We all have those guilty pleasures that we cannot seem to cut ties with, whether it is chocolate, pizza, or in my case, chips; it’s a love/hate relationship that as college students we need to take control of. Since cutting them out completley is not a viable option and will only cause binge eating in the future, we need to come to a compromise that will keep both our growling stomachs and our Summer ’14 bodies happy. As the saying goes, you can have your cake and (moderately) eat it too. I am going to give you some healthy and (almost) equally delicious alternatives to your gultiest of pleasures.
For the collegiette with the sweet-tooth:
Dark-chocolate-covered strawberries are the best way to satisfy your sweet tooth and get your serving of fruit in as well! As many of you know, chocolate-covered strawberries can go for as much as $4-10 a pop, so the healthiest alternative for both your body and your wallet is to make them at home!
All you need is:
-Fresh (organic) strawberries from your local supermarket or even better, your local farmer’s market ($2.49, Trader Joe’s)
-Dark chocolate chips (a healthy alternative to milk chocolate, get it with 72% or higher cocoa, and it’s filled with antioxidants)
-A cooking tray
-Foil
-And room in your fridge or freezer if you’re in a rush to savor those bad boys.
Step 1: Wash and dry fresh strawberries.
Step 2: Melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave or in a pot over the stove.
Step 3: Dip the strawberries in the melted dark chocolate.
Step 4: Lay them evenly on the cooking tray.
Step 5: Put them in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to harden.
Step 6: Take them out and enjoy a (slightly) guilt-free sweet treat!
For the collegiette with the salty-savory craving:
Kale chips are my personal favorite cure for my salty craving and to use as an alternative for the crunchy-goodness (and calories) of chips.
All you need:
-Fresh kale or bagged kale ($1.99, Trader Joe’s)
-Olive oil
-Seasoning you prefer: salt, pepper, sesame, garlic, lemon, cayenne, etc
-Cooking tray
-Foil
-Heated oven to 375-400 degrees
Step 1: Clean, dry, and cut kale into bite size pieces.
Step 2: Put into a large bowl and drizzle olive oil onto the kale.
Step 3: Add preferred seasoning. My personal favorite mix is salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice.
Step 4: Evenly mix and distribute seasoning and olive oil throughout all the kale pieces.
Step 5: Lay the bite size pieces of kale evenly on the foil over the cooking tray.
Step 6: (Carefully) put the cooking tray into the pre-heated oven tray.
Step 7: Put a timer for 5-10 minutes or watch the kale until it reaches a golden, crispy texture, make sure to tread carefully so it doesn’t burn.
Step 8: With an oven mitt take out the tray and let it cool off and then put them into a bowl and enjoy!
I hope you guys got inspired by these healthy alternatives, and as I go through college and experience more, I will continue to inform you on deliciously healthy snacks to incorporate to your happy collegiette lifestyle.