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Computer Friendly (ARA) -- Thousands of students across the country are studying for careers in many different professions, but almost all involve spending time at a PC. To quench the hunger that often develops after spending hours in front of a computer screen, many students find the library vending machines to be a convenient option. Although these high-calorie, low-nutrient foods satisfy your immediate hunger, they do little to increase energy levels and brainpower the rest of your body is craving.
Chef Instructor Christine Geyer of The Art Institute of Los Angeles Culinary Arts Program offers recipes that satisfy sweet tooths, but also creations that "don't leave residue on fingers, such as salt, seasonings on trail mixes or pretzel mixes," says Geyer. Raspberry Cooler, Citrus Delight and Top Banana are yogurt-based snacks in a glass. Made with fresh fruit, juice and flavored yogurts, these high-energy drinks are perfect for computers "as long as you put it in a cup with a lid and use a straw," Geyer cautions. Chef Instructor Chris DeJohn of The Art Institute of Colorado's Culinary Arts Program says, "Dim sum works well, as does simple cheese and fruit skewers. Just cube your favorite cheeses (hard cheeses work best) with favorite fruits that don't drip like strawberries, grapes or pineapple," explains DeJohn. Other PC-friendly food DeJohn likes are wrap sandwiches or spicy tuna and egg omelet sushi for those interested in a more ambitious snack for nibbling at the computer. For Chef-Instructor Peter Babcock of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the best computer snacks are the simplest. "I like fresh apples, grapes or bananas for high energy with low mess. Dried fruits like cherries, cranberries or apricots are also great because they're tasty and leave no sticky residue on your hands," he says. For himself, Babcock purchases specialty hard candies he keeps in his pockets, passing them around to other faculty and students. Other PC-acceptable snacks he likes are carrots and cucumber slices, even childhood favorites such as celery with peanut butter. In addition to fruits and vegetable snacks, Chef Babcock likes to prepare a flavorful chicken broth with fresh vegetables on a Sunday, cutting up extra vegetables for snacks during the week and using the chicken for chicken salad sandwiches to eat during lunch breaks - although not at the computer. "Chicken broth from a thermos is a nutritious, low-mess snack, as well as a great comfort food," says Chef Babcock. Raspberry Cooler
In a blender, puree yogurt, juice and cream of coconut with ice cubes. Citrus Delight
* Above recipes from Chef Instructor Christine Geyer of The Art Institute of Los Angeles. Spicy Tuna and Egg Omelet Sushi Rolls with Tabiko This is a traditional Sushi Maki preparation from Japan serving 10 with three slices each. Most of Japanese ingredients are available in the ethnic or international sections of your local supermarket or at Asian specialty markets.
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Movie Reviews Copyright© 2001 Copley News Service |
To address this snacking situation, Chef-Instructors from The Art Institutes were
put to the PC-friendly test and asked to develop low-mess, high-energy foods for
snacking at computers. "Students of Multi-Media & Web Design, Media Arts &
Animation and Graphic Design spend many long and hungry hours at the
computer. We asked some of our chefs to help develop foods that would not only
be easy to eat and have a low-mess factor, but also supply enough energy to
avoid the sluggishness that comes from too much junk food," says Jeffrey
Durosko, spokesperson for The Art Institutes.