The Pollock Guide

Hi everyone!

So in the last two weeks I reviewed a delicious restaurant and I showed you some healthy dorm snacks, so this week I'm going to highlight some great tips and strategies for using the dining commons! Specifically, I'm going to be focusing on the Pollock Dining Commons.

Out of all of the commons I've checked out, Pollock is my favorite (and not just because it's right outside of my dorm, although that does help)! Disclosure: I still haven't been to Redifer (South) yet, so I can't say Pollock is the best.

One of my favorite aspects of Pollock is that it has a smoothie bar called swirl. Each day they'll have a different fruity flavor for you to try that's a great energy booster! For example, they had an out of this world blueberry banana smoothie today that was made with frozen yogurt. Be careful though! If you're trying to avoid sweets and desserts, the smoothie bar is right next to where they keep the freshly baked cookies. I know I've broken down a couple of times and sampled some of those warm, chocolaty morsels. 

 My wrap was too stuffed
with veggies for them to cut it!

Something else that everyone should take advantage of (unless you're eating gluten free of course) is the sub/wrap counter. If you want a sub there are either white or wheat rolls, and if you're in the mood for a wrap you can choose from a myriad of flavors including my favorite, honey wheat. Toasted or cold, you can select your meat, cheese and toppings, creating a healthy alternative to pizza or a burger.

This salmon and salad are
good alternative options!

So to understand the sheer coincidence of my next topic, you're going to need a little background. If you read my first post, you'll know that the ex-husband of one of my mom's friends, also the father of my little sister's best friend, is an amazing sushi chef (the wife was the one that recommended I go to the Japanese restaurant I reviewed). For a reason unbeknownst to me, he currently works in the Pollock Dining Commons (how bizarre is that??). So, occasionally there will be either delectable rolls or scrumptious sushi made-to-order by him. I highly recommend that everyone partakes in this delicacy, especially if you've never had sushi before. Who knows? Maybe you'll discover a new favorite food!

My last point is on self-control and healthy eating strategies. I know that the desserts, pizza, burgers, and fries are always tempting and hard to resist, but if you want to beat the freshman fifteen, resist you must! A good strategy is to peruse your options and plan your meal before you grab anything. This way, you can check out what's available to you besides these aforementioned treats, and stay on track with eating healthy. Also, it's a good idea to set a limit on how many portions you put on your plate. Too much of a good thing and all that! I have a rule that when I go to the commons I'm only allowed one "unhealthy" item each meal. Trust me, you will thank yourself for using these tips when you can still button your pants in a few months!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you found my tips and strategies helpful in defeating the freshman fifteen!

Delicious Dorm Snacks

So I have a confession to make. I forgot to go grocery shopping.

I know this doesn't sound like such a big deal, but if you had a blog post due the next morning that was supposed to be about quick, healthy snacks, you would understand my dilemma.

Anyways, back to my story. So there I was, sitting on my bed, dreading the hike to McLanahan's, when the light bulb went off. My blog is meant to teach students how to use the dining commons to our advantage, so why wouldn't I just procure the necessary ingredients there? Excited about my idea, I quickly made my way over to the Pollock Commons (which is right outside my dorm) and jumped in line.

The three snack recipes I decided on after scouring Pinterest for an hour were banana dog bites, triscuits with a twist, and frozen yogurt grape pops. I was still lacking a banana, a whole wheat tortilla wrap, lunch meat, vegetables, yogurt, granola, and raisins. I quickly grabbed the fruit, granola, and yogurt (there was strawberry, so I obviously got that), and then I stopped by the station where they can make you wraps or subs. Ordering a honey wheat tortilla with ham, pastrami, and assorted vegetables, I specified that I didn't want them to cut it. Loading it all into my to-go container, I went back to my dorm room.

Because I knew I would have to freeze the pops for them to be perfect, I started on those first.

Frozen Yogurt Grape Pops

What you'll need:

• skewers (chopsticks from the Commons worked just fine)
• grapes
• yogurt (your choice of flavor)
• raisins/craisins
• granola (if wanted)

To complete this deliciously simple concoction, you first skewer the grapes. Then, ladle the yogurt over them, making sure to evenly coat all sides. Lastly, you sprinkle on the granola and raisins/craisins, and stick it in the freezer. In one hour, you'll have a scrumptious snack! This time limit will only freeze the yogurt. If you want the grapes to freeze you will need to leave them in for a few hours. I highly recommend doing this before bed, so when you wake up you'll already have your breakfast ready to go!

Next, I took on the banana dog bites. 

Banana Dog Bites

You'll need:

• knife
• whole wheat tortilla wrap
• banana 
• peanut butter

This was definitely the easiest recipe to do. You just coat the entire side of the wrap in a thin layer of peanut butter, wrap the banana in it, and cut it into wheels. Voila! A delicious, energizing snack!

Lastly, because I was making these recipes around dinnertime, I wanted to make sure I got my protein fix for the day (more than the peanut butter anyways). This is a great recipe that will provide you with a well rounded snack. The "twist" is that you melt the cheese, adding some warmth, and creating another dimension to the treat.

Triscuits with a Twist

You will need:

• microwave
• Triscuits
• cheese
• lunch meat of your choice
• vegetables

First, you melt the cheese in a microwave for approximately 30 seconds, stirring it up well when you take it out. Then, you put the cheese on the triscuits (hurry before it solidifies!) and rip up pieces of lunch meat to put on top of that. If you want to add some green to your crunchy, mini sandwich you can add whatever vegetables you like! This is an easy way to fulfill your food pyramid requirements, with less calories than a regular sandwich!

I hope you will find these recipes useful! They are a fun, easy way to eat something healthy in your dorm, and get you away from the monotony of Cup o' Noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Thanks for reading!

Tadashi: Delectable and Nutritious

Hi everyone, and welcome to my blog!

I'm going to be outlining important tips to help you beat the abhorred, "freshman fifteen". I'll touch on topics such as delicious, healthy restaurants around the State College area, how to use the dining commons to your advantage, nutritious snacks that you can easily prepare in your dorm room, and other helpful hints that pop up along the way!

Last weekend when I visited home, it was recommended to me and my mom that we try Tadashi, a Japanese restaurant on College Ave. I had the impression the woman who suggested it was a reliable source. She was married to a master sushi chef from Japan who worked at a renowned restaurant in New York for ten years, and owned his own business for a time. So, when we drove back to Penn State with two of my siblings, that was our first stop.

My reason for choosing Tadashi is that there are a host of health benefits associated with sushi. High in omega-3 fatty acids, sushi is part of a Japanese diet that is said to increase life expectancy. Rice vinegar, a preservative typically used in nigiri, has antibacterial properties that aid in digestion and even lowers your risk of high blood pressure. The seaweed used to wrap the rolls, also called nori, is highly nutritious. It contains proteins, minerals and vitamins A, B, and C, that helps prevent cholesterol building up in blood vessels. In addition, sushi also has a low calorie count, as long as you steer clear of the fried rolls and mayonnaise rich sauces!

Walking into Tadashi was somewhat a surprise. It appears to be an authentic Japanese restaurant, featuring a sushi bar, a plethora of bamboo, and sake bottles lined up on the wall (even though it's BYOB). The trap/pop remix music however, throws off the whole traditional sushi bar impression. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but they are catering to college students, so it makes complete sense that I would like it.

After taking our seats, we proceeded to debate over the menu for a solid thirty minutes (we take our food VERY seriously in the Hine family). Finally settling on a multitude of dishes to share, we placed our order. My sister and I ordered three different types of rolls including the Rainbow Roll, the Miami Beach Roll, and the Tobiko Roll. My brother ordered Chashu Don, meaning Pork BBQ over rice. And lastly, my mom ordered the Sushi Sashimi Tasting, which includes eight pieces of nigiri (raw fish served over a molded ball of rice), fifteen pieces of sashimi (raw slices of fish), and a chef special roll.

Almost everything was marvelous! The rolls we ordered were all very different. My favorite was the Miami Beach roll, which was topped with Mango, adding a sweet component that I loved. The most interesting of the rolls however was the Tobiko Roll. Tobiko are small fish eggs that add a burst of flavor with every bite. Although I'm always hesitant about partaking in straight up raw fish, my mom's Sushi Sashimi Tasting was out of this world. Each piece of delicately sliced fish melted in my mouth, only adding to its piquancy. The only part of the meal I wasn't a fan of was my brother's Chashu Don: it made my stomach feel greasy after eating it, and the flavor was sub-par at best. Although I didn't enjoy that portion, overall Tadashi was a great experience, and I would highly recommend it as your next sushi stop!

If you're interested in looking at the menu, here's the link!
http://tadashipa.com/index.php