It has been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, as it turns out, the way to a warm body temperature is also through the stomach. According to a study by B.H. Newman on PubMed.gov, warm drinks can immediately cause an average of a 2.7 degree internal body temperature rise. With a cold Erie winter just around the corner, it is not only important to stock up on thick socks and a heavy winter coat, but also warm foods as they may be a smart investment.

 

Beside the obvious ways of staying warm with a cup of coffee or tea, a great way to cook up hot foods is with a Crock Pot. Following fire safety precautions, this could be great addition to dorm rooms. Not only can a Crock Pot save effort with stove-free cooking, it can also make convenient foods taste even better. For example, canned soups can lose their appeal when warmed up in the microwave as they get cooked too fast. Uneven heating causes a different taste in certain foods. However, without access to a stove top, microwaves are normally the best option. Though it takes a little longer, warm soup from a Crock Pot can melt away the coldness of a bitter winter day.

 

Short on time or prefer the convenience of a microwave? Cake mix company Duncan Hines has released a series of microwave-ready dessert cups. The Perfect Size for 1 products offer options such as Cookies and Cream Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Decadent Brownie, Banana Bread, and more. Each box comes with four packets that only require a coffee cup and water. After about a minute in the microwave, these mixes provide a warm and fast dessert (that do not require you to keep bags of flour and sugar in your dorm room).

 

Lastly, between classes, it can be difficult to stay warm even with gloves and a hat. Being a commuter, I don’t really have the option to run to a dorm room when I am feeling cold. With this, my favorite way to stay warm is buying warm food on campus. A student favorite spot is Clarke’s Cafe of Paws which both offer Starbucks coffee, but I find that it is much quicker to use a NesCafé machine (which can be found inside Bruno’s, in the Galley, and on the food cart in Roche Hall). Between classes, these coffee machines make it easier to skip the lines, and the French Vanilla Cappuccino tastes better than anything I could make out of a Keurig!

 

Overall, any Behrend student can tell you that the winters in Erie, Pennsylvania are rough. Even though we are just now entering November, the wind has picked up and the rain seems never ending. Before we know it, the rain will turn to snow. Perhaps a great way to stay warm is not just by bundling up, but rather by wrapping your hands around a hot mug.