Crack open a can of these little guys and fill a room with an aroma that very few people would genuinely enjoy! But don’t let the smell lead you astray, studies have shown that sardines are one of the best foods you can eat. One serving (skinless & boneless in olive oil) is contains 220 calories, 13g of fat and get this…26g of protein! Not to mention they’re a fantastic source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Click here to see even more benefits you can get from sardines.

Now the real question is, what do people eat sardines with? Well, one common way to eat sardines is simply with crackers like Triscuts, Ak-Mak or Wheat Thins. Personally, mixing sardines with lentils is a great dish because the lentils help to moderate the saltiness of the fish. If you’re really gutsy try eating them straight out of the container, bones and all!

I love being greeted by a sea of fruits and veggies as I walk through the electronic doors of the grocery store: the produce section. I am an avid reader of Women’s Health Magazine and a couple issues ago it featured a tiny section about ‘Picking the Right Produce.’ I read on to learn about which produce you should spend a little more dough on (i.e. organic fruits and vegetables) and which produce is okay to eat without the fancy organic label.

Opt for organic:

• celery
• peaches
• strawberries
• apples
• blueberries
• nectarines
• bell peppers
• spinach
• kale
• cherries
• potatoes
• grapes

‘Organic’ label-free:

• onions
• avocado
• pineapple
• mangoes
• asparagus
• kiwi
• cabbage
• eggplant
• watermelon
• grapefruit
• sweet potato
• sweet peas
• bananas

As a college student, I don’t always have extra money to spend on organic food. This article taught me that I can still eat well, buying fruits and veggies that won’t put chemicals and pesticides into my body, but not break the bank!

I don’t know about you, but for me, coffee in the morning is a must! Coffee, a cup of energy, wakes me up in the morning and gets me through some painfully early classes. With finals right around the corner, coffee shops will be jam packed and student’s caffeine consumption will be on the rise. This made me wonder; how much caffeine is too much?

According to the Mayo Clinic website, two to four cups of coffee isn’t harmful to your health, but more than 500 mg a day can affect sleeping patterns, cause nervousness and stomach aches.

I’ve heard that caffeine is bad for you so today I tried to go without any. It’s safe to say I’m addicted because come three o’clock I was dragging. So, the question remains…why is caffeine so bad?

I found a great site that explained the effects of drinking too much coffee. According to an article written for Columbia University’s Health Service, caffeine has been linked to an increased chance for osteoperosis. For every 8 ounce cup of coffee you drink, 5 mg of calcium is lost from the body through urine.

Ch-Ch-Ch Chia! Remember that chia pet craze back in the 90s? I’m pretty sure every household had at least one. I mean, who needs a dog or a cat when you can have a terra-cotta figurine that sprouts green hair when its sprinkled with tiny black seeds? Turns out you can sprinkle the same seeds on your food and add a whole lot of nutrition value to your meals.

My mom called me a couple weeks ago raving about chia seeds and how I had to try them. She told me about the ‘Mila Miracle’ and how it has helped her to lose weight. Miracle eh? I had to check it out for myself…

• Chia seeds reduce food cravings=weight loss
• Chia seeds absorb liquids so it makes you feel full faster
• Chia seeds are really high in Omega-3s which help reduce inflamation, protect against heart attack and stroke and lower cholesterol. Score!
• To learn even MORE, click here

I’ve started eating chia seeds on my oatmeal, in my yogurt, in smoothies and sprinkled on top of toast with almond butter and cinnamon. They’re tasteless yet add texture (unless they’re blended in a smoothie) to your food.

I also found some interesting and creative recipes using chia seeds!

• Lemon Cranberry Coconut Chia Bars
• 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars
• Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

How good do those peanut butter bars look? Okay, anything with peanut butter will taste delicious

Whole Foods is where I buy my chia seeds, about $10 for a decent size bag, but you can buy them online or at any natural foods store. I highly suggest hopping on the chia bandwagon…sure glad I did!