College Hacks (7 page)

Nutella mug cake: Mix 4 tablespoons flour,
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teaspoon baking powder,
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cup Nutella, and 3 tablespoons milk. Microwave for 1 minute.

Open your bag of chips from the bottom since most of the flavoring has sunk there.

Microwave two big bowls at the same time by elevating the second bowl with a mug or another small, microwave-safe container.

1. Almonds
   
2. Spinach
   
3. Cold water
   
4. Turkey
   
5. Salmon
   
6. Hot peppers
   
7. Coffee
   
8. Ginger
   
9. Yogurt
   
10. Green tea
    

When it comes to staying awake, apples are actually more powerful than caffeine.

Always feel tired even after getting a good, long sleep? You’re probably dehydrated—drink some water right when you wake up.

Break off the end of a department store pants hanger for the perfect chip bag clamp.

Run your bacon under cold water before cooking it. Doing so will reduce shrinkage by up to 50%.

You can order Starbucks drinks at “kid’s temperature.” The drink will be much cooler and you’ll never burn your tongue again!

Sick of all those broken spaghetti noodles? An old Pringles can will fit your pasta perfectly.

Homemade Wendy’s Frosty: Blend 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla,
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teaspoon chia seeds, and 8–10 ice cubes. Enjoy!

Hate when your Hot Pocket explodes in the microwave? Stab it with a fork before you put it in.

Instantly improve your diet by eliminating any foods that have a mascot.

Want x-ray vision? Well, I can’t help there, but kiwi fruit contains lutein, an antioxidant that can actually help improve your eyesight.

Have a particularly stressful class? Eat a banana before it. They are known as a happy fruit. Eating just one can help relieve irritable emotions, anger, and/or depression.

1. Open the pizza box.
   
2. Separate the lid of the pizza box from the pizza tray.
   
3. Cut the pizza box lid in half.
   
4. Cut the lid in half again and serve pizza slices on each of the four lids.
   
5. Save half of the pizza for later by folding the tray in half.
   

If you accidentally over-salt your food while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato. It will absorb the excess salt for an instant fix.

When you want to put a two-liter bottle of soda away, shake it up a little bit first. It will stay fizzy for weeks.

Want to make the best hot chocolate known to man? Try warming up milk with Nutella.

The smell of an orange relieves stress. Smelling an orange or eating one can reduce stress by over 70%.

1. Captain Crunch: Strawberries and Creme Frappucino with a pump of caramel, two pumps of toffee, one pump of hazelnut, and two scoops of chocolate chips.
   
2. Neopolitan Frappucino: Ask for a Strawberries and Creme Frappucino with some vanilla bean powder and a pump of mocha.
   
3. Raspberry Cheesecake: Order a White Chocolate Mocha (iced, hot, or as a Frappucino) and add a few pumps of raspberry.
   
4. Chocolate Turtle Flavor: Any drink that contains mocha, caramel, and toffee nut.
   
5. Oreo Frappucino: Ask for a Double Chocolate Chip Frappucino with white mocha syrup instead of the regular mocha.
   
6. The Nutella: Order a Cafe Misto with a pump of chocolate, a pump of hazelnut, and caramel drizzle.
   
7. Biscotti Frappucino: Buy a biscotti and ask the barista to blend it up with your favorite flavor of Frappucino. It blends nicely and adds a great crunch to any frozen coffee.
   
8. Cotton Candy Frappucino: Order a Vanilla Bean Frappucino and add raspberry syrup. Ask for 1 pump for a tall, 1.5 pumps for grande, and 2 pumps for venti.
   
9. French Vanilla Flavor: Any drink that has half toffee nut and half vanilla.
   
10. Year-round Pumpkin Spice Latte: Order a latte with a pump of chai and a pump of white chocolate mocha.
    

Make “cookie bowls” by simply turning your muffin or cupcake pan upside down, and putting cookie batter over top to bake.

Roommate using the kitchen? Throw some hot dogs or ramen noodles in your coffee pot with water and turn it on. They’ll both be ready to eat within 10 minutes.

Butter too hard or frozen to spread? Grab a cheese grater and grate it right onto the bread. Works like a charm!

If you peel a banana from the bottom, you won’t have to pick the little stringy things off of it.

When reheating rice or pasta in the microwave, sprinkle a little bit of water on top first. This will make it taste way better, almost like you just made it.

1. Flip your toaster on its side.
   
2. Place slices of bread in each toaster slot. Top the bread with your favorite kind of cheese.
   
3. Toast until cheese is melted, and sandwich the two slices of bread together with the cheese in the middle.
   

• 2 glasses after waking up will help activate your internal organs.
  
• 1 glass 30 minutes before a meal will help with your digestion.
  
• 1 glass before taking a bath/shower will help lower your blood pressure.
  
• 1 glass before going to bed will help you avoid stroke or heart attack.
  

Tired of jelly soaking through your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Spread the peanut butter on both sides of the bread and put the jelly in the middle.

By drinking black coffee in the morning before class you’ll not only save calories, but you will also jump-start your digestive system for the school day.

Don’t have any butter for your grilled cheese? Whisk an egg until fully mixed, then spread it with a fork onto your bread before placing it on the pan.

Six foods that have been shown to improve your mood: Oatmeal, cereal, salmon, milk, dark chocolate, and bananas.

Trying to stay awake in class? Chewing cinnamon-flavored gum will keep you awake and alert.

Cheesy ramen: Pour boiling water on noodles, stir, then strain. Add
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cup of cheese and
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cup of milk. Stir to mix and enjoy!

Eating grapes improves the brain’s ability to process new information and thus enhances your intelligence.

Use a recycled Mio bottle for salad dressing, soy sauce, and more. Peel off the label, pop off the top and fill. It’s a great size to put in your lunch box for extra sauce, and it doesn’t leak!

Too lazy to do the dishes? Use a tortilla as a plate. No dishes needed, plus you get to eat it after.

Put pancake mix in an empty ketchup bottle for a clean, no-mess experience.

1. Grab a bag of your favorite snack.
   
2. Open the bag.
   
3. Roll the bottom corners into the bag.
   
4. Keep rolling in the corners.
   
5. Roll the corners in some more until the bottom of the bag is flat.
   
6. Place the bag on a table or solid surface. It should be able to stand on its own.
   

Put crushed up Oreos or Doritos in an old pepper shaker to spice up your bland meals.

Popcorn actually pops better when it’s stored in cold places like the refrigerator.

One of the best breakfast foods you can have before exam day is oatmeal. It is a slow-digesting food, which provides a sustained flow of glucose to the brain.

1. Berries: Slow down the brain’s aging process.
   
2. Hemp seeds: Help your central nervous system.
   
3. Asparagus: Helps improves cognitive function.
   
4. Carrots: Reduce cognitive decline.
   
5. Avocados: Boost your memory and learning capabilities.
   
6. Dark leafy greens: Enhance brain function.
   
7. Bananas: Help keep you calm and alert.
   
8. Watermelon: Keeps your memory sharp.
   
9. Fish: Helps keep your brain neurons functioning properly.
   
10. Red wine: Reduces your risk of getting Alzheimer’s.
    

The Starbucks cold beverage lids are actually designed to be used as coasters!

Friend got the blues? Make a package of Cookie Dough Oreos by replacing the cream filling of Oreos with cookie dough. Your pal will instantly feel better.

PMS SOS smoothie: Mix together 6 ounces fat-free milk, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup,
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banana,
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cup strawberries, and 1 peeled kiwi. Add ice, blend, and enjoy.

Unload a fridge pack of Coke in a jiffy by opening both ends and pulling out the box.

Want to cut a watermelon open without a knife? Take a quarter, make a small incision at the center of the watermelon, and karate chop it in half. No joke, it actually works!

• Plates and bowls
  
• Cups and mugs
  
• Eating utensils
  
• Coffee maker
  
• Microwave
  
• Toaster
  
• Can opener
  
• Travel mug
  
• Water pitcher
  
• Measuring cups
  
• Condiments
  
• Dish detergent
  
• Dish towels
  
• Pizza cutter
  
• Plastic food containers
  
• Ziploc bags
  
• Paper towels
  
• Bulk snacks and drinks
  
• Strainer
  
• Dish sponge
  
• Chip clips
  
• Trash bags