EDITOR ANNIE ELLISON THE VOICE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31,2013 5 PUNEET DHAMI photo Karan Dhami is resting in bed at her south Vancouver home while trying desperately to look fashionable as she battles the flu. Get sick in style this season Tips from Vancouver fashion gurus and health experts will help you keep your swagger up even when your immune system is down By PUNEET DHAMI lu season isn’t an excuse to forfeit your style. Seasonal sickies still need to follow proper etiquette. Health Canada estimates that almost a quarter of Canadians will get the flu this year. But savvy fashionistas can beat the virus in style. “Tt’s all about the attitude,” says Shanda Leer, a Vancouver style blog- ger. “People need to dress for the weather.” Leer recommends always carrying a hand sanitizer and wearing gloves to prevent spreading germs, especially in public areas like transit. “Carry a hanky and shove it into your boobs,” says Leer. “Don’t create lopsidedness, but it’s definitely a place to put it.” Leer doesn’t agree with girls who wear short skirts and thin coats in the middle of winter. “There’s coat check for a reason,” she says. “There’s no need to stand hunched over like a troll doll when you can have a proper coat.” Because it’s the season of layering, coats and gloves are fashionable, Leer says. For those already taking a sick day, Leer advises creating a personal spa- at-home experience. “Have some chicken soup with crackers, a little aromatherapy called Vicks and a little cough syrup for that much needed beauty sleep,” she says. Etiquette expert Margaret Page says the best way to avoid spreading germs is to sneeze into an elbow to avoid touching and spreading germs. “Avoid your ears, nose, eyes and mouth,” says Page. “When it comes to bacteria, your hands are the worst ways to spread germs.” The most important piece of advice from Langara’s school nurse, Susan Kensett, is to stay at home. For more information on influenza visit http://www.newsroom.gov.be.ca A Girl's Guide to Flu dos & Don'ts DON'T share drinks. Although it's tempting. DO cover your neck. Wear a chunky scarf. DON'T forget to wash your hands. Wear gloves. DO carry a hanky and cough into it. DON'T spread germs. Period. Stay at home. Paleolithic diet all the rage among Van foodies Eat like a hunter gatherer in the age of the internet and release primal health By GARIN FAHLMAN some people, their diet lives on. The paleo diet is an alternative lifestyle diet based on foods our ances- tors ate more than two million years ago. “The core is that our bodies haven’t evolved as fast as our food systems have,” says Jennifer McRae, who lived on the paleo diet for almost a year. “We're not used to processing the ma- jority of the foods that we eat.” Practitioners of the paleo diet avoid preservatives and consume a low-sug- ar diet based on lean meats, vegetables and carbohydrates. They avoid grains, dairy and le- gumes. “They weren’t available during our early evolution, and we much later cul- tivated them,” says McRae. She tried other diets like vegetarian- ism before going paleo, and claims to feel better about her body since making the switch. “T feel kind of lighter and cleaner,” says McRae. Paleo meals might consist of nuts and berries for breakfast, a hearty veg- etable stew for lunch and roast beef for dinner. But there’s nothing about the diet that says anything against eating choc- olate-covered bacon for dessert. However, there are concerns about the diet. Dietician Lori Smart says that older women and people with pre-exist- ing heart conditions should consult a health professional to minimize risk, due to the decreased intake of some es- sential nutrients like calcium and vita- min D. “It’s funny to see people critique a diet like paleo when the traditional North American diet is so nutrient defi- cient,” she says. Paleo eaters are adamant that de- spite some changes that might seem difficult, it’s a sustainable way to live, and the changes aren’t that difficult. “You can always order a burger with- out a bun,” says McRae. garin.p.f@gmail.com Con: may be extinct, but for High rent h U-hauling phenomenon is spreading in the world’s second least affordable city. By KRISTEN HARPULA fer to the rental truck company anymore — it has taken on a new meaning in Vancouver with rising rent- al costs. Due to high living costs and low income from entry-level jobs or minis- cule student loans, many students are forced to move in (“U-Haul”) with lov- ers, friends and sometimes complete strangers. According to web-based wordbook Urban Dictionary, U-Hauling refers to lesbians who move in together after dating only a short time. It started from a joke about lesbians Te term U-Hauling doesn’t just re- bringing a U-Haul truck to a second date. “T think it’s hilarious because it’s so true,” said University of Victoria student Amanda Ballard. Ballard experienced U-Hauling firsthand when she moved in with her girlfriend after only a month. She later realized it wasn’t a great idea. SFU student Maria Asselin-Roy and girlfriend Kayla Desjarlais both laughed at the mention of the term U- Hauling. Let’s be honest though, the rental situation in Vancouver is no laughing matter. When it comes to finding a place to live, affordability is one problem most students face. According to the Rental Market Report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., a bachelor suite in Van- couver averages at $864 per month, one-bedrooms at $982 and two-bed- rooms at $1,261. Compare these prices and it seems splitting the cost with someone might be the best option. Even though the decision to move in may be a good investment financial- ly, it may not be a good one emotional- ly. Asselin-Roy and Desjarlais have been together over a year, but live sep- arately. They have talked about moving in together, but agreed they “don’t want to move too fast.” “As nice as it would be to live to- gether, ’d rather commute than jeop- ardize our relationship,” said Desjar- lais. Ballard said moving in too fast is a bad idea “because you don’t get a chance to really get to know each oth- er.” Ballard hopes this advice will have others thinking twice before signing their next rental agreement. as couples move in at ‘lesbian speed’