Celebrity Demands

Emily Kastl  

We’ve all heard stories about outlandish celebrity demands: floor-to-ceiling white dressing rooms, constant room temperatures of exactly 73 degrees—you get the idea. Pampered celebs are used to all their demands being met, no matter how bizarre, and food appears to be no exception.

An article from The Daily Meal outlines some of the weirdest backstage ration requirements. Undeniable senses of entitlement aside, perhaps it becomes acceptable to request 7 (but absolutely not 9) grains in one’s bread after selling millions of albums or winning multiple Oscars.

Ever wonder what Jennifer Hudson, spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, craves after a show? Answer: baked hot wings.

What does swooner Michael Bublé expect to see upon his arrival to a performance? “One bottle of premium single malt scotch and a local team hockey puck,” of course.

If you’re thinking about having T.I stop by for a performance, get ready to drop some major dough. Be prepared to have nine filet mignons (at exactly 9 oz a piece), Grey Goose, Patrón, and Rémy Martin VSOP on hand. If that sounds like too much preparation, T.I will graciously accept a $1,000 prepaid bar tab instead. What a guy…

Ever the altruist, Katy Perry requests her and her staff are provided with SIGG water bottles at all times in order to minimize their carbon foot prints. Oh, and while you’re out picking up those water bottles, don’t forget to pick up some freeze-dried strawberries!

The late-great Whitney Houston requested “M&Ms, peanut butter cups, Butterfingers, Raisinets, as well as shrimp cocktail, crab legs, sweet and sour chicken or shrimp, spring rolls, and shrimp fried rice” on her Southeast Asia tour. Maybe Ms. Houston was really saving all her love for her after-show munchies!

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, these celebs are apparently creatures of habit who know exactly what they want. If you take anything away from this article, for the love of god, do not—I repeat, DO NOT—try to serve Selena Gomez her turkey sandwiches on Wonder Bread.

Righty—Hungry, Lefty—Full?

Emily Kastl  

Since snacking is a favorite past-time for many, we often find ourselves sitting in front of the TV, hand mindlessly passing from chip bag to mouth. This comforting cycle can sometimes last the duration of an hour-long show and before we know it, our hand is brushing the bottom of the bag desperately searching for any last morsels.

Since we become classically conditioned to snack over time, this question may seem a bit odd: which hand are you using as the primary transporter of your snacks?

An interesting study from the University of Southern California has been receiving some media face time recently due to its remarkable results. According to this study, people who used their non-dominant hand during nosh sessions consumed 30% less calories than those who employed their usual method.

So, what makes this seemingly arbitrary approach so effective? When we throw a kink in an automatic process – like snacking – our brain gets knocked off course and causes us to become aware of our behavior. This can prompt us to feel fuller sooner, resulting in fewer chips consumed.

The actual details of the 3-part study are pretty clever, too; participants sat in a dark movie theater, watched trailers and snacked on popcorn. The purpose of the dark theater was to create an automatic atmosphere, since many of us associate movies with mindless munching.

In part three of the study some participants were directed to snack with their non-dominant hand while in the movie theater. For those who had previously reported frequent movie time popcorn pig outs, the total amount consumed was 30% less than that of part one of the study.

So the next time you eagerly tear open a bag of cheese puffs, resist the urge to dive in with your dominant hand; you might find yourself reaching for the chip clip much sooner.

Paula Deen's Caloric Conundrum

Katie Trucco  

What does fried macaroni and cheese have in common with Krispy-Kreme donut bread pudding? Both contain unfathomable amounts of butter, weeks worth of calories, and they both originated in the kitchen of Paula Deen. She’s the television chef known for her butter-happy recipes and smothering dishes, all served warm with a big southern smile. Watching her prepare her sugary masterpieces is often cringe-worthy as she unwraps stick after stick of butter and drops them ever so gently into her mixing bowls while making a simple shrimp and wild rice casserole.

Just look at that big southern smile.

For years, Paula has made these dishes with impressive ease, and unlike many others in her field, she seems to actually eat and enjoy what she makes. Unfortunately, that has come with a price, as she announced a short time ago that she has been living with Type II Diabetes for the last three years. Her situation has come as no surprise to some, given her wildly unhealthy meals – she has featured deep-fried cheesecake on her show, and has shown viewers how to make a “lasagna sandwich.” After she announced her diagnosis, she claimed that she has altered her eating habits and “has always eaten in moderation.” While it is sad to see someone sacrifice their health and well-being for what they love, many are hoping that this turn in Paula’s eating style will encourage her to promote healthier eating to her fans. Her website now features “Figure Friendly” recipes, and her sons, Bobby and Jamie, are following in their mom’s culinary footsteps and have created some lighter dishes such as sweet and sour turkey meatballs. It is probably safe to say that the three of them will probably be laying off of the butter for quite some time!

Food On the Run

Emily Kastl  

How does the idea of consuming large amounts of food and then running a few miles right after sound—fun? Then you might be interested in taking part in a growing trend that combines food and exercise.

In fact, you don’t have to go any further than Ann Arbor to find an event. Each year on April Fool’s Day a 5k walk/run takes place in Gallup Park. But it isn’t your average 5k—along the way there are two Twinkie stations where runners can stop for a snack. Though it isn’t required to eat anything, those who do automatically get 2 minutes shaved off their final time.

If Twinkies aren’t your thing then you might be more interested in the Doughman Challenge. Featured on an episode of Man v. Food, this is a team event in Durham, North Carolina that involves eating entire meals before completing one leg of the race, which may include biking, swimming, or running. As if that isn’t enough, dessert is waiting for contestants before they can cross the finish line.

I’m not sure where this trend originated, but it seems like a fun pairing of 2 seemingly opposite things: food and physical activity. Maybe it’s a nice way to justify eating a hamburger chased with a donut--you’re just going to run it off…immediately.

To see the full list of races, check out the Food Network

A Gateway Food: Guacamole

Heather Fendell  

My winter break was spent on the beach of Los Cabos, Mexico. En route to Mexico, I was hesitant about the prospect of eating burritos, tacos, and mole, as growing up, I was never a fan of Mexican food. Often too spicy, greasy, or covered in beans, Mexican food was never my first choice. One of my biggest reservations with Mexican food is guacamole. I was always repulsed by the appearance of the green, slimy looking dip, having never taken to the taste or texture of avocados. And in Mexico, there was no avoiding it; guacamole seems to deserve its own category in the food pyramid in Mexico.

During our first dinner out at Mi Casa, I decided to brave my fear and scoop the green goo onto a homemade corn tortilla chip. Instead of the visceral reaction I was expecting from the disgusting green goo, I was loving the velvety, creamy, well-seasoned dip that perfectly offset the crunchy, salty corn chip. I came to love Mexican guacamole, as it is always a fresh and perfect way to start off a delicious meal. My affinity for guacamole became a gateway for trying other Mexican during vacation, beating out the Italian and Japanese food I would have previously gravitated to on a Mexican vacation. And since coming home from my tropical adventure, I have made sure that my kitchen is constantly stocked with my drug of choice:

Chips and guacamole.

Wolverine CuiZine loves Al Dente!

Carmen Lee  

With the chilly weather upon us, there is nothing more comforting than spending quality time inside with good friends and great food. And that is exactly what Wolverine CuiZine did over Winter Break – we feasted on two delicious dishes made from Al Dente’s sizzling pastas and sauces.

The potluck was delicious!

The first of the two was a simple and fabulous Al Dente spinach fettuccine tossed in roasted garlic sauce and mozzarella. Al Dente’s “tender but firm” pasta has a distinct and not too overpowering spinach flavor and a beautiful texture, making it a great canvas for Al Dente’s aromatic roasted garlic sauce. This dish was a huge hit, as people kept coming back for more.

Delicious roasted garlic sauce from Al Dente!

Right next to the generous dish of spinach fettuccine was a huge bowl of baked goodness: egg fettuccine with Roasted Garlic sauce, organic turkey sausage, and loads of mozzarella and Parmesan. What is there not to like about great pasta, flavorful sauce and melted cheese? The recipe also couldn’t get any simpler – there is minimal prep work, and the oven does the rest!

Our fundraising potluck sponsored by Al Dente was a major success as we raised money toward our year-end publishing goals, all while eating very well and enjoying the great company. Return trips to the table to get seconds and thirds were not uncommon, as people really enjoyed the fresh made pasta made with truly quality ingredients. Al Dente’s pastas and sauces elevated our fundraising dinner to another level, making the event something extraordinary.

Thank you Al Dente!

Coffee: More than just a morning fix

Emily Kastl  

Pizza, Ramen, frozen meals, Easy Mac, and coffee: what do these things have in common? They are all essential components of the average college student’s diet. One thing these staples do not have in common is health benefits—or lack thereof. It’s no secret foods like Ramen and frozen meals contain enough sodium to turn you into a salt block, and pizza…well, we know there are better choices for a late night snack (although, according to Congress, pizza counts as a serving of veggies).But what about coffee? Since I’ve been known to drink a cup or 2—or 5—a day, I thought it might be worth checking out what it’s doing to my body. I was elated to come across the article 7 Benefits of Coffee. At long last I have found scientifically-supported justification for my slight addiction to this sweet, sweet caffeinated nectar.

1.) According to the Journal of Experimental Psychology, the caffeine in coffee can help sharpen your proofreading abilities. So before you grab your red pen, grab a cup of java. Maybe your next paper grade will reflect this decision.
2.) A Harvard study found that women who drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of depression. This is a result of caffeine regulating the release of certain chemicals in the brain that affect mood.
3.) Coffee helps fight Alzheimer’s disease. The caffeine in your cup of joe helps increase the production of the granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), a growth factor which helps prevent this type of dementia.
4.) According to a study conducted at Harvard, men who drink 6 or more cups a day have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. Drink up, fellas!
5.) The American Association for Cancer Research recently announced that coffee might help combat the development of basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. You’ll only reap these benefits from drinking caffeinated coffee though; better get a shot of espresso in your next cup for good measure!
6.) Coffee may help ward off the risk of Type II diabetes.
7.) Your chances of developing Parkinson’s disease could decrease by up to 25% if you drink 3 or more cups of coffee each day.

Though scientists are looking further into the benefits of coffee, I can’t help but get excited about these preliminary findings. In a world where so many foods and drinks are labeled as “unhealthy” and “dangerous,” it’s refreshing to find something that’s delicious AND good for you. So, the next time you’re at your favorite café, go ahead and order the grande—you might be fighting disease!