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I thought a professor lied when he said the only way he survived graduate school without falling into debt was by eating canned beans for every meal. Yet 5 months into grad school, I can see where desperation hit. While beans are a healthy, vegetarian protein, I was not so devoid of hope. It has to be possible as a student to eat at Whole Foods on a budget, right? Testing and proving this theory brought me into foreign territory, one teeming with hormone-free meat and overpriced produce. The foreign lands of Whole Foods. My mission: To claw my way out with a bill less than or equal to $54.90, which is the U.S Department of Agriculture’s low-cost one-week food plan for a 19-50 aged man. Known Success Rate: Unreported, but there have been many a credit card casualty. Wildlife to Avoid: Twenty-something year-old vegans. Although a pleasure to view in their natural habitat, this species is hungry and their movements can be unpredictable. Important Note: Nutritional health is a subject in which everyone has an opinion, and this writer is not an expert but a survivor in this task. Find out if I survived, after the jump.

Spring is here! Philadelphia's green community emerges from the woodwork with a nonstop calendar of awesome, local events. Here's two events coming up on Monday you won't want to miss.

Do you have old books sitting on your shelf, wasting space? It's almost difficult to give away books since they rarely retain any value. Plus, I've been denied giving books to libraries by my office!  But never fret, dear readers. We found JUST where to donate those books for today's Where Can I Wednesday column helps you donate all of those used and old books in Philadelphia. Happy spring cleaning! Here's where to donate used books in Philadelphia:

May is finally here! The sun is shining, birds are singing and more skin is showing.  With Memorial Day is right around the corner, are you ready to bare it in your itty bitty bikini and board shorts? If you’re bummed about pigging out on that last pint of Ben and Jerry’s, don't fear: there’s still time to get in shape fast and FREE in Philadelphia. Whether you’re looking for a mind and body workout or a high-impact calorie burner, there’s plenty of low cost options for you. Click through for 9 options!

Sustainability's on its way to become a little more permanent in City government, but they need your help! As we mentioned back in November, Resolution No 130884 is to make the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Sustainability Permanent within Philadelphia city government. Director of Sustainability Katherine Gajewski sent an email with an update on the progress.  Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Councilman Kenney co-sponsored the bill and it was positively voted out of the Committee on Law and Government last week.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Zojirushi. The opinions and text are all mine. Regardless of the type of plastic, more than 70 percent of plastics leak estrogen-like chemicals. Makes that microwavable meal really appetizing, right? Yum! Whether you're at home, camping or the office, you can kick plastic from your life in favor of more sustainable products. Here are a few tiny investments I've made over the years to limit my plastic waste in the office.

Remember all of that insane rain and flooding on Wednesday? That 7th worst in Philly history that competed with Superstorm Sandy? Yeah, that one. For those Philly bike commuters, things got a little more complicated on Wednesday and Thursday morning: Check out more photos from the storm for our Photo Friday!

Reading Terminal Market is the place to be. Ever since I’ve moved to Philly, I try to hit up my obsession, Reading Terminal, as often as possible. Attracting an average of 120,000 visitors per week, this fantastic market is not only filled with a plethora of local food options, but in an accessible location. The history of the market is fascinating. Did you know that the Reading Terminal Market dates back to 1680? It didn’t look the same – instead, there were a bunch of informal markets around the vortex of Market Street. It became more formal in 1693 and had a pretty good run until 1971 when Reading Company declared bankruptcy. Luckily, the revival of the market sparked during investments for seasonal foods and impromptu piano concerts in the 1980s into what we currently enjoy today. Need any more reasons to hit up this Philly favorite?

Mayor Michael Nutter signed an executive order yesterday to ban smoking in Philly's parks. According to the City of Philadelphia's official wordpress account (speaking of which, can't City of Phila afford a URL that doesn't include .wordpress?),