food – CollegeFashionista

3 Guilt-Free Guilty Pleasure Snacks

The food police would cuff me in a millisecond for my terrible eating habits. Every January, I try to turn a new leaf and eat healthy, but I fail within days of making my resolution. My palate is so not refined that it could be considered coarse. I just really love greasy pizza and fake cheese, okay?

One thing vegetarians, carnivores, and everyone in between can agree on is that comfort foods are imperative for sanity. In each individual’s diet, there’s at least one food item that can pull us out of our darkest of days.

There are countless excuses to eat, and the easiest foods to grab seem to be the least healthy options. I chose three go-to snacks that typically give me post-consumption guilt, and I substituted a healthier option, the sweet potato, in for a major ingredient.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Fries. If you don’t like fries, I don’t trust you. Cut a sweet potato into long, thin rectangles, and evenly coat them in corn starch if you prefer extra crispiness. Spread them out on a baking tray. Drizzle olive oil over the entire spread, and add any preferred seasoning besides salt. Adding salt during this stage will minimize the crisp-factor of your final product. Bake the fries for 10-15 minutes on each side at 400 degrees. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges start to brown. Take them out and then add salt… or don’t if you’re healthier than I am.

2—Nachos. Another fan favorite. Chop the sweet potatoes into thin discs to mimic chips. Turn them around in olive oil on a baking sheet and bake them for 10 minutes at 425 degrees, then for another 10 minutes on the flip side. And now for the fun part: add tomatoes, cheese, beans, and basically anything else that brings your nachos to life. Go the extra mile and make some guacamole. Once you dress the chips with colorful accessories, bake the nachos for another two minutes to melt everything together.

3—Cinnamon sticks. What kind of junk food connoisseur would I be without dessert? Cut the sweet potatoes into long slices similar to the fries and coat them in corn starch. Bask them in olive or coconut oil, and add your desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Toss the fries around until each has a fair share of sugar. Once again, place the cinnamon sticks on a tray and bake for 10-15 minutes on each side at 400 degrees. While waiting for your masterpiece, gather marshmallows or fluff spread to make your dessert even sweeter.

Sweet potatoes have a lot of health benefits. There’s more fiber, vitamin A and C, and less carbs and calories; however, the best part about each dish is that you can eat a whole tray and not feel guilty.

Try choosing orange potatoes over white potatoes and see what magic you can cook up, and share with us on Instagram by tagging @CFashionista!

All photos by Lex Kelly.

4 Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Without the Guilt

If you have a sweet tooth you must know how hard it is to stay away from decadent treats. Let’s face it, anything that completely satisfies those cravings is not going to be the healthiest choice. Personally, I need sweets in my life, but I am also into fitness and healthy living. It is frustrating for me to put these two together. I decided to find low-calorie, guilt-free foods that can satisfy these cravings.

1—Fruity desserts. Açaí has been around for a while as a healthy alternative for dessert. I went to a local organic restaurant where they have a variety of options. I chose an Açaí Bowl with pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, granola, bee pollen, and agave. It was a great mix of sweet flavors that also felt clean. Other fruity alternatives include smoothie bowls, frozen yogurt, and chocolate-dipped fruit. Just remember to keep your toppings healthy and to consume in moderation, otherwise, it becomes just as bad as any other dessert.

2—At home recipes. Grab a recipe book and get to the kitchen! You can also follow food blogs or Instagram accounts that post step-by-step videos of recipes. You’d be surprised by the endless possibilities, and it doesn’t have to be much work! Homemade, healthy sweets will keep you from grabbing the cookies your grandma brought over.

3—Low-calorie products. Sometimes you don’t have time to make your own treats, but you need something around for when the cravings hit. There are many products nowadays that allow us to indulge for fewer calories and better nutrients, such as Halo Top, Enlightened, Dole Dippers, Yasso, and Skinny Cow. I am currently obsessed with Skinny Cow’s 45-calorie, coffee-filled chocolates. I also tried Halo Top’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, for research purposes, of course. Other than the extra $3-4 spent, the only noticeable difference is that it is less creamy and the chunks of cookie dough are smaller. Despite this, it was delicious, satisfying, and worth it, especially for only 360 calories a pint.

4—Exercise. The key to success is achieving a balance. If you know that you need your sweets, then exercise! For example, I went on a two-mile jog to the grocery store to buy the Halo Top. I felt like I deserved to treat myself, but I also knew that I couldn’t just eat the whole pint because I had exercised. Exercising is not an excuse to eat anything you want. However, it does allow you to indulge a bit more without the guilt. Grab your sneakers, a fun sports bra and legging set, and get moving!

These alternatives have helped me stay happy and healthy during my fitness journey. If you like sweets, do not deprive yourself of them! Find a balance between your diet, exercising, and what you enjoy. I hope this helps my fellow dessert lovers as it has helped me!

Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

A Food Lovers Guide to Chicago

Summer is about going to new places and exploring everything they have to offer. I am a huge foodie, so it is essential for me to find the best places to eat wherever I go. Over the summer, I went to Chicago for a couple of days for vacation. I want to share with you all my favorite food places in Chicago.

Brunch

For breakfast/brunch, I found this really Instagram-able place called The Goddess and the Baker. When you enter, you instantly notice the colorful displays of cupcakes and desserts which leave you in such a happy and warm mood. This place has such a cute atmosphere and makes you want to indulge in everything! There are so many great vegan options to choose from as well.

There is also a wide variety of drinks from coffee in mason jars to a juice bar. I got the goddess gringo horchata. If you are a coffee lover, you’ll enjoy this drink because of its unique rice and cinnamon flavors that escalate the drink so much. This cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well! I got the iron man omelet which consisted of arugula, avocado, and brussels sprouts in egg whites. After eating my healthy breakfast, I decided to treat myself to a rainbow slice of cake. It was truly magical and tasted delicious!

Dinner

Everything about this place was so aesthetically pleasing from the glass wall full of wine bottles to the private tables that featured a more deluxe dining experience. The atmosphere was just as excellent as the food! I ordered the chicken dip sandwich which is in my top 10 for best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. There was a dipping sauce that came with it that elevated the sandwich to a new level of tastiness!

Remington’s is the perfect place if you are looking for a fancy but affordable restaurant. I cannot describe to you how amazing the atmosphere felt. It was sophisticated, but relaxing at the same time. I just felt a bit under-dressed because everyone was wearing their formal business clothes.

Dessert

There is this cozy gelato place called Ge Pa Da Caffe. I normally don’t like gelato, but I decided to check this place out because of the great reviews on Yelp. They had so many different unique flavors of gelato such as their Ferrero Rocher and tiramisu gelato. I got pistachio and biscotti which was creamy and melted in your mouth. The presentation exceeded my expectations because I wasn’t expecting anything fancy. Along with great presentation and taste, the workers were so sweet as well! They personally came up to me and told me all of the ingredients in the gelato and how each flavor was made!

If you have any restaurants you would like to share, please leave them in the comments or share them on social media. Don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista. I would love to hear about your favorite restaurants from any part of the world!

Best Places for Summer Treats in NYC

Appetizers are nice and entrées are delicious, but I absolutely adore dessert. When coming to New York City to intern this summer, I actually set aside a whole separate budget for desserts. If that doesn’t tell you how much of a foodie I am, I’m not sure what will.

Whether you’re visiting temporarily or are an NYC native, here is the ultimate New York City dessert bucket list (in no particular order):

1— Momofuku Milk Bar. Momofuku Milk Bar has been an NYC classic that I was dying to try for the longest time. It serves products like crack pie (not sure what’s in it but it’s incredible), cereal milk ice cream, and my absolute favorite, birthday cake truffles.

2—Levain Bakery. These insanely photogenic and Instagrammable chocolate chip cookies are anything but boring. Levain Bakery has grown famous for the ooey-gooey insides of their chocolate chip cookies as well as their lines that go out the front door. My advice is to go early on a week day to avoid the long lines, but even if you have to wait for it, you’ll be happy that you did.

3—Morgenstern’s Ice Cream. Morgenstern’s has the best coffee flavored ice cream, hands down. I got the hazelnut coffee flavor and it did not disappoint. Although their super unique flavors like rose vanilla and green tea pistachio may sound funky, you’ll have to trust me on this one and try it for yourself.

4—Dominique Ansel Bakery. The classic cookie shots from Dominique Ansel Bakery are a must-try when visiting NYC. When ordered, a beautiful cookie shot glass is filled with cool milk poured in right before your eyes.This dessert is most certainly an experience and worth every penny.

5—Kith. Kith Treats is known to be NYC’s first cereal bar where your ice cream can be infused with over 20 choices in cereals and tons of toppings. When I first found out about this place it sounded like a dream and most certainly tasted like one when I made a visit. Why just have plain cereal when you can blend it into your ice cream?! Pure genius if I do say so myself.

6—Il Laboratorio del Gelato. When I visited Il Laboratorio del Gelato I was amazed by the plethora of flavors available to choose from such as mascarpone, beet, peppercorn, olive oil, lavender-honey, and black sesame. This is one of those places where you can just tell that the ingredients are fresh and of high quality.

I hope that this little dessert list of NYC keeps your sweet tooth satisfied! From decadent ice creams to pies and cakes, there are so many delicious dessert places in the city that it’s hard to know where to start or what to choose. You can work your way through this list and thank me later! Don’t forget to enhance your Instagram feed with a Polaroid snap of your sweet treat.

What are your favorite desserts? Show us on social media! Don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista.

4 Sweet Treats to Enjoy in NYC This Summer

New York City is known to have the hottest trends: food, fashion, you name it. I personally love to spend my summer searching for the newest food trends, enjoying s’mores around a campfire, or laying out in my backyard by the pool with a glass of homemade lemonade. Since it’s been such a hot summer so far, here are some sweet treats you can enjoy to cool you down.

1—Wowfulls. Wowfulls makes 1950s-style Hong Kong egg waffles served as a cone and filled with ice cream. It’s topped with anything you can think of from rainbow sprinkles to teddy grams. As they say, they’re “crispy on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside.” It’s a perfect treat to walk the streets with.

2—Juicy Spot Cafe. Rolled ice cream is a trendy new summer treat that hits the sweet spot. The ice cream is made right in front of you on a frozen plate. You get to choose your flavor, mix-ins, and toppings. Juicy Spot Cafe is a great place to try out this dessert. I personally love mine with an overload of toppings.

3—Besfren. Besfren gives a popular twist on your average cookie. These triple chocolate chip cookies are bigger than the size of your head. They are insanely delicious and would make a perfect Boomerang by raising chocolate chip cookies for the perfect “cheers” moment with a friend. You can attempt to make them at home, and chow down while floating on a swan pool float.

4—Kelloggs NYC. Last but not least, Kelloggs NYC has some mouthwatering milkshakes, not-your-average bowls of cereal, and much more. Paired with a white wall, a pair of sunglasses, and your choice of dessert, this picture would perfectly fit your Instagram aesthetic.

All of these summer treats are beyond Instagram-worthy, so go check them out to satisfy your sweet tooth.

What’s your favorite summer sweet treat? Show us on social media, and don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista!

How to Ensure a Healthy Day From the Start

Everybody loves finding out about new healthy ideas, recipes, and foods which we can incorporate into our routines. Especially ones which are quick to make and packed with vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately buying organic and fresh produce is not cheap, and it goes bad quickly if you’re not using it up fast enough.

As a result of this problem, many food and fitness bloggers constantly share their tips online. They often share how to eat nutrition-rich food with little waste and a lot of time savers. The most popular ones are listed below and are great to try out.

1—Freeze. A very popular method for smoothie drinkers and bowlers is to cut and prep all of their fresh ingredients together and then freeze them. This is a great way to ensure that your ingredients stay healthy, fresh, and cool. A lot of bloggers share their recipes and tips online which is a great help when creating weekly smoothies. Keeping different ingredients on hand is a big help when you want to experiment or focus on certain vitamins and minerals.

2—Grow. Growing your own ingredients is an instant cash saver, and it ensures the freshness of your food. Space is often an issue when wanting to grow your own plants, but luckily trendy alternatives have come out to help just that. You can have plants growing on your counter, windows, or even hanging from the ceiling with the various options around you today. Growing your own ingredients can now be a trendy addition to your home. It is a great way to ensure that you’re getting enough fresh food and minerals as they’re easily available.

3—Prep. Dedicating a day in your week to cooking and prepping food is an easy way to save time, eat healthily, and waste little. It allows you to play around with different ingredients and to create exciting nutrient-full food for the week. As a result, it ensures that you don’t overbuy food that you won’t be needing. There are many ideas online to inspire your healthy cooking, give you tips on what lasts well, and how to ensure flavor in each container.

Eating well can be made an easy part of your daily life with just a few steps. The best thing to do for your body is to treat and feed it correctly for you.

Look online for ideas and share yours for us to all see! Don’t forget to tag @CFashionista!

4 Mexican Summer Treats You Need to Try Before Summer Ends

As summer draws near its end, and we transition into fall, take a moment to appreciate the fact that there’s still time for more sizzling summer fun! Alright, so the sizzling heat isn’t necessarily the greatest perk of summer, but at least it’s what makes summer the greatest time of the year to eat your favorite chilly sweet summer treats. Take a breather from your fall preparations and cool off by learning about these four tasty Mexican treats you need to try before summer ends.

1—Ice Cream Sandwich Churro. This Mexican summer treat has the perfect combination! The warmth from the churros blends perfectly with the coolness of the ice cream which results in a happy tummy. These sugar and cinnamon dusted pastries add an extra touch of sweetness to your ice cream that’ll leave you wanting more!

2—Rainbow Raspa. Raspas can be served in several different syrup flavors like mango, grape, and watermelon. Naturally, I couldn’t decide which yummy flavor to choose during my visit to the raspa stand so I thought—why just get one flavor when you can get three? This colorful Mexican treat is a mixture of lime, banana, and cherry flavored shaved ice that’s totally worth a brain freeze, or two.

3—Avocado Paleta. Break away from ordinary popsicle flavors and try a creamy avocado popsicle instead. Not only is this popsicle healthy, but it also creates a sugary fiesta for your taste buds. The avocado paleta has just enough milk and sugar blended into it, so it doesn’t overpower the refreshing taste of the avocado. This frozen delight will definitely keep you cool during the sizzling summer heat!

4—Fresas Con Crema. Last, but not least, is my favorite Mexican summer treat. Fresas con crema is a heavenly blend of freshly sliced strawberries and a sugary cream. Once you get a taste of fresas con crema, I guarantee you will not want to put it down until you’ve eaten every last spoonful of this classic Mexican treat.

What are your favorite summer treats? Show us on social media! Don’t forget to tag @CFashionista.

The 5 Most Instagramable Food Spots in Israel

Going on Birthright Israel is an opportunity to learn about one’s Jewish heritage, which includes visiting the Western Wall, climbing Masada, and, of course, eating. You would never leave home without your S’Well water bottle, Stan Smith sneakers, and brand new denim jacket, but make sure to pack a big appetite. Some of the best street food I’ve ever had was in Israel. Not only does the food look good, but it tastes amazing, too!

1—HaKosem. Located in the heart of Tel Aviv, HaKosem is famous for its falafel balls. Falafel balls are fried chickpeas, often served in pita bread with an assortment of vegetables and tahini sauce. HaKosem is known for serving the best falafel balls in all of Tel Aviv, and after trying them, I definitely agree.

2—Carmel Market. Israel is famous for its many markets. Carmel Market in Tel Aviv sells everything from jewelry and hats to fresh cheese and meat. My favorite stand at the market was the one with the gummy candies. My bag was filled with so many different types of candies, many of which I had never seen before.

3—Sarona Market. Sarona Market is Tel Aviv’s foodie market and located inside is Frost, a truly original take on frozen yogurt. What makes this fro-yo so unique is that it is topped with a skewer of waffle cubes drizzled with milk, white, or dark chocolate. It’s also decorated with special chocolate taps. Not sure if this should be considered breakfast or dessert, but I would eat it for either.

4—Jachnun Bar. This hole in the wall restaurant in The Shuk (market) in Jerusalem was recommended to me by a friend who said it was the best thing she had ever eaten in her life. She told me to order the “memulawach.” You’ve probably never seen this word before, and neither had I. It’s bread that is a combination of Greek filo dough and a pancake topped with hummus, tahini, a hard boiled egg, cauliflower, fried onions, grilled onions, and cheese. Then, it is wrapped like a burrito. My friend was definitely right; it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.

5—Marzipan Bakery and Pastry. Last, but certainly not least, is Marzipan Bakery. They sell the crème de la crème of chocolate rugelach. The bakery is also located in The Shuk in Jerusalem. The line is always out the door and around the corner. But don’t worry, it moves quickly and they tend to hand out samples.

I’m assuming you are already planning your trip to Israel, and if you aren’t, you better get going! Where in the world have you had the best dessert? Let me know in the comments below!

4 Tricks for Saving Money in College

As college students, we can all admit to swiping, transferring, and cashing out on expensive lunches and online shopping sprees. Let’s make another confession: saving money did not make the list. I had my first wake-up call when I noticed that my wallet was getting fatter and not from cash but from crumpled up receipts. The money we spend on coffee during finals week alone is comparable to the price of a cute Zara top. Us college Fashionistas can have what we want (more clothes) and what we need (more coffee) without breaking the bank. Here are some tricks of my trade to ensure that you don’t let college run you dry this school year!

1—Use coupons or discounts. We are often granted discounts just for being enrolled in college so flash that student ID and keep your coins! If online shopping is most convenient for you, UNiDAYS is the perfect site. It caters specifically to college students, providing us with lower prices at the places we love most. From fashion to tech, UNiDAYS has us covered. Before clicking ‘complete your order,’ enter a coupon code and make your wallet happy.

2—Track your spending and detect patterns. Download the app for your bank to see your account status before heading to the ATM to withdraw money. This will prevent overspending or unknowingly skipping out on a reward for being conscientious. Remember that saving money is a gradual process; you may not see it, but it is happening.

3—Prioritize your needs versus your wants. I’d be lying if I said I did not struggle with this my freshman year. If you know that you need professional clothing for an interview, hold off on buying a new denim jacket. Only fashion enthusiasts understand how heartbreaking it is to pass up an item that you adore but it is worth it. Remember that during the time spent waiting to buy something, it could go on sale and then you have a valid reason to treat yourself for saving money.

4—Pick two days out of the week to splurge on food. By no means am I saying that you have to detox fast food as soon as September rolls around, however, easing into this schedule can simply add more Benjamins to your stash. If this is not realistic for your lifestyle, resort back to coupons. Pocket Points is an app that rewards college students for staying off their phones while in class. The application detects when you are in a classroom and gives the user points once they keep the device locked for a certain period of time. Redeem the points in exchange for food/drinks at local restaurants and other businesses. All I can say is, I have not paid for fries at my favorite burger joint ever since I downloaded this app.

Let me know which tip was your favorite in the comment section below!

This Easy and Delicious Guacamole Recipe Will Impress Any Crowd

Do you need a new recipe to impress your girl gang with? If so, then I have the solution for you. Whether you need to bring an appetizer to a girls’ night in party, or you need a quick, healthy snack for yourself, this guacamole recipe will be your new go-to. This recipe is so simple, yet tastes amazing! I have to admit, it will be very hard to stop eating this dip once you start.

1—Chop up all the ingredients. First, I like to prepare all of my ingredients so I can easily add them into the mix. For this recipe, you will need a 1/2 cup of finely diced onion, a 1/2 cup of deseeded and diced tomato, and a 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro leaves. (Pro tip: Make sure to scrape out the seeds and flesh of the tomatoes. If not, your guac will be too watery.) You can add or subtract as much of an ingredient depending on your liking. Set all of your chopped items to the side.

2—Add the flesh of three avocados to a bowl. Make sure to use ripe avocados. They are essential to great guacamole. After the avocado flesh is in a bowl, squeeze the juice of one small lime into the bowl.

3—Mash together the avocado and lime juice. Mash until you reach a consistency you like. Chunky or smooth? You decide!

4—Add the onion, tomato, and cilantro into the bowl. Fold the ingredients into the avocado mixture.

5—Sprinkle with some salt and ground cumin. I prefer to use Himalayan pink salt. Again, this is all about your preference. You could even add in some hot peppers if you want to make it spicy.

6—Enjoy! Grab some tortilla chips, rice crackers, pepper slices, or carrot sticks and dig in. You can even spread the guac on grilled chicken, add to a salad, or eat right out of the bowl with a spoon. You can also display your fresh guacamole in cute and creative ways. Serve it in a cute bowl for everyone to grab from, or separate the guac into personal bowls so everyone gets a fair share.

If you make this amazing guacamole recipe, be sure to let me know if you liked it in the comments below. I would love to hear if you added anything new to the mix!