2008 Woodie Awards
Re-think late night munchies
Ethan Feinstein
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Op/Ed
After a late night out with friends, many of us find ourselves in the line at GQ to fulfill a craving. Before going back to the dorms, attending to that late night hunger seems to be essential for students. Many opt for the fried and high-calorie foods within an hour of the time they plan on sleeping. These habits aren't exactly the best way to maintain your body weight. Deep fried chicken tenders, french fries, fried hash browns, greasy pizza, and egg sandwiches on carb-loaded white bread bagels are popular items consumed. Foods available like apples with peanut butter, yogurt, or eggs with whole wheat bread, are unfortunately bypassed. How are students supposed to be aware of the nutritional content of their favorite foods served by the musically inclined late-night staff? The menus posted don't show any nutritional stats, and the only items on which nutrition facts are available are those which are pre-packaged.
The popular late night bagel bomb, with a fried egg, slice of cheese, two pieces of bacon on a plain bagel has a whopping 630 calories and over twenty grams of fat. This caloric monstrosity boasts nearly double that of a McDonald's Egg McMuffin. This sandwich IS like a bomb, as it packs on the calories and fat to students' bodies as they blindly consume. Moreover, only two fried chicken tenders can bring in up to 350 calories with over fifteen grams of total fat, and that's without the mound of french fries served with it! These highly caloric snacks eaten so late turn more quickly into fat, as the body's metabolic rate slows down during sleep.
Late-night snacks are essential for most students after a night of partying, but there are alternatives that won't pack on pounds. Swap a plain bagel for whole wheat which supplies both fiber and whole grains. Go for fruit, which costs a mere twenty-five cents, along with a packet of peanut butter. A banana has only seventy calories and about two tablespoons of peanut butter adds up to around 200 calories.
Look for alternatives that serve up more protein than fat. Grilled chicken breasts have fewer than 180 calories, less than three grams of total fat, and upwards of twenty grams of protein. Another great snack is oatmeal, a known super food around the world. Oatmeal helps fight cancer, promotes weight loss, and cures hangovers. Its complex carbs and fiber will help keep you feeling full for longer.
It's tempting to gorge on fried foods on a late-night jaunt to GQ, but it's important to think about what you eat. Next time you stumble and impatiently find yourself standing in line at GQ after a night out with friends, avoid temptation and keep your waistline in mind, for the fried foods will merely pack on the pounds.
The popular late night bagel bomb, with a fried egg, slice of cheese, two pieces of bacon on a plain bagel has a whopping 630 calories and over twenty grams of fat. This caloric monstrosity boasts nearly double that of a McDonald's Egg McMuffin. This sandwich IS like a bomb, as it packs on the calories and fat to students' bodies as they blindly consume. Moreover, only two fried chicken tenders can bring in up to 350 calories with over fifteen grams of total fat, and that's without the mound of french fries served with it! These highly caloric snacks eaten so late turn more quickly into fat, as the body's metabolic rate slows down during sleep.
Late-night snacks are essential for most students after a night of partying, but there are alternatives that won't pack on pounds. Swap a plain bagel for whole wheat which supplies both fiber and whole grains. Go for fruit, which costs a mere twenty-five cents, along with a packet of peanut butter. A banana has only seventy calories and about two tablespoons of peanut butter adds up to around 200 calories.
Look for alternatives that serve up more protein than fat. Grilled chicken breasts have fewer than 180 calories, less than three grams of total fat, and upwards of twenty grams of protein. Another great snack is oatmeal, a known super food around the world. Oatmeal helps fight cancer, promotes weight loss, and cures hangovers. Its complex carbs and fiber will help keep you feeling full for longer.
It's tempting to gorge on fried foods on a late-night jaunt to GQ, but it's important to think about what you eat. Next time you stumble and impatiently find yourself standing in line at GQ after a night out with friends, avoid temptation and keep your waistline in mind, for the fried foods will merely pack on the pounds.