Lianna Nakashima / Daily Nexus

Lianna Nakashima / Daily Nexus

Pepper
Most make fun of the “excessive” amount of pepper I put on my savory foods, but little do they know the benefits of the most popular spice in America! Peppercorns are full of vitamins C and A as well as antioxidants that “remove harmful free radicals” (Kitchen Daily). Black pepper also helps with digestion, acting as an energy source for bacteria that cause “gas, irritation, and/or diarrhea or constipation” (WH Foods). Next time you have a meal, do not be afraid to add as much black pepper as you wish, because now you know the health benefits!

Yogurt
Yogurt has numerous health benefits like digestive enzymes, plentiful amounts of vitamins, probiotics that boost the immune system, bacteria that benefit the body and high amounts of protein. However, the plain Greek, vanilla and various fruit yogurts can get old quickly. Some ways to spice up your yogurt include mixing crunchy and sweet toppings. Cereals and granola are definitely a way to add some bite to your creamy yogurt. The next layer can be a combination of cinnamon sugar, brown sugar and honey to add some extra sweetness to your plainer yogurts and cottage cheese. If available, cinnamon also adds a nice aromatic flavor.

Burrito
Not in the mood for the premade food at the dining commons? At Ortega, there are often wheat tortillas near the ice cream stand and soup bar, and DLG usually has a stock by the taqueria. These are intended for the house-made tacos, but if you’re not a fan, then don’t fret! You may also choose to add lettuce, pinto or black beans (depending on what they’re offering that day), cheese, salsa and other ingredients to create your own burrito.

Lianna Nakashima / Daily Nexus

Lianna Nakashima / Daily Nexus

Tea and Coffee
Although all of the dining commons offer tea and coffee with milk, soymilk, almond milk, half and half and honey, Ortega has an advantage among the rest. At Ortega, they provide those embellishments in addition to French vanilla and hazelnut creamers. Carrillo is the only dining common that offers a cinnamon shaker to add to your teas and coffees, which is especially good for chai tea.

Waffles
Often times, I do not like pancakes or waffles because they are too doughy, but after living in the residence halls for freshmen and now sophomore year, I found ways to accommodate my preference. The trick is to pour about two-thirds the amount of batter you would normally put in the miniature waffle maker. When you take the waffles out, be sure to separate the two halves to create a sandwich. Once you have two halves, feel free to add any toppings you enjoy like cinnamon sugar, yogurt, peanut butter, maple syrup and so on. The crunchiness of the waffle is the perfect way to get the taste of an American breakfast classic while eating fewer calories.

Eggs and English Muffins
After eating scrambled eggs time and time again, I found a new way to make your eggs scrumptious! Often times, I went to Carrillo for breakfast since they have fried eggs, but Ortega recently offered them as well! As you enter the dining common, first head to the bread section and put the English muffins in the toaster. Then make your order for eggs with your preferences regarding portion size, method of preparation, taking your name to make sure you get your order.
While your other two hot items are cooking or toasting, grab whatever else you enjoy for breakfast. After about four minutes, head over to retrieve your items along with a spoon. It is HIGHLY recommended to use a utensil while eating the egg on top of the English muffin, because the yolk could leak all over your hands depending on how you like your eggs cooked. I like to add a thin layer of butter or salsa and cheese if I am eating at Carrillo. The warm, buttery texture of the egg along with the heartiness of the bread creates a perfect addition to your breakfast or brunch.

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