HOW TO EAT LIKE AN ADULT

Eating. It seems like a simple enough task. I mean, we all eat. We eat to satiate ourselves. We eat to socialize. We eat to fill the void entertain ourselves.

But no one ever said it would be this hard.

By "it" I mean making meals for a single human being that are both healthy and cheap. Just because I am a graduate, doesn't mean I have all the green to splurge on the greens. And I'm sure you know, eating healthy is not cheap. Or easy.

Sometimes a bowl of Cap'n Berry Crunch sounds better than a bowl of berries... that's a lie. I like fruit a little too much for my own good (if only I could eat an unlimited amount of natural sugar). But seriously, unhealthy choices are usually less time-consuming and easier to think about making after a long day (or night) at work.

So I had to come up with some rules to keep myself in check:

1. No picking up takeout if you are on your way home to a fridge full of food. 
We all have those times when we haven't had a chance to get to the grocery store. Life is busy. I get it. Every once in a while I get too busy at work to really get enough to eat so I will have to pick up something on the way because I have a long drive home. But living by this rule saves you both money and calories.

2. Sugary cereal is not breakfast. 
I love a good bowl of Cap'n Crunch just as much as the next kid, but as much as we want it, a sugar rush is no way to start the day. That doesn't mean I never eat it. While I have been eating cleaner recently, I don't see any reason I can't have a bowl from time to time--as long as that it really is just from time to time. So if I do have it, I pour myself a bowl, close the box and put it back in the pantry. And it is a dessert.

3. Prep as much as possible. 
I never have enough time in the morning. I  give myself a decent amount of time to get ready in the morning--and somehow I still find myself rushing out the door at the last second. Because I know that I am like this, preparation is key. Even sticking some watermelon or carrots in a container the night before gives me a head start. And it also prevents me from buying a bag of Cheez-Its or potato chips at work!

4. Limit the number of times you eat out per week. 
We ran a story at my news station last week that said Millennials eat out more than any other generation before them. It says we're splurging on takeout, drinks, and coffee multiple times a week. I like to think that I am pretty good about this one, but my goal is to limit this category of expenses to social activities. There's no reason for me to go spend $5 on a latte just for the heck of it. But if I am catching up with an old friend, it's money well spent in my book.

5. Eat like you love yourself. 
This one might sound a bit strange, but hear me out. One of the best Tweets I've ever seen was something to the effect of, "Eating grocery store sushi is a good way to show the world you hate yourself." Just because something is at a supermarket doesn't mean we should eat it. I once went on a date with a guy that told me his diet consisted mainly of Hot pockets and Ramen. I would rather go broke buying vegetables than fill up that way. I'm not saying quit junk food forever and live off of vegan burritos and kombucha. Not everyone wants to have a crazy healthy lifestyle. And that's fine. But really? Hot pockets and ramen? You deserve better.

6. Learn how to use your oven. 
Believe it or not, a stovetop is not just a great place to spread peanut butter on a slice of bread. In fact, great things can come out this wonderful kitchen appliance. My mom always told me that she wanted me to know how to cook before I went out into the world, and I couldn't be more grateful. It's pretty neat what you can do when you know you're way around a kitchen.

Now, close out of that food-delivery app, and eat like an adult.

Next week, look out for: 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

January has been an interesting month. I spent the beginning of it with friends and family from home, until I got the flu right before classes started. Luckily, I had a few days to enjoy back in Madison before classes started after I recovered. But as soon as the new semester began, life got hectic again. Last week I worked more than usual on top of getting hit with a ton of assignments quickly.

So now that I have a moment to myself, I decided to share some of my favorite discoveries from January. Here are a few of my favorites from January:

1. MY NEW RECORD PLAYER
I have been debating about getting a record player for years. While the technology may be a bit outdated, I have always wanted one. The last few weeks it has been on my mind a lot, and since realized I had been thinking about it so much and I had a gift card leftover from Christmas I finally decided to go for it.

2. HOODIE ALLEN'S "HAPPY CAMPER"
The whole album is only 32 minutes. So it is super easy to get through. I recommend listening to it all the way through the first time you listen to it.

3. ROSES
This is my new favorite song these days. It's by The Chainsmokers with ROZES. It has a dreaminess to it, yet when the beat picks up it is definitely a song you can dance to.


4. DOUG THE PUG
Following the Doug the Pug page on Facebook is one of the best decisions I made in January. It is guaranteed to make you smile.

5. BACON WRAPPED CHEESE CURDS
Does it get more American than that? I think not. I had these delightful bites of heaven a few weeks ago, and I will never look at regular cheese curds the same way.

Do you have any new favorites this week?

TREATS TO STAY COOL IN THE SUMMER

It's like one day it was fine, and the next day it was unbearably hot. Welcome to July. Now is the time to keep the ovens off and crank the AC. But that doesn't mean your only option for a little treat has to be ice cream.

One of my favorite summer treats is popsicles. So today, I decided to make my own!

I always see Pinterest posts on making homemade popsicles, which I love, because you have so many options! It gives your more flexibility, especially if you are looking for a healthier treat. Today I made mine out of SLIMQUICK Pure Extra Strength Drink Mix. Unlike using something like Crystal Light, it is designed to address reasons we might have losing weight:

• It increases metabolism
• It reduces appetite
• It boosts energy
• It reduces excess water
• It supports hormones
• It reduces stress

The great thing is that it is made with natural ingredients, such antioxidants and BioPure Green Tea, and it is designed to help women lose weight three times faster than dieting alone.

Since this was my first time using the popsicle molds, some of the popsicle flooded out, as you might be able to tell in the picture. It also didn't help that our freezer is stuffed to the max. But it was such an easy to treat to make. 

It took about five minutes of preparation. The hard part can be waiting for it to freeze, so I did it the night before, and now they are ready to enjoy whenever I feel like it today. 

This is a great snack if you want something that tastes great and has health benefits, like boosting your metabolism. I think I might go eat one right now!

What are your favorite cold treats to make in the summer?

Use this coupon to save $5 off your own drink mix!

*This is a sponsored post, powered by BrandBacker, but all of the opinions in this post are my own.

14 THINGS TO DO IF YOU’RE SINGLE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

As soon as February hits, everyone starts thinking about Valentine’s Day. Some people detest it whether they are in a relationship or not, and others refer to it as Single’s Awareness Day. But if you aren't in a relationship, it is really like any other weekend night with your friends.

On this day it starts to seem like everywhere you look there is another couple.

 The day might start off with a bit of cynicism.

But once the evening starts to settle in, you realize it's going to be a great night.

1. Have a Girls Night Out. Break out the cute clothes you got on impulse buys over winter break. It's the perfect occasion for a GNO.

2. Try New Recipes. Does anyone else pin everything recipe on Pinterest but never actually take the time to make them? Pick a theme or a type of food, and choose a few different recipes to try out with friends. You could make a whole meal out of it, or order takeout and just make desert!

3. Have a Party. You don't have to fill your apartment or house to have a good time. Invite some of your single friends over, and who knows by the end of the night someone might have found their Valentine.

4. Plan a Classy Dinner Party. Want an excuse to get all dressed up? Make it a formal affair. Have someone bring a side dish, someone else bring a salad, and break out the nice glasses at dinner.

5. Make a Movie Run. It's pretty tricky to see movies while you are on campus unless you know someone with a car. Now's the time you could catch up on some of the movies you have missed this year on Redbox. Or get your friends and roommates to round up their DVD collections, and plan out your movie marathon.

6. Spend Some Time With Ryan Gosling. See if you can get a collection of Gosling's best roles together. If you don't have a date, you might as well have someone to swoon over.

7.  Get a Group to Go Out to Dinner. Don't feel like making a meal? Plan a group dinner at nearby restaurant, or see if any of your friends have a car to open up your options. You might even want to make a reservation if you know how many people want to go.

8. Find an Event Around Campus. Check out the nearby venues to see if any of the bands you like are coming to town. Or maybe there is some events at popular places on campus or some student organizations that might be worth checking out.

9. Have a Gift Exchange. Instead of Secret Santa, plan a Secret Admirer's gift exchange with friends. Set a $5 or $10 limit, and treat each other this Valentine's Day.

10. Host a Girls Night In. Celebrate your singleness with a night filled with facials, food, and friends. Grab a few movies and your favorite nail polishes. Maybe even combine this with #2 to have snacks while you and your girls are relaxing.

11. Go to the Movies. If you are able to get off campus, check out the latest films with a large popcorn to pass around. Maybe you will even a group of cute single guys at the theater.

12. Go on a Scavenger Hunt. Ever seen the movie Sleepover? Those girls may have been graduating junior high, but that doesn't mean that idea is juvenile. Set your boundaries around campus, and come up with a list of things to find or accomplish. You could even have a battle of the sexes with your guy friends and create a little friendly competition.

13. Make Breakfast For Dinner. For some reason eating pancakes for dinner sounds more fun than eating them as an actual breakfast. Get your friends to pick up whipped cream and maybe even some chocolate chips and sprinkles. If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you will be extra prepared for a fun night.

14. Attend Someone Else's Party. Just like any other weekend night, someone is hosting a party so you don't have to. Go over to a friends apartment or meet up with friends who have somewhere to go. You might even meet some of your friends' other single friends.

Valentine's Day might seem like a commercial holiday that highlights the fact that your love life is non-existent. But it doesn't have to be that bad! It is another night filled with possibilities. Don't write it off before the it even begins, because it might just be one of the best nights of the semester.

A version of this post first appeared on Her Campus.

Friday Favorites

Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year: the day that I go to the Minnesota State Fair. I don't so much like the overabundance of people and dirty surroundings (as it was the first day, it really wasn't that bad--the real filth rolls in around the last few days of the Great Minnesota Get Together). However, I am a big fan of food. Isn't everyone?

I don't know about other state fairs, but in Minnesota we apparently like things deep fried and on a stick. Is that pretty normal? I guess it is America, after all--the land where McDonald's is the number one food-chain, and companies have convinced us that two patties on a burger is obviously better than one. It's sad really, but that's a topic for another day. Today I want to talk about food, and how much I look forward to my favorite Fair-Foods. 

A couple of years ago I wrote a post called "Can I have that deep fried on a stick?" There's one part that still remains true, and probably always will--and that is the 3 things you can guarantee at the Minnesota State Fair.

So today, I want to share some of my favorite treats at the fair. 

//ONE//

Sweet Martha's Cookies 

Sweet Martha's Cookies are everyone's favorite (and by everyone I mean everyone I associate with, because I don't understand how we could be friends if you didn't love these gooey-bites of chocolate-chip heaven). They are warm, fresh, and if you do it right, served with an ice-cold glass of milk. Yum. 

//TWO//

Fudge Puppy

What is a fudge puppy? Only a Belgian waffle on a stick covered in chocolate, with whipped topping and sprinkles. In one word: delicious.

//THREE//

Deep-Fried Candy Bar 

I have to admit I was a skeptic for years. I mean who needs to deep fry an already sugary fatty substance? But it turns out deep-fried Reese's Peanutbutter cups are kind of amazing. Sadly, I didn't get one this year, but seeing as I ate plenty of other unhealthy foods, my blood sugar is probably thanking me for refraining. 

//FOUR//

Pronto Pup 

A pronto pup is like a corndog, but better. I really couldn't tell you what makes them so much tastier, other than the batter on this dog must be prepared with a much better recipe, because they always have me coming back for more. 

//FIVE//

 Corn on the Cob

This corn is fresh, flavorful and fantastic. It's hard to look at other cobs the same way, because I have tasted the savory delight that awaits near the Grand Stand. But beware: you will be in need of dental floss afterward. My parents have always talked about how they should open a stand selling floss next-door. However, since that plan was never put into motion, it's best to come prepared or remember to snag a toothpick before you leave.

//SIX//

 Fresh Fries

These are often simply referred to as "Fair Fries" by Minnesotans. Ah, Fair Fries. They are fresh, and live up to their reputation of being some of the best fries in the state. However, I witnessed the beginning of my four-year-old sister becoming a fry-snob when she refused to eat them, because they were not from Honey and Mackie's. That's right, folks. You heard it here first, Fresh Fries has some stiff competition. Maybe you can settle the dispute by stopping in and seeing what all the fuss is about Honey and Mackie's fries.

//SEVEN//

Bacon on a Stick

This was the food that I originally thought looked gross, because I am a self-proclaimed anti-aficionado of bacon. What does that mean? I am not that big of a fan. In fact, you might go as far as to say that I don't like it. Gasp! Did I just say that I don't like bacon? Sorry, guys. (Unless you don't like bacon, too. In that case, let's be friends!) But I have to admit this thick-cut bacon was pretty tasty. With that being said, it's definitely not my new favorite thing at the fair, and I continue to keep living a relatively bacon-free lifestyle.

What do you like to eat the fair? Do you have any new favorites this year?

#Foodgrams

A couple of weeks ago I posted "10 Must See Instagrams". I enjoyed creating the post, because I love finding creative photos, and I always want to share them. So today I decided to create a food-themed instagram post. Some people gag at the sight of a foodgram, because it is terribly "cliche" and "amateur". But instagram is for the amateurs. It is "insta", because it is an app created to share special moments insta-ntly. These photos are not supposed to be professional quaily (they are usually taken with smartphones, after all)--yet some take professional-looking photos, and I envy these people. So check out some of my favorite Instagrams, featuring food, from the last few months.

Warning: these photos might stimulate hunger.