The answer to this question seems quite obvious: overeating. However, there are actually many different components that contribute to students gaining weight during their college years. I sat down with Stephanie Teaford, the Community Liaison for STRIDE, a research organization at Cal Poly dealing with causes and prevention of obesity, to discuss what really causes the dreaded “Freshman 15.”
– The “Freshman 15″ Team
It’s that time of year again… Midterms. The smell of coffee fills the campus and the lines for Starbucks are longer than the lines at Disneyland, as students attempt to suppress their severe sleep deprivation.Every essay, project, and test that has been put off all quarter is now suddenly due, making the idea of the famous college all-nighter seems increasingly necessary.
I will be first to admit that coffee is a great thing for perfectionists and procrastinators alike, but the time it takes and the cost of any coffee shop is hard to justify. For those of us that don’t want to waste any of our precious cramming time waiting for coffee, becoming your own barista is the best way to go! There are three super easy ways to make a delicious cup of Jo in the comfort of your own room!
1. The Keurig
While the actual machine may be a little expensive ($99.95), it will actually save you money and a trip to Starbucks in the morning. The “K-cups” come in a ton of different flavors and strength allowing you to get exactly what you want in a single cup of coffee in less than 2 minutes.
The Keurig single serving coffee maker. Photo by Carly Cady
I’m just going to come out and say it. I am by no means a gourmet chef. I have just recently started to really like cooking. In the past, I think my lack of patience combined with the mindset that directions are beneath me has been my downfall. However, there has always been one thing that I love to make. My friends and I call it Muddy Buddies, but it also goes by the name of Monkey Munch, Puppy Chow, or that really good chocolate Chex Mix stuff.
To make Muddy Buddies basically all you do is throw a bunch of melted chocolate, some Chex cereal, peanut butter, melted butter, a little bit of vanilla, and some powdered sugar in a huge bowl and mix it all together. Put it in the fridge for a little while and boom. You’ve got the best thing you’ll ever taste. Seriously. Not exaggerating.
However, as you can tell by the ingredients Muddy Buddies aren’t necessarily considered a health food. So I present to you Skinny Muddy Buddies. In addition to substituting some ingredients to make this mouth full of goodness regret free, these ingredients can all be found either in dining halls or campus grocery stores. It also only require a bowl and a spoon, so it is ideal for the dorms.
What you will need…
SKINNY MUDDY BUDDIES:
2 cup whole grain Chex cereal
2 TBSP of peanut butter
1 dark chocolate pudding cup
1 Pack of vanilla pudding mix (unprepared)
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup of dried cranberries
1 pack of Truvia or other sweetener
Direction (you should really use them even though they are annoying):
1. Pour the cereal into a mixing bowl. Add the chocolate pudding to the cereal and stir together.
2. After the pudding is evenly covering the cereal add the peanut butter and mix again.
The finished product!
3. Once the peanut butter is mixed in, add the dried cranberries and the almonds and stir once again.
4. Add the vanilla pudding mix and the Truvia to mixture and lightly stir. Put the mix in the fridge for a little and it’s ready to eat!
“Those were the muddiest buddies I’ve ever had,” said Kennedy Gilbert, a freshman in college (as she finished off the bowl).
This mix tastes just as good as the original but the addition of almonds and cranberries improves the taste and the nutritional value. The substitution of chocolate pudding for the melted chocolate reduces the calories to make it a lighter treat that won’t result in the emergence of a food baby.
“I really like the contrast between the chewiness of the cranberries and the crunchiness of the almonds and Chex,” said Tiffany Miller, also a college freshman.
The combination of the almonds and the peanut butter make this a great mix to eat before going to the gym… or to just enjoy. “Almonds contain phytochemicals, which have been proven to help prevent cancer and heart diseases, and lower cholesterol. They are also high in protein, which makes them a long lasting source of energy,” said Carol Ross, owner of Personally Fit, a health and fitness center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.
Whether you are looking for something that will supplement your attempt to get swoll at the gym or just something that tastes great and has some nutritional value, this recipe is great for the starving college student.
Adapted from Undressed Skeleton.
"Freshman 15" Minute Meals 