VALLEY

Along with most people, I love a good stir-fry– bright, crunchy veggies, a good dose of protein and delicious sauce. This week I decided to mix it up a little, frying up half my ingredients with an Asian-style sauce, topping them off with fresh veggies, and rolling it all up in a wrap.

Now that we’re all grown up (well, sort of), we often miss everything that being a kid entails. How awesome would it be if we could incorporate recess and nap time into our everyday schedules? Well it just so happens, taking time to act like a kid again can be great for your health.

This is one of the easiest pasta dishes I know. Even though it’s pasta, it tastes light and fresh! Whole-wheat spirals paired with some crisp, delicious veggies and shrimp. Add a hint of zingy lemon and salty Asiago cheese, and you’ve got a well-balanced meal that’s as delightful as those surprising, sunny, 60 degree days!

I’ve decided to spread a little homemade love with my own chili recipe. It is my favorite comfort meal on a cold night – goodness knows we have quite a few of those here in Happy Valley. (Plus, it’s super easy to freeze and defrost for a super-fast, anytime meal.)

While you might think it’s a bit intimidating to work out with your boyfriend (it’s probably going to mean entering the scary pit in White Building), there are a ton of benefits to breaking a sweat with your significant other.

Needless to say, I was inspired this week to cook up my own, super simple, baked chicken wings! These wings have just the right amount of smokey flavors backed by a kick of chili and hint of sweet honey, making them perfect to please all guests for any Superbowl bash. Plus, these wings aren’t deep-fried– no extra breading or artery-clogging amounts of oil– so you won’t have that “after the party guilt!” Cook on!

These natural additives can make your already-healthy morning oatmeal or afternoon smoothie even more nutritious. Whoever came up with the expression “good things come in small packages” must have known about the immense benefits packed into one of nature’s tiniest elements – seeds!

Delicious hot or cold, Italian spinach pie is a perfect meal or side dish for any college kid on a budget. With a short list of ingredients and fast cooking time, Italian spinach pie can be whipped up in no time. Plus, the spinach and eggs are full of protein and vitamins that’ll have your body fighting off germs this winter.

Are you tired of the same old PB and J, or turkey and cheese? Is the cold weather outside enough to turn you off from cold cuts on your sandwich? It sounds like it’s time to whip out the ol’ panini maker…or your favorite non-stick pan.

Want in on a secret? Those Special K and Quaker Chewy bars you love so much aren’t as healthy as they seem. The truth is, not all protein and granola bars are created equal – some even contain as much fat and sugar as their candy-bar cousins.

“Going green” seems to be a growing trend in the college community. I keep seeing articles about the student government pushing for more action to be taken to make Penn State a more sustainable university, and signs in the residence halls encouraging students to recycle in the proper way. There are also many clubs on campus fully dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues.

“I like to get dressed up for class, but I have some days when I’m not getting out of my sweatpants.”

Well, finals week has arrived! It’s no secret that under the stress of pulling all-nighters and suffering cabin (read: library) fever across State College, we gorge on way too many greasy delivery orders, whether it’s General Tso’s or Wings Over.

We’ve all heard the many ways to lose weight and stay fit – eat less carbohydrates, snack on grapefruit and cucumbers, drink eight glasses of water a day. But let’s be honest, how many of these are truly going to make a difference in your life? Do you want to know the secret to living a healthy life? It’s simple – eat breakfast.

How many people are on your list this year? If it’s more than five, listen up. Searching for the perfect gift for each one of my friends and family is one of my favorite holiday activities.