By: Isaac Lund

While many topics in today’s society are disagreed upon and argued against, one statement that I think everyone can agree on is one simple fact: candy is good.

However, while I do enjoy the occasional sweet treat, I think that some candies are simply not tasty. In order to rate the staple candies, I’ll be splitting them into two categories: fruit flavored candies and chocolate based candies.

Firstly, the chocolate based candies. Arguably the most well known candy, chocolate is popular for a reason. It’s delicious. However, only when done right. If the chocolate is combined with other materials in a weird way, or is made with low quality, then it can end up tasting bad.

Good chocolate based candies, in my opinion, include Milky Way and Twix, which combine caramel and chocolate; Crunch Bar and 100 Grand, which add in rice pieces for extra crunch; Butterfinger and Reese’s, who’s peanut butter chocolate combo is amazing; and Kit Kat and Heath, with crunchy centers.

All of these incorporate elements that enhance the experience, instead of taking away from it. While these candies are always welcomed into my diet, many chocolate candies are not so amazing.

Firstly, I don’t like Hershey’s because the chocolate is too low quality. This is an opinion shared by most Europeans, who have grown up with higher quality chocolate. Snickers has the same problem, with chalky tasting chocolate. I also don’t like M&Ms, because the candy coating makes them taste plasticine and overly sweet. Candy bars like Almond Joy and 3 Musketeers, that include fillings that are inherently not good, also belong at the bottom of my list.

Secondly, the fruit flavored candies. With a wider range of textures and selections, fruit flavored candies can land on a much larger spectrum of deliciousness. Some are as good as it gets, and some are completely inedible.

Candies that are very tasty include Skittles, whose texture is unbeatable; Smarties, which are pleasing in both taste and packaging; Airheads and Starburst, whose flavors are unbeatable; and Nerds, who are deliciously crunchy. Also belonging on the good end are all sour candies, who make you pucker all while being simultaneously sweet.

All of these candies are good in both texture and flavor.

Candies that don’t share this goodness are Laffy Taffy, which stick to your teeth and the wrapper; Dots, which are just nasty; and Mike & Ike’s, which make me nauseous.

These candies aren’t pleasurable in either flavor or texture, or both. I would rather eat gummy vitamins, which are both tastier and more nutritious, than eat any of these.

While candy is a staple in the dessert world, I believe that some companies need to reevaluate their candies’ quality, and help the world be a better place.

By: Isaac Lund

Chances are, you’ve tried something spicy before. Be it a spicy potato chip or a ghost pepper, any spicy treat is bound to leave that delicious heat in your mouth. But, have you ever thought about what causes that pain so signature of all hot food? Do you know the science behind what makes something spicy?

Cuisines all over the world—India, Mexico, China, have used the art of implementing spice into food to captivate millions, no, billions of people around the globe. Those who first practiced this culinary technique were putting science to work, whether they knew it or not.

Capsaicin, an organic chemical produced within peppers, is the culprit behind the madness. Pepper plants produce this compound to turn away predators planning on eating their fruit, a deterrent that has completely backfired over the course of history. As soon as the pepper touches your tongue, Capsaicin molecules seek out pain receptors, called VR1s, in your taste buds, and latch on. Your brain is signaled, and the burning ensues. Although it may feel like you will end up shriveled and burnt, no physical damage is really dealt to your mouth and tongue.

While many like to boast about their “spice tolerance”, the heat becomes too much for everyone at a certain point. Oh no! Better get a cool glass of water! Not. Capsaicin, in the form it attacks you in, at least, is an oil. Water and oil don’t mix, and the spice will only be spread around your poor mouth. Grab a glass of milk or some ice cream instead: the oils and fats here will dissolve clingy capsaicin and carry it down your throat.

And anyways, tolerance is no excuse for having an aversion to spice. Although some scaredy-cats may argue that others have built a tolerance for spice through repetitive exposure, this is actually impossible; your VR1s will forever react to capsaicin in the exact same way. So, how do some handle the heat so well? They’ve simply come to enjoy the burn.

For more information, please visit:

• sciencenewsforstudents.org

By: McKenna Nutter

Now that spring will be here soon, more people are looking to spend time outdoors, especially after being trapped at home with nowhere to go all year, and it was especially hard in the winter. Luckily, Minnesota has some very nice parks and outdoor areas to go and hangout, take a walk, or if you’re looking for some place to go camping.

One of my favorite, very local places to go, are the Mississippi Falls, also known as Hidden Falls. It’s a great place to go for a short hike with my family, and a place I have been going for longer than I can remember. It’s near Highland Park High School, just across the Mississippi River, through Highland Village.

Another wonderful place to go is Crosby Regional Park. These outdoor trails are located along Shepherd Rd and Kellogg Blvd. It’s a set of trails that runs partially along the river and circles a small lake. I have been here with a friend before, and we had loads of fun, I only wish I had brought more water! 

If you’re looking for a great place to go hiking and kayak, Lebanon Hills Regional Park is a great choice. Last summer, my family and I took kayaks to Lebanon, and the small lakes connected together made for easy movement between each body of water. Not long before our kayak outing, we had taken a long walk through Lebanon’s beautiful hiking trails, and we were even lucky enough to see a group of horse riders, on their own, separate path. It was a large park and the scenery was beautiful. And though I’ve never been personally, I’ve heard they have year-round campsites open. I find Lebanon Hills to be my favorite nearby park, with all of its options for outdoor activities. 

If you’re looking to go camping for a few days, especially to get far out of the city, Whitewater State Park, located not too far from Rochester, in Winona County, was a wonderful place I went to on a group camping trip. The trails were beautiful and hiking through the rocky bluffs was more fun than I had expected. Whitewater State Park is located just a few miles from the Trout Run Creek, a popular place to go fishing. 

By: Joxery Mezen Camacho

Everyone says “breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” But sometimes I’m too tired to make any breakfast, or I wake up late and barely have any time to eat something healthy. And there are many occasions where I simply don’t know what to eat. So, here are —- quick and easy healthy breakfast ideas: 

Breakfast burrito!

Why not try having a burrito in the morning? Getting a tortilla, adding in some eggs, avocado, and some veggies (or keeping it a strictly vegetable-only burrito) makes a healthy and delicious breakfast meal! 

Toast!

Toast is quick and easy-and you can have a variety of different toppings; there’re different kinds of jam, peanut butter, and avocado!

With the avocado, you could add veggies too, such as spinach, radishes, cilantro, carrots, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

You could also add an egg-scrambled, hard boiled, or sunny side up are all doable on toast!

A dash of lemon can also make the flavor pop! 

Breakfast Bowl!

Just throw some food in a bowl and call it breakfast-nice and easy. This can vary widely.

A berry bowl with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and adding some coconut water has become quite popular!

Or a more savory bowl with eggs, vegetables, and some brown rice is different and healthy.

Or a sweeter bowl with quinoa, almond milk (or any kind), and some cinnamon, if savory isn’t what you’re feeling!

Mixing it up is perfect with this breakfast meal!

Breakfast Quesadilla! 

A quesadilla-obviously with a tortilla and cheese, but why not add something else? Adding in some ham, bacon, or sausage to boost up protein is always an option!

A bacon, egg quesadilla-or simply some egg!

Or add in some vegetables-onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms always do the trick! Some avocado also never hurts!

Whatever floats your boat! 

Breakfast Oats! 

Oatmeal is quick, easy, and healthy! Adding in some fruit, jam, seeds, some almond or adding in some peanut butter with chocolate chips always shakes things up!

Adding in some yogurt with some chia seeds is another great combination with oats!

Or apricots with pistachios and pomegranate seeds, or hemp seeds with mango and currants!

The combinations are endless! 

By: Mohamed Ahmed

There are 13 essential elements. Vitamins are organic compounds that we need to ingest to stay healthy. In a sense they are the bodybuilders, defenders, and maintenance workers if the body. They build muscle and bone, capture and use energy, all the while healing wounds.

They are consumed in different ways. Lipid (fat) soluble, and water soluble. Water soluble vitamins are taken up by the blood flow. Lipid soluble is broken up by bile from the liver and is commonly seen in fat.

The difference of the way it is consumed, ejected, and even stored is based on if it is a water or a fat soluble vitamin.

Here are the four main vitamins that you need the most:

Vitamin A 

Vitamin A is vital for the reproductive system and for the immune system. The other things that Vitamin A is good for is that it helps lungs, kidneys, and other organs run properly.

Liver, fish, and dairy are great sources of Vitamin A. 

Vitamin B 

Vitamin B is great for cell health, it is also great for infections and even helps blood cells thrive.

Ways to receive Vitamin B are meat, eggs, whole grains, seeds, and you can’t forget the dark leafy vegetables. 

Vitamin C 

This is the vitamin that you probably will recognize. A deadly disease called scurvy can be cured with this vitamin. It has the benefits of helping reduce your chances of contracting certain types of cancer and diabetes.

This vitamin can be found in oranges, mangoes, papayas, and pineapples. 

Vitamin D 

Vitamin D can be found in liver, eggs, red meat, and ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation can be found basically anywhere the sun is, so you can get Vitamin D by going outside as well.

Severe Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to the following: easily fatigued, bone pains, and even muscle weakness.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZLTJH5lYg
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/best-source-of-vitamins-your-plate-not-your-medicine-cabinet
• https://www.healthline.com/health/malnutrition#niacin
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-best-vitamin-for-fighting-inflammation-4176859