Cheers, I'll toast to that!

One of the many things that I have always appreciated about being at Rice is the aspect of it being a wet campus. Granted, when I first came to Rice and when someone casually mentioned that the campus was “wet,” I was convinced that she was referring to the massive puddles all over campus. (And I thought to myself, definitely need to pack my rainboots!) But, I now fully understand the implications of having a wet campus, and with the recent probation period established for those that are underage, I thought it might be helpful if I share a little of what I have learned. From things to remember, to things to avoid, to things I wish I had known - here’s what I’ve learned during my time here.

That's not going to come off for a while

First off, let’s start with the cliché – It’s not a race, it’s a marathon! It is not who can consume the most, the most quickly, because that person is typically the first person out for the night. And who really wants to be that person? Instead, take your time and pace yourself while pre-gaming and during those power hours, it's about enjoying your company and relaxing a little. 

Fill that up with water or juice between drinks!

Remember to hydrate in between drinks! Alcohol acts like a natural diuretic, which means it stimulates the kidneys to filter more water out of your blood in order to process the alcohol. (Ahh, suddenly all of those restroom breaks make sense!) Thus, it is important to stay as hydrated (with NON-alcoholic beverages!) as possible. A great tactic that I’ve picked up is to have a glass of water for every 1 to 2 drinks that I consume. And better yet, with those wonderful red solo cups, it couldn’t be any easier! Between rounds at the keg or between those glasses of ale, fill your cup with water. You won’t feel pressured to go and grab something to drink, since your cup will be full, and it will keep you in a safer health drinking zone than if you do not hydrate with water.

Chips and dip? Dig in!

Don’t go out without eating something! I typically load up on something carby and filling, Chinese or Thai noodles, anyone? I’ve noticed that this typically allows me to drink more slowly. Also, if there are snacks at the party, dig in! Eating food slows down the rate of absorption in the blood stream, allowing you to relax and enjoy your company.

 

Take it from this guy, it makes your more sick

In my experience, mixing liquors hasn’t always turned out that well. It’s kind of like wearing black stripes with brown polka dots. Sometimes it’s a hit! But when it’s a miss, it’s a pretty BIG miss. Mixing fruity with tart with milky with creamy with fizzy will not bode well for your stomach, or your night for that matter. Also, uppers with downers, so caffeine with alcohol, a natural depressant, also does not mix well. So, if you do decide to mix, mix cautiously. Chances are if it doesn't feel so great once it hits your stomach and starts reacting with the other things it finds there, it definitely won't feel so great if it decides to make a U-turn. 

And, most importantly, if you do choose to drink, be aware of your surroundings and use the buddy system! This probation period is a chance for Rice to preserve something that we might have taken advantage of and bruised a bit in the past - the alcohol policy. 

Here are some resources to take note of whether you're out for the night or if you have more questions. Please don't hesitate to contact RUPD/EMS if you need assistance, and we at the Wellness Center are always here to answer your questions!

Rice RUPD/EMS: (713) 348-6000

Wellness Center: (713) 528-5194

So here's to enjoying (and remembering!) your nights, having a great time, and preserving a unique policy! *Cheers!*

OC Cooking Made Easy!

Living alone for the first time has its ups and downs, especially living off campus. I no longer have inebriated floor-mates running up and down the halls screaming when I’m trying to study for a test or sleep. My days of having to walk down the hall to brush my teeth or use the restroom are over. However, as mundane as the servery food seemed to be when I was on campus, I miss not worrying about what I have to cook tonight.

It can be a difficult transition to go from cooking nothing to cooking almost all of your meals. Being the poor college student I am, eating out for every meal is not an option. So I had to learn how to cook, but not only cook. I also had to figure out what foods were healthy, which foods I could eat as often as I wanted, and which ones to limit. I did this mostly by listening to my body at first. Does this make me feel energized or sluggish? Satisfied or starved? By listening to my body and paying attention to what foods made me feel great, I ended up (with the help of Maria of course) creating a food plan that fit my body and my daily activities.

Now to the food part! Below are some of my favorite meals, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I usually keep bulk ingredients for each meal in case I have a loss of cooking creativity and just need to whip something up to kill my hunger.  I don’t have exact measurements on them because I typically just add what I feel is right. Plus, everyone has different tastes, for example: I LOVE garlic so I add more than recipes call for. Don’t worry if it doesn’t taste right the first time you make it. Keep trying until you get the right combination!

Breakfast

Greek yogurt with berries and Grape Nuts©: I typically buy a pint of honey yogurt but you can also buy plain and add your own honey

Ingredients:

Greek yogurt

Frozen berries or fresh berries

Grape Nuts

Take all of the ingredients and mix together in a bowl and eat!

Lunch

Chicken salad sandwich on Pumpernickle bread: Ask anyone in the Wellness Center and they’ll tell you that I love Pumpernickle bread! Not just because of its amazing taste but it’s also a good source of fiber and has a low glycemic index. Maria suggests using roasted chicken with this sandwich because it’s healthier (and tastes better) but canned chicken is good for a backup.  I’m a real mayonnaise girl so I get the Mayo made with olive oil. My weakness is chips so I opt for veggie chips instead of potato as a side.

Ingredients:

Roasted (or canned) chicken

Mayo (made with olive oil)

Pumpernickle bread toasted

Mix the chicken and mayo in a bowl. If you want to mix it up add grapes, raisins, etc. Toast the bread and add the mix on top!

Dinner

Whole wheat pasta with garlic and tomato sauce: This isn’t the typical thick tomato sauce you think of with pasta. It’s base is olive oil so it’s very light but flavorful.

Ingredients:

Pasta

Olive oil

Salt

2 Garlic cloves

Italian seasonings

Grape/Plum Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Parmesean cheese

Boil the pasta in salted water with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Heat about half a cup of olive oil on medium heat in a saucepan. Once oil is hot, add chopped garlic cloves to oil and heat until light brown. Add tomatoes and chopped mushrooms. Cook until tomatoes have popped and juice mixes in with oil. Add sauce to pasta and serve!