Bay Area

Chef Nikki Shaw Shares Healthy Eating Advice at Williams Sonoma

Published

4 years ago

February 20, 2020

Bridging her zest for life and healthy eating, celebrity chef Nikki Shaw spoke at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco on Thursday, Feb. 13 for the company’s Black History Month series.

Through her “Get It… Got It” call to action for a healthier community campaign, Shaw provided food and health tips to keep illness at bay and unnecessary doctor’s visits away.

Before an audience of 50 guests, the Oakland-based culinary expert discussed ways to fight disease in the kitchen during a fireside chat with Williams Sonoma Merchandise Analyst Sherie Carter.

“Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all preventable,” said Shaw.

“When you modify how you eat, you can control your health….With a diet of more fruits, vegetables and lean meats with exercise you can live a longer and healthier life.”

Shaw shared her concern for the next generation of youth that tend to enjoy junk foods as opposed to whole foods. While enthusiastically teaching a public health class at a public high school several years ago, she used some pretty shocking tactics to ensure students understood that many of the items they consume, such as Hot Cheetos and sodas, are actually hurting them in the long run.

“I showed pictures of amputees and dialysis centers where people have to spend several hours a day on a machine that does what their own kidneys can no longer do which is filter the blood of toxins and waste,” Shaw recalled.

Shaw suggests healthy eating begins at home and habits of a lifetime start while you are young. “It is important for our youth to make good food choices so their bodies have enough fuel to learn and focus,” Shaw said.

For weight loss, Shaw suggests eliminating carbs. “I have my own love-hate relationship with carbs (carbohydrates) – carbs are not my friend,” she joked. “Be carb conscious. That includes bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, croutons on your salad.” Shaw also said to reduce the intake of sugar and salt. “Salt makes the body retain water.”

Kale and Brussels sprouts are superfoods that Shaw suggests adding to one’s diet.

“Kale and Brussels sprouts are filled with so many vitamins and minerals,” she said. “Roasted Brussels sprouts are amazing and paired with baked salmon is perfection.”

As far as food preparation is concerned, Shaw urged audience members to break some of the traditions passed down.

“As delicious as deep-fried foods are, they contribute to heart disease because the oil enters the bloodstream and thickens. It’s like sucking a milkshake through a straw, making your heart work harder to pump the blood throughout the body.”

In partnership with the American Heart Association, Shaw says she is excited to tour faith-based organizations to raise healthy eating awareness throughout the year.

The Williams Sonoma Black History Month program will also feature Venture Capitalist Lo Toney, Founding Managing Partner of Plexi Capital.

“It is very important to discuss the work that African Americans are doing in the community to prevent heart disease and encourage a healthy lifestyle,” said Carter.

For more information visit: chefnikkishaw.com

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 22 – 28, 2023

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 22 – 28, 2023

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2023

Oakland Post

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 22 - 28, 2023

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 15 – 21, 2023

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 15 – 21, 2023

Published

2 weeks ago

November 17, 2023

Oakland Post

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 15 - 21, 2023

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Activism

School Board President Shuts Down Meeting Trying to Silence Gaza Ceasefire Protesters

Since the executive board of the Oakland Education Association originally took a stand to oppose genocide and call for a ceasefire, the union has been under intense criticism both from mainstream media and an Oakland parents’ group, which has been encouraging teachers to quit the union.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 12, 2023

Oakland Post

By Ken Epstein

Several hundred people, including teachers, school staff, students, parents, and community activists, showed up at the Oakland Unified School District board meeting Wednesday night, most of them calling on the board to pass a resolution to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and end the killing of civilians, when school board President Mike Hutchinson refused to let them speak and abruptly shut down the meeting as they demanded to be heard.

At the start of the meeting, Hutchinson announced that a resolution proposed by Board member Valarie Bachelor, “Calling for a Ceasefire and Release of Hostages in Israel and Palestine,” would not be discussed that evening and that there was no place anywhere on the agenda where attendees would be allowed to speak on the issue.

However, there was a moment of confusion when the parliamentarian, speaking over Hutchinson’s objections, explained that there was one 30-minute period for people to discuss nonagenda items.

A chorus of boos filled the auditorium as Hutchinson attempted to move on. He quickly suspended the meeting, and he and several other board members left the room, though some board members remained.

One young woman shouted at Hutchinson. “You’re having a tantrum, and we’re talking about genocide.”

People crowded around a bullhorn at the front of the room, and attendees held their own meeting.

“You are on the right side of history – we’ll be back,” said a youth soccer coach, Maria Martinez.

A young woman named Lulwa said, ‘I believe we all deserve our land, we all deserve our freedom, and we all deserve not to have our children bombed. The media is lying to us, and social media is bringing us together.”

Lulwa explained that she has been living in the U.S. and Oakland since the age of 9. “I was taken in by the community in Oakland, and I was loved.”

Board member Bachelor was cheered as she spoke on the bullhorn, supporting the people of Palestine and the people of Israel.

“We have to stop killing children, we have to stop bombing hospitals, we have to stop killing UN workers; we have to stop the killing,” she said. “We are a global community. The fight continues.”

A woman who identified herself as a Jewish Oakland teacher said, “The school board does not speak for the teachers, Monday night, we (teachers) passed a very strong resolution demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to U.S. funding (for the war).

An Oakland man named Izzy said, “What did the school board do today? They walked out on our kids…. There’s nobody to blame but Mike Hutchinson.”

Jabari Shaw said that African Americans stand in solidarity with Palestine. “We know how it is to not be recognized as human beings,” he said.

However, on Monday evening, union delegates from the Oakland schools upheld a strong position, voting 66 to 31 in favor of a ceasefire.

Hutchinson and board member Sam Davis, joined by school board candidate Jorge Lerma, have been working with the parent group in opposition to the teachers’ union.

But another group of parents and community members supporting the teachers’ union’s stance just started a petition in the last couple of days and has already received over 300 signatures.

“As Oakland parents, caregivers, and community members, we are committed to the safety and well-being of all of our children,” the petition said. “We are writing to express our solidarity with the families of Palestine and to express support for district leaders and the OEA for standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine.”