Celebrate World Food Day 2021 with the #NYUCoolFood Challenge

by Avani Jalan

“Our actions are our future. 
Better production, better nutrition, 
a better environment and a better life”
-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

person taking a picture of a bowl of foodHappy #WorldFoodDay 2021! 

This year, join our celebration by participating in a photo contest that encourages you to eat healthy for YOU and the planet! 

On World Food Day 2020, NYU proudly joined the Cool Food Pledge, a commitment to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2030. Through a comprehensive, 10-year plan devised in partnership with our dining services partner, Chartwells, NYU dining halls and catering operations will gradually promote a shift to more sustainable food products through a combination of enhanced plant-based offerings and educational outreach. You can join the movement by incorporating the Cool Food Pledge into your daily lives.

Join NYUGreen’s #NYUCoolFood Challenge on Instagram to illustrate how simple swaps in our meals can make a delicious difference. 

When will the #NYUCoolFood Challenge take place?
Saturday October 16 to Sunday October 24

What am I taking pictures of?
We want to see photos that fulfill at least three of the following prompts:

  1. Deliciously autumnal – Show us a dish inspired by fall and features nuts or legumes.
  2. “Plant-based disguised as meat” – Show us a dish that does not look plant-based but contains only plant-based ingredients.
  3. Think globally, eat locally – Show us a dish that is globally-inspired but uses local ingredients.
  4. Finer at a diner – Show us a dish that looks like something you would find at a diner but does not contain any red meat or dairy products.
  5. Eat the rainbow – Show us a dish that has at least 5 different, vibrant (natural) colors.
  6. “Food wrapped in a hug” – Show us a dish that represents your favorite comfort food and contains whole grains

What do I have to do to participate?

  1. Share your photos on Instagram as stories or posts.
  2. Tag us @nyu_green and use #NYUCoolFood
  3. The prompts do not have to pertain to specific days, you can choose any three (or more)!

What happens after the challenge?
If you share at least three photos on your Instagram story or feed, you will be eligible to receive an NYUGreen sustainable giveaway!

Be creative, have fun, and try not to waste food!


Why Food?

We have the power to make a difference in the food system through our choices!

The contradictions could not be starker – millions of people are hungry or undernourished, while large numbers have chronic health issues due to  poor diets. Smallholder farmers produce more than one-third of the world’s food, as agriculture continues to be an unpredictable and often unsafe sector. Our global agri-food system is a major contributor to climate change, which in turn threatens food production in some of the world’s poorest areas. There’s rampant food loss and waste side-by-side with people relying on food banks or emergency food aid. The evidence is there for all to see – there has never been a more urgent need to transform the way the world produces and consumes food.

Join us today and every day in making choices that support a healthier and more sustainable food system and community.