The Starving College Kid

Beautiful Weather Makes Everyone Happy

2012-02-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a relaxing winter break. Classes resumed and my eating schedule has certainly changed. I haven't written in this blog in a while, but I'm going to try to keep it going for as long as I can...until I run out of ideas.

I had the pleasure to fly out to Los Angeles, California for my winter break and enjoyed some great food places that I must share with you.

The first night we all went out for my cousin Vincent's birthday to a place called The Noodle House. The place seemed relatively busy at dinner time. They offered a wide range of soup and fried noodles as well as rice. I really enjoyed their shaved ice with vanilla ice cream with strawberries.

My cousins brought me to this wonderful all you can eat sushi bar in Buena Park, California called Joe's Sushi. It was like sitting in heaven. If you're a sushi enthusiast it's a must. They offer a high range of selections to choose from. I highly recommend their shrimp tempura, Superman roll, and the TNT roll.

In-N-Out Burger is an absolute stop if you're in Southern California. They have excellent customer service. I ordered "animal" style fries, which was topped off with their special sauce.

Half and Half is a wonderful place to get bubble tea. My cousins brought me there almost everyday. They're known for their large cups that resemble bowls. Tip: They rip you off with their small and large cups though. You're basically paying a higher price for a large cup even though it's equivalent to a small. It's a proven fact.

The ID Cha House located in San Gabriel, California had a lively atmosphere at midnight. I felt like I was in a nightclub drinking tea. It's a great place to talk to your friends and play cards. The staff is extremely. I think I'm being biased with this statement because my cousin knew the manager. We sat out on the lovely patio for 10 minutes before it got too chilly for us. I wish I had more time to try out their wide selection of flavors. I enjoyed the Rose Petal Black Milk Tea (hot). I highly recommend getting that if you're ever in that area.

Anyways, back to reality even though today felt like California weather.

I recently got hired on campus at the Journalism Department. I tend to get hungry. Feel free to bring me snacks if you're nice enough. On another note, investing in a well insulated lunch bag for everyday use is a necessity. I'm planning on purchasing one very soon so I can have a cold cut sandwich on hand whenever I get hungry during the day. Sandwiches are a staple in my diet. During the college months I don't pay attention to my nutritional intake as much compared to when I'm at home. I feel as though many college students living on/off campus suffer from malnourishment.

Peking Tokyo and iZone are my two guilty pleasures on campus. Best of both worlds even though they're both unhealthy alternatives. During my first week on campus I treated myself to some Peking Tokyo sushi. One can never go wrong with the succulent shrimp tempura roll. One can never go wrong with Chinese food. This will probably ring false for you if you don't like sushi, seafood, or chinese food. Growing up, my mom always encouraged me to try new things. I love delving my taste buds into unfamiliar flavors.

Well, I have to get back to a pile of homework that I've been neglecting.

Love,
The Starving College Kid xx

The World Isn't Going To End and I'm Never Going To Become A Vegetarian

2012-01-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

I tried converting to vegetarianism multiple times (three times to be exact). I lacked consistency, motivation, and determination to become a full-on herbivore. To cut meat away from my life completely was something I wasn’t entirely ready for. My mind constantly craved meat and I couldn’t keep up with the regimen. The longest I lasted was two weeks. I found myself not doing it the right way because my face became pale and I felt weak most days. The only benefit I took away was learning how to integrate more fruit and vegetables into my diet. In the end, who was I trying to fool? I love bacon and chicken too much. Separation anxiety led to denial, which wasn’t healthy for the soul. Innumerable amount of credit goes out to all of the people that can successfully be herbivores.

One of my closest friends, Victoria, has been a vegetarian for 4 years. Even though our diet differs we can agree on most things when we go out to eat. One of the many things that we favor is the Spinach Quiche from Starbucks. We both feel as though they’re only available in Barnes and Noble bookstores.

Another favorite location is a restaurant located in Providence, Rhode Island called the Duck and Bunny. The first time I stepped foot in this place was the day I turned legal. I wasn’t excited to have the ability to buy porn, cigarettes, and other things that 18 year olds can buy. I was excited to spend time with my friends at a cute bistro style place. They have an array of delectable cupcakes and teas to choose from. Garden Grille is another nice place located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. I’ve been there a couple of times, but I’ve only ordered the appetizers. It’s a great place to order healthy wholesome food.

Having friends to support you no matter who you are is one of the best things in life that I will cherish.

Love,
mtn

Finals Week

2011-12-06T06:55:00.001-08:00

It's the week before finals week. I can hear the anxious heartbeats echoing across the quad and into the hallways. We're staring at the clock waiting for Christmas break. Some of us will be on vacation, some of us will we working strenuous hours at hour jobs, and the ones that are fortunate will be able to spend their days sleeping in, playing video games, and watching movies.
Everyone is getting hyped up on caffeine. The anxiety is getting to all of us. End of the semester projects, mounds of flashcards, highlighting notes. Memorizing and regurgitating information to get by. We're doing whatever it takes to get through the end of the semester. I have compiled a few tips on surviving finals week. We can do this together.

1. Make time for "renewing" activities: This isn't the time to stop doing what you love. Pace yourself. You will study more effectively if you do the things you love like exercising and reading to de-stress. Beware of 15 minutes of studying and ending up on Facebook for 6 hours. Treat your time accordingly. You want to do well and you have the power to.

2. Resist to party on "off" days: Instead of taking a complete day off in between your exam period, use the time you have to get ahead of your other exams. If you do party you need to recover. High risk of alcohol consumption will reduce your cognitive skills to know the things that are most important.

3. Arrive on time for the exam: Set your alarm accordingly. Save yourself the anxiety of showing up late to the exam. Bring the necessary materials: #2 pencils, sharpener, calculator, etc.

4. Bring snacks to the library: If you're going to be pulling all nighters bring snacks with you to fuel your energy. An apple, orange, or banana are good snacks to bring to the library. Stay hydrated with a bottle of water.

I leave you with this note:

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Healthy New Favorites for Winter

2011-11-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It's nice to be back on campus after the Thanksgiving break. I needed breakfast this morning before going to my first class. I find that I'm less tired when I have a small breakfast. When I eat a large breakfast I often feel tired and less energized. I went to Ram's Den to scope out the selection of granola bars. I was aiming for something light and fast. I chose the Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna bar. Nonetheless, this has become a new favorite that I will continue to purchase. They're 2 dollars each at Ram's Den, which is expensive considering I can get them for a cheaper price at Stop and Shop.

Purchasing bottled water is a habit that I've been trying break for a while. The number of empty Poland Spring water bottles in my car can be mistaken for an episode of Hoarders. It gets expensive and it's detrimental to the environment. I went to Best Buy on Black Friday and found the Bobble for 10 bucks. There's a built-in charcoal filter, which is convenient. It comes in a variety of colors that can match your personality.

I love soup! Winter is sneaking up on all of us. The rate of miserable faces prodding across the campus will increase. Don't fret, the Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken Noodle Soup is a great way to keep warm. Plus side is that it has less sodium than the original Campbell's.

Hot Chocolate will always be a winter favorite. It gets expensive if you're purchasing it everyday from a coffeeshop. Buying a thermos and filling it up with Swiss Miss is less expensive. I bought a box for $1.00 at Belmont's.

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Ramen Is Your Best Friend, I'm Not Lying

2011-11-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

As the semester is coming to an end I'm running out of money. Being on campus without a meal plan is awfully difficult. I don't have the option to walk into Hope or Butterfield whenever I'm hungry. I've had the pleasure of meeting some generous people that swipe me in whenever they can. It's 8:48p.m., I'm in the basement floor of the computer lab suffering from famine. I've been on campus since 10:15a.m. It has been a long day, a very long day. I studied for History of Jazz, Chinese, Women Studies and Political Geography since I've been here. My concentration level is depleting at a fast rate without food. I can feel it. Flashcards, highlighters, and countless pages of reading. Academia is sucking the life out of me and taking my stomach along for the ride. I avoided making a cup of coffee today, which is working out well for the most part. I've kept a bottle of water handy to keep hydrated, which is a necessity everyone. Late nights in the library leave me wanting to drive back home to make a meal, but I know myself too well. I know I won't get any work accomplished when I'm there.

I frankly don't have all the money in the world to spend it at the restaurants in the Emporium or Rhody Market (Hope Commons). I think I need to pack a full course before coming here. But the semester is almost over and I can overcome this hurdle. I'm in it to win it (this is the mantra on repeat when I don't think I can make it through the day). It works!

I think I only had one meal today at 1:15p.m. at Memorial Union before heading off to writing class. Lately, I haven't had time to go to Stop and Shop to purchase my usual round of Nature Valley granola bars, Special K bars, and Cliff Bars. I get home too late and the place is closed.

I've been thinking a lot about Ramen and how I haven't had it once this semester. I think I need to keep some on hand due to the convenience. They say, "College is about experimenting." Well, I'm going to experiment different ways to eat Ramen. After scouring the internet on my study break for a few new ideas to eat Ramen here. I'm going to test try the recipes on the website and let you know what I think about them. My favorite way to eat Ramen is dropping an egg and letting it poach. I thought it was a weird concept at first, but it's actually pretty tasty and adds protein.

Well I have to get back to work now. I'm sorry I've been neglectful and not keeping my blog up-to-date. Academia is calling.

p.s. Thank goodness Thanksgiving is next week! I can't wait to dig into Asian cuisine and spend time with my family. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Love,
The Starving College Student

Easy Dinner

2011-11-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

This is bit of a rush. I have a lot of writing to accomplish. Here you go:
-1/2 cup cooked minute rice
-1/4 cup of cooked frozen veggies
-3 slices of chicken strips
-1/2 tbsp italian dressing (any dressing of your desire)

Combine and mix up. Eat up. Only 265 Calories.

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Deep Fried Oreos: Food Porn

2011-11-06T09:02:00.001-08:00

I turned a childhood favorite, Oreos, into a diabetics worst nightmare when I decided to deep fry them in pancake batter. My first experience with Deep Fried Oreos was during the summer at a carnival in my hometown. A close friend of mine encouraged me to try them. It's a strange concept for most people to grasp, "Fried oreos...what does that even entail?" It's definitely a treat that must be consumed sparingly. I thought I was going to have a heart attack after I consumed only three. Too much of these will kill you. I'm not kidding.

Here's the recipe:
Taste like cholesterol

Until next time
Love,
The Starving College Kid

Through the Eyes of Greg

2011-10-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

If you know me personally you would know that I transfered to the University of Rhode Island from Suffolk University. The first thing I had to do was start from scratch again by making new friends. One of the first people that I had the pleasure of meeting was Greg Argeros. I first met Greg in Writing class. Greg Argeros is a Junior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Writing and Rhetoric. He's a dashing musical genius with many talents i.e. Karate, guitar, and music composition. More importantly, he is a good friend by not letting me starve. He sacrifices his Ram Den's monetary funds to feed me. He's reason why I don't die of hunger. I'm thankful for him to be part of my life.

He rushes to Butterfield (favorite dining hall) after 1:50p.m. He only has 10 minutes to make it there before they slam the door on his face, and he almost never makes it 60 percent of the time. Greg and I had a conversation about the dining halls at URI. I asked him to enlighten me since I don't have a meal plan on campus.

"There's cereal, a waffle maker where you can make your own waffles. Stay away from the scrambled eggs because they're horrible. Soda is available at all times. I drink more soda here than I do when I'm at home. Ram's Den is URI's best kept secret. If you have a residential meal plan you get a free combo meal. I like the Tuscano Carbonara and Sante Fe Turkey sandwiches at Ram's Den. There are always two soup choices to choose from. Hope Dining Hall has a pasta line, which is healthy. Butterfield is my favorite because it has a great atmosphere."

Greg's glamour shot of the Mozzarella sticks from Butterfield.

Part of this journey as "The Starving College Kid" will lead me to ask my friends from different universities to provide their insight on the dining halls on their campus.

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Surviving College Without Caffeine

2011-10-25T23:44:00.001-07:00

Surviving College Without Caffeine: ABC News on Campus reporter Natalie Podgorski blogs: Fall semester is almost here, and that means days in the classroom and nights spent studying. As the first round of exams approaches, libraries will begin to fill with students cramming the night before the test, sipping...

As a college student, I'm on an irregular sleeping and eating schedule which isn't always the healthiest. As I'm writing this blog it's almost leaning towards 3a.m. A typical college student can't go a day without drinking a cup of coffee or an energy drink to stay awake. It's a habitual to wake up and immediately think, "I need my cup of coffee before I start this day." There isn't anything wrong with drinking coffee. It's all about moderation. Watching your consumption right servings to stay healthy and energized. Too much of it can be detrimental to your health.

What are some of the risks of caffeine? If you really drink too much caffeine (usually more than 300 mg—so three cups of coffee in a row, which really isn’t that uncommon for college students), you can experience something called caffeine intoxication, which can get pretty serious. Some symptoms that point to a caffeine overdose:

restlessness/anxiety
increased urination
irregular or rapid heart rate
rambling speech and thoughts
disorientation
Too much caffeine can lead to all kinds of other nasty physical and mental problems in the long term, such as:

stomach ulcers
acid reflux
breast cysts
sleep disorders
depression
anxiety
delusions or psychosis (only in very high doses)

Kicking the habit is hard. Switching to herbal caffeinated teas that contain Ginseng are beneficial. High-octane foods, such as berries, mangoes, and whole grains, also provide us with a caffeine-free energy boost. Drinking lots of water, regular exercise, and trying to get on a semi-normal sleep schedule are also great ways to reduce your dependence on caffeine!

References:

http://www.hercampus.com/health/alert-addicted-caffeine-abuse-college-students
http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm

The Microwave Is Your Best Friend

2011-10-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

I remember living in a dorm last year as a Freshmen. I thought I could rely on the dining halls to fulfill my nutritional needs, but I thought wrong. I shortly got sick of eating from the dining halls because everything became monotonous and I ran out of meal points so my options became slim. I used my work study funds to buy a few grocery items from CVS and the local deli that was down the street from my residence hall. I had to utilize the microwave, which became my best friend.
Nuking your food doesn't sound too satisfying at times, but there are delicious recipes other than resorting to Ramen, mac and cheese, and frozen food items. Don't let the size of your dorm room get in the way of you cooking a delicious meal. I know it can be discouraging but you can utilize your desk space to cook anything delicious.
For parties, sporting events, or a late night snack. I swear this recipe will do you justice:

Potato Skins in the Microwave

Ingredients:
4 large potatoes
1–2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded or
broken into small pieces
3 tablespoons Bacon Bits or 3 diced cooked
bacon slices, W-inch pieces
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
garlic powder (optional)
sour cream (optional)

1. Cut potatoes into wedges, lengthwise, 2 or 4 pieces depending
on the size of the potato. Place in microwave-safe dish filled with
water to cover potatoes.
2. Cook on high heat for 7 minutes.
3. Remove and test for doneness by poking with a knife. If you
cannot scoop out the inside of the potato, return to microwave
on high for 1 minute at a time until finished.
4. Scoop out the potato so W-inch thickness remains around shell
of potato.
5. Sprinkle cheese over the top and return to microwave for 1–2
minutes, until cheese is melted.
6. Remove and sprinkle with Bacon Bits, green onion and top with
a shake of garlic powder and a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Voila! Enjoy!

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Don't Skip Breakfast

2011-10-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

I used to skip breakfast all of the time. I didn't intend to do it on purpose. I thought I didn't have enough time and I thought it wasn't important. I took it upon myself to give my body the right nutrients to start out my day everyday. I used to rely on Red Bull and coffee to start out my day, but it usually leaves me feeling worn out in the evening. It wasn't healthy for me to consume that much caffeine everyday. Breakfast fuels your body for the rest of the day. Since I've been eating breakfast consistently I'm less prone to having cravings throughout the day.

This morning I decided to make Pancakes with Banana and Nutella. I usually have a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, but I wanted to put some effort in this morning.

I used the following items to create this masterpiece:

I don't know what I would do without a jar of Nutella. I usually have cut up strawberries and bananas with Nutella as a snack.

Bisquick Shake and Pour mix is fast and convenient way to make pancakes. Just add water and you're on your way to having pancakes in minutes.

Tip: try to incorporate any fruit into your breakfast. It'll give you an extra boost in the morning.

This was my result:

Happy eating!

Love,
The Starving College Kid

Macaroni and Cheese Grilled Cheese

2011-09-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

As a kid I always asked my mom to make me macaroni and cheese. It's a meal that I will never get sick of. I recently discovered this delicious sandwich. It's a fast easy way to use what you already have in your cupboard. It gives the classic grilled cheese a new twist.

Ingredients:

Box of Kraft Mac and Cheese

2 Slices of Bread

Butter

Directions:

1. Prepare your favorite box of macaroni

2. Toast your two bread slices

3. For the actual grilled sandwich part I used a fresh wheat grain bread (I went the healthier route), thickly sliced. Melt a little butter in the microwave and brush one side of each slice. Heat a grill pan to medium-high and place a slice of bread butter side down, “spread” over a layer of the mac n cheese and place the other slice of bread butter side up. Cover with the panini press/frying pan and grill for two minutes, turn over and grill for another two minutes or until each side is charred.

4. Enjoy!

What's in my backpack?

2011-09-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the run. Since it's hard for me to have three square meals a day I try to keep some sort of snack packed in my backpack. Since I live 25 minutes off campus it's an inconvenience to go back if I forget a food item.

Pick of the day:

Clif Bars are delicious and they're packed with flavor and protein. You can find them in the health and nutrition aisle at Stop and Shop or Shaw's. Not everyone is a fan of the taste, but it depends on the flavor you choose. I had the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut for the first time yesterday and it was very good. It's a good source of energy and constitutes a meal for the most part. I purchased 5 bars for $5.00, which is a bargain considering that they're usually $1.50 each.