Juicing for Health at INSEAD

My life at INSEAD has been pretty stressful, between class, group work, exams, dinners, parties, and traveling, I don't have much time to workout and eat healthy. With the stress of school and the less-than-healthy French food, I haven't felt my best.

I'm a big proponent of drinking daily juices and smoothies to optimize nutritional intake so I was excited when one of my classmates' partners, Samantha, announced that she would be selling juices on campus. I don't have time to constantly grocery shop for fresh ingredients and make my own drinks in the morning. I also don't have my vitamix (very sad). So, I prepaid Sam for a whole month to make me juices every day and I haven't felt sick since!

With the oncoming winter in France, my immune system will be challenged. Our cafeteria doesn't have great salad options so the green juice is a prefect way for me to get my daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Sam also adds spirulina and protein powder and makes a variety of juices everyday. I usually get the green but sometimes mix it up. Sam is also offered full juice cleanses once a week.

To get more information about ordering juices at INSEAD, contact Samantha here!

Love it when I get extra greens :)

A Day in History - Normandy

I love the fact that INSEAD is such an international school but I must say that some of the best friends I've made here are actually American. I think that our global mindset coupled with American upbringing make us get along quite well and have a lot in common. In addition, many of us, like me, are immigrants and have dual nationalities. 

The Americans and others organized a trip to see the historical sites of where Normandy was invaded on D-Day. It was interesting to see a piece of history that we learn about in school as the "turning point" in the war. Of course, other countries might see it differently, but in classic American fashion, it's when we came to save the day.

Omaha Beach monuments where the allies landed coming from England.

Diagram of other beaches that were invaded.

The American memorial cemetery close to Omaha Beach.

A moving and sad place to be, but it was very interesting to visit the museum and see the timeline of events and read about the troops stories and triumphs.

Happy Thanksgiving from France!

Happy Francegiving! Last night I hosted the INSEAD Americans for a lovely Thanksgiving feast at Chateau de Tavers, where I live. We made three turkeys and the 50 or so guests brought side dishes and desserts to share. It was a great night and I'm glad we got to have a little taste of home.

Recipe: Moroccan Vegetable Couscous

It was great to get a break from French food and try some new things on our recent trip to Morocco. There were plenty of vegetables, couscous, and even some French influence with an abundance of sardines. Here's some images of food we ate in the Atlas Mountains and then a traditional vegetable couscous recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked couscous
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne
4 carrots
2 russet potatoes
1 butternut squash
2 cups water
2 zucchini
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

Cook couscous according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in the onion and cook until tender. Add spices, except for cilantro. Stir in carrots, potatoes, squash, and water and cook until vegetables are tender (about 30 minutes). If necessary add more water. Remove excess water once vegetables are tender and serve over the couscous. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. 

French Food

Before my move to France to study at INSEAD, I wrote about why French Women Don't Get Fat and I must admit that I believe in much of what is in the book. French food tends to be rich and high-quality, but enjoyed in smaller portions. The bread doesn't make me feel bloated and seasonal vegetables are always used in meals. Our cafeteria food is pretty awesome and I'm having fun trying new things, like snail, in the restaurants of Fontainebleau and Paris. I enjoy the French love for seafood. My only major complaint about French food is the prevalence of diary. You can not get anything without cheese or milk. Although I try to avoid it, it's really difficulty to do so, and waiters do not really understand why i would want something "sans lait." Regardless, it's been fun exploring the food options in France and here are some ideas for your home cooking!

Snail, not as gross as it sounds.

Shrimp salad, with cheese sauce, of course.

Mussels and fries, my favorite!

Niçoise salad (recipe here)

And you can't have a French meal without a glass of wine!