It’s rainy. It’s windy. You haven’t seen sunlight in days, you didn’t do so hot on today’s pop quiz, and you really don’t feel like reading about the Enlightenment for history class. What better way to beat the dreariness and procrastinate than by having a comedy movie marathon to boost your spirits and make you laugh?

When fall settles in and it’s not as much fun to walk through campus on a chilly, dismal day, grab a bunch of kids from your hall, pop some warm, buttery popcorn, and veg out in flannel pj’s and sweats. You’ll feel better, you’ll have fun, and best of all, these movies sure as hell beat anything that sprung from the Enlightenment! Read More »

100-Calorie Packs are the new Starbucks Skinny Latte. They are taking over the world, one grocery store shelf at a time. Though these snacks are making bank for Kraft Foods, Nabisco, Frito Lay, and every other conglomerate on the single-serving bandwagon, there has been some recent media backlash, which brings to light the fact that:

a) The 100-calorie packs are often more than twice as expensive per ounce as the products they mimic.

b) In meeting the 100-calorie limit, the snacks or sweets inside the packs are sometimes pale imitations of the originals. The 100-calorie Oreos, for example, are 20 mini “chocolate thin crisps.”

c) Smaller portions don’t make snacks good for you, especially when they are as highly-processed as 100-Cal Packs.

Still, as Americans, we have issues with self-control. I can go through a box of Cheez-Its in three days and think nothing of it, until I look at the box and realize I averaged about 5 servings of Cheez-Its a day. So, when a small package helps me know when to stop, I dig it. I do agree with above comment on the 100-calorie Oreos: these are a waste of money. So, friends, what follows is a list of my top five picks. All of these are so tasty, I thank my lucky stars that they are measured out for me in 100 calorie intervals. Read More »

I’m an avid dieter, but that’s really only because I’m an avid eater. My love for food is more passionate than I’ve been in some relationships, and that’s okay. Now I write about it and can share my concept of the Top Three.

The Top Three are the very three foods I would choose if I were given only that many to eat for the rest of my life with no detrimental effects on my health or waistline. Yes, I hypothesize random things like this on a semi-regular basis. Judge away. You can justify yours however you want, but here are mine and why I love them so:

1) Movie theater popcorn. I can’t say no. If I go to a movie and don’t overpay for that greasy, glorious popcorn, it’s not a real theater experience for me. I would substitute it for a meal. Clearly this is horrible for you, so my fix when I’m being calorie-conscious is to make 94% fat free and douse it in I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray. If this doesn’t do the trick, and I’m really craving the grease, I’ll sometimes melt light butter/something to the effect of the low fat buttery spreads in a bowl and drizzle over my popcorn. Yes, I’m adding unnecessary fat, but at least I know how much I’m putting in and I’m controlling it. I don’t have one of the oil dispensers in my apartment, and therefore have to behave a little bit.

2) Ice cream. I could probably eat myself sick on Moose Tracks or anything Ben and Jerry’s. Read More »

I’ve decided that the person that came up with the saying “easier said than done” must have been dieting at the time. This, easily, is one of the most difficult things I’ve done. I’m realizing slowly but surely that I can’t just eat healthily and everything’ll be fine; I need a total lifestyle overhaul. So I decided to sit down and think about the things I do that I know contribute to my weight. And as much as exercise and genes and lifestyle flashed into my mind, the thing that never left it was food.

I’ve always been a do-something person. Either I’m doing something, doing several somethings, or I’m not doing anything. I spend a lot of time at the computer or reading, and I always feel like I should be doing something else – specifically, eating. I think about food a lot, and thusly end up snacking a lot.

If I’m reading for class, I’m munching on gummi bears. If I’m writing a paper, I’m crunching away at chips. If I’m watching Project Runway, I’m chowing down on popcorn. I’ve pretty much conditioned myself that I can’t do something without eating. I eat when I’m bored. And we won’t even get into comfort eating. Read More »

• Is anyone else tired of everyone telling us how much booze is too much booze? I mean, I think I know when enough is enough, thank you. (CBS News)

• Okay, so naps are amazing. Anyone of us could have told the non-napping adults in our life that, but now that everyone’s jumping on the nap train the next task…finding the best office sleeping spot. (Ririan Project)

• Popcorn causes cancer! Popcorn causes cancer! Yes, this finally justifies all of our smoking and drinking. Who knew cancer was an equal opportuinty disease? (LA Times)

• Little, tiny, trendy desserts mean that we’re all going to pay 50 percent more for 75 percent less product. I suppose that’s the price you pay for being an idiot. (Thatsfit.com)

• Star Jon — oh, I mean Sherri Shepherd joins The View! Phew, looks like you guys with 11am classes won’t have to worry about skipping this semester. (LA Times)

• One word of advice on this Thirsty Thursday: don’t be this guy. (YouTube)