Lehman’s Own DishwithDina Raises Over $1k During Virtual Wellness Retreat
A photo promoting Dina’s MadeWithLove Virtual Retreat. Courtesy of DishwithDina.
By Michael Omoruan
As confirmed cases of Covid continue to rise and movie theaters have been shut down, it can feel pretty draining trying to keep spirits up and energy high. Lehman College nutrition professor Dina D'RAlessandro has taken it upon herself to make this daunting and depressing time to host a virtual event focused on proper logistical mindset, healthy eating, and all-around focused on positivity.
D’Alessandro, or more commonly known by her online moniker DishwithDina, not only works as a Lehman professor, but is also a registered dietitian. D’Alessandro frequently hosts Instagram lives for her nearly 2,000 followers, where she welcomes nutrition enthusiasts and experts. She also allows up to 30 minutes of free nutritional and all-around guidance on many online platforms, including Zoom and Zocdoc.
The MadewithLove Virtual Wellness Retreat was held all day on Dec. 5 via Zoom and featured a list of talks hosted by many of D’Alessandro’s friends and colleagues.
When asked what inspired her to make this event, Dina stated to the Meridian “This all started as a way for me to end the year with self-care. All too often, we think we have to wait for the "New Year, New You" promotions before we can take time for ourselves and get back on track with our goals.” She went on to explain that she also wanted to raise money for a good cause, which she more than accomplished as donations for Mental Health America reached over $1000!
Dina’s banner for her Dishwithdina website.
One of the first talks was hosted by Andrea Gonzalez, a Miami-based medical student, author, and creator of the Plan with Productivity brand, which focuses on teaching people how to chase their biggest goals and aspirations. Her talk focused on practical advice like limiting one’s time on social media, making alarms to get ready throughout the day, and gradually learning to stick with a routine.
A highlight of the event was the exercise intermission hosted by Amber Trejo, a certified personal trainer. It served as a way to liven things up and was much more active than other online events tend to be. And since most gyms and recreation centers have been closed, it helped in getting those in attendance up on their feet and shaping muscles that most likely haven’t been strengthened for quite some time.
Jaime Maldanado, a recent Lehman graduate, stated “I truly loved the variety of speakers. [Dina] had… just what I needed to hear! It was a great event to attend and I’m so glad I did."
All in all, Dina hosted a great number of events that helped everyone in attendance take a brief pause from their daily lives, whether they’re students currently in the last stretch of the fall semester or parents needing some time to focus on themselves.
One can only hope for more events to be hosted like these in the future to mitigate any wariness those in school and even those out of school might feel. To quote recent Lehman graduate Mitchelita Touzin, "Please make this a yearly event.”
Link to her Instagram.
Link to her Twitter.
