Beware fellow coffee lovers

This venti iced white chocolate mocha non-fat latte from Starbucks looks like a healthy breakfast, right? Wrong. Firstly, coffee should not be a breakfast substitute. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it can make all the difference in the way you feel during the day. Coffee is the FIRST thing I drink in the morning, but it is not the ONLY thing I consume. Secondly, coffee does not fulfill the nutritional elements that we need to sustain high energy levels throughout the day. The next time you are thinking about replacing your breakfast with a drink like this one above, I urge you to think twice. Though it tastes good, it won’t make you feel good.

Believe it or not, when I ordered this drink, I thought I was making a healthy choice. I thought I could save calories by not eating breakfast. I assumed this drink was under 200 calories, and that it would give me the energy I needed to study for exams all day. After slurping the last heavenly sip, and a gargle in my stomach, I decided to look up the nutrition contents. I was shocked by what I discovered.

Who knew a coffee drink could contain 580 calories, 75 grams of sugar, 14 grams of saturated fat and 79 grams of carbohydrates? According to Starbucks, these are the components of the drink that I sucked down three days in a row for breakfast.

While it is okay to indulge every once and a while to a treat like this, it is unhealthy to make this an every day habit. If you are an avid coffee drinker like me, my advice to you is to look up nutritional facts before ordering a coffee drink of this size at Starbucks. Also, try to drink coffee without extra sugar, creamer or whipped cream. Everything in moderation!

Introducing the eggocado

Healthy and happy:

I present to you, the “eggocado.” It is the result of cross-breeding an egg and an avocado. Follow this easy recipe, and your taste buds won’t be disappointed.

What you’ll need:
1) One avocado
2) Two eggs
3) Pepper/salt/cheese/seasoning of your choice
4) Parchment paper
5) Baking sheet

Directions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet.
2) Cut an avocado in half. Throw away the pit before your dog eats it. Place on baking sheet.
4) Crack an egg and put it on one half of the avocado. Crack another egg into the other half of the avocado. Depending on the size of the egg and avocado, you may have to carve a bigger hole into each half of the avocado to hold the egg.
5) Sprinkle seasoning of your choice on top of egg.
6) Place baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
7) Indulge in your homemade eggocado.

Results:
A creamy-textured avocado, rich in nutrients and flavor, with an egg on top.

Health Benefits:
Avocados are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They are rich in nutrients such as fiber and Vitamin B.  They are rich in healthy fats that help maintain a fast metabolism and healthy weight. Avocados are also great for your hair and skin, according to Reader’s Digest.
Eggs are a good source of your daily protein, complex carbs, iron and vitamins.
Together, egg and avocado make a meat-free, delicious breakfast or snack.

Zucchini Chips

What you’ll need:
1) Zucchini
2) Olive Oil
3) Pepper/salt/seasoning of your choice
4) Parchment paper
5) Baking sheet

Directions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2) Slice zucchini into thin pieces.
3) Drizzle Olive Oil on zucchini and season with pepper, salt or any seasoning of your choice.
4) Bake for 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, flip them over so they bake evenly on both sides.
5) Let chips cool down for two minutes.
6) Indulge.

Results:
Crispy chips that will crunch in your mouth.

Health Benefits:
According to Health Diaries, one cup of zucchini contains 36 calories and 10 percent of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids digestion and helps the body maintain low blood sugar.
Dietary fiber also prevents cancer.
Zucchini is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and antioxidants.
It also curbs overeating, such as indulging in fattening potato chips.

Healthy and happy:

Unhealthy and sad: