#honf

Adopting a good eating habit is the way to wellness. College time can be pretty hectic especially when juggling schoolwork, social life and extracurricular activities. At times, students tend to skip meals such as breakfast or even forget to take certain meals on time and this could be detrimental to the students’ health. Thus, it is imperative for students to maintain a good eating habit, which will contribute to good health as well as sustain a good academic performance.

My favorite professor in the whole NYU Community would have to be Prof Domingo Pinero.  Professor Pinero is the Undergraduate Advisor and the Director of Undergraduate studies in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at Steinhardt. He is also a Clinical Professor teaching courses like Intro to Human Physiology and Introduction to Global Issues in Nutrition: Shanghai (Honors Seminar). I first met Domingo during my New Student Seminar and my first thought was that he was such a funny and charismatic person. Over the years, I got to work with him and one thing that I really appreciate about him is his audacity of speaking out if he thinks something is not right. His constant support to his students and his genuineness are, in my mind qualities that make him awesome. He is also the person who taught me that dreams do come true (I know it’s such a cliched thing to say but he is the one who taught me that anything is possible). I took his Intro to Physiology class during my sophomore year and even though, there’s a general consensus that it’s a hardcore science class, I would not mind taking it again :)  I will truly miss him when I graduate from NYU.

There have been so many hilarious moments during my college life from mistakenly placing trash in front of my RA’s room (ps. I thought it was the trash room) to having strangers on the street telling me to “focus on the street” instead of looking at myself in the shop windows. However, the funniest thing that I ever did during my freshman year was to enact the horror scene from the movie ‘The Ring’. My suitemates and I decided to enact one scene from the movie: our common room looked like a professional studio. We had so much fun but afterwards, we were so scared. I could not be in my own room all by myself; I needed my roommate to be in there with me and that night, we went to sleep at 2am! :)

Lourdes Castro is an adjunct professor within the department of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU Steinhardt. She also happens to be a notable cookbook author of three fabulous cookbooks that are all about Latin Cuisine! Her first cookbook Simply Mexican (Ten Speed Press, 2009) was voted as one the 25 best cookbooks of 2009 by Food & Wine magazine; while her third, Latin Grilling (Ten Speed Press, 2011), was among iVillage.com’s 2011 selection of best cookbooks. 

All of Lourdes’s love for cooking really shines through in the classroom. In fact, it was seeing her in the kitchen during Weekend on the Square that made me want to join NYU’s Nutrition and Food Studies Program! Unlike at any other school, Lourdes was clearly not afraid to be hands on with her students and to interact with them one-one-one. By the end of our 20 minute kitchen session that weekend, I was working with Lourdes side by side, and actually LEARNING about the food I was cooking as we went along! That fall, when I enrolled in her class, “Introduction to Food Science”, I only saw more of Lourdes excitement for the material, during both lecture and lab. This course was by far my favorite class as a first-year student! Hopefully, I will be fortunate of having Lourdes again at my time at NYU. 

This past April, I got to participate in something I truly believe could only happen in a city as great as New York. I got to participate in a Beyoncé-themed dance class that raised money for Planned Parenthood! Oh and by the way it was hosted by my two biggest role models, Hannah Bronfman (DJ, model, founder of HBFit.com) and Elaine Welteroth (Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue). 

Although I had planned to go to this event with a couple of friends, it was a school night. So plans fell through, and I was the only one left standing. As nervous as I was, my friends- all of whom I met on the 6th floor of Rubin Hall by the way- encouraged me to throw myself into it, because well, that’s what we do at NYU! One of most beautiful things about being a student here is having access to so much BEYOND campus. But if you don’t take advantage of these resources, your experience won’t be as fulfilling. If I hadn’t thrown myself into this experience, I wouldn’t have gotten to meet my role models and established the future connections that could possibly serve me in the future.

As a major foodie, living in New York City is a lot of fun, but it can also be very expensive! After running around looking for cheap and delicious eats, here’s what are some of my favorites

1. M2M Market (19 Waverly Place) - This Asian Market not only offers great snacks and fresh produce, but cheap udon, ramen, and bibimbap that is all under $12! 

2. Kati Roll Company (99 Macdougal Street)- Kati rolls are one of my favorite late-night snacks! Grab a roti roll with meat and/or veggies for under $7! And make sure to grab a mango lassi while you’re at it!

3. Udon West (11 St. Marks Place)- Another great place for cheap udon! My favorite is the veggie & shrimp tempura udon ($8). 

4. Mamoun’s Falafel (119 Macdougal Street; 30 St. Marks Place)- I know I already wrote a post on this but it’s just THAT good! Where else can you find a delicious falafel sandwich for $3.50?!

5. Punjabi Grocery & Deli (114 East 1st Street)- Punjabi is a hole-in-wall for sure! But you can’t deny the delicious combo of rice/naan and two sides. And all for about $6 :)

6. Manousheh (193 Bleeker Street)- This Lebanese joint serves up some great flatbreads for all around $5 with your 10 percent NYU discount! They also serve an amazing avocado salad! 

7. Eva’s Kitchen (11 West 8th Street)- This health food market/eatery has great fresh-pressed juices ($5), and platters full of fresh veggies and proteins! To be honest, though, my FAVORITE menu item is the carrot cake protein muffin. Trust me, it's addicting. 

8. Two Boots West Village (201 West 11th Street)- If you are vegan and/or lactose intolerant, this is the go-to place for vegan pizza! Grab a $4 slice of “Earth Mother”  or “V for Vegan”. Either one is delicious! 

9. LifeThyme Market (410 6th Avenue)- This market is like a mini Whole Foods, and that includes the mini price tag! Make sure to check out the delicious salad and hot food bar, which offers new daily recipes. 

10. Fresh & Co. (729 Broadway)- Fresh & Co. is pretty much all over Manhattan and offers great salads and juices at a pretty decent price. This location also takes NYU Campus cash.