with a side of vegetable soup. 

 (These above photos were taken from my instagram. Follow me @SugarFreeAlex)

 Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

How do you eat at cafeterias, restaurants, etc. if you have a special dietary need?

It is mid-september already and it is time for round two of HECTIC (Healthy Eating College Tip Thursdays).

I don’t want to sound like your mother, but it really does help! Many college kids stay up late cramming for papers, which in the end doesn’t produce a very good project anyway.

You crave more sugar when you are tired because your body wants that quick energy from sweets. Don’t let yourself get tired by getting a good night sleep. If you do need carbs to wake you up, though, go for fresh fruit.

(pic source)

You can always find fruit on campus through the local convenience store or in the dining halls. My meal plan allows me a certain number of “meal swipes” per week, and I always grab an orange or banana to take back to my room for snacks. When my bananas start piling up, though,  make some of these tasty treats:

(These PBC Bars are a staple of mine and they only require a few ingredients to make)

While I don’t recommend relying on caffeine for energy everyday, I realize that it is sometimes inevitable. Black coffee, black tea, or green tea all contain natural sources of caffeine without added sugars like energy drinks and sweetened coffee drinks.

If you absolutely cannot stand the taste of black coffee, try experimenting with different types of flavorful tea. Some of my favorites include jasmine green tea, chai, honeybush, and ginger tea.

(Iced coffee with a drizzle of coconut milk is a favorite of mine in the warm months)

Other ways to get energized without caffeine:

• Splash water on your face
• Talk a walk outside
• Exercise
• Breathe deeply
• Drink a big glass of water

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What are some of your favorite ways to be energized while staying healthy?