Centralight

I am Central: By Cindy Crain Newman Rohma Masud International graduate student Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Global Campus Dietician to a royal family What is it like to take classes at CMU while living in the United Arab Emirates? Classes are 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, so I get up at 2:45 a.m. for classes from 3 to 5 a.m. Dubai time. Despite the timing, I enjoy interacting with the group and learn a lot from online discussions, given my classmates' extensive backgrounds. I look forward to meeting them during a trip to Michigan in 2014. And you work full time? Yes, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., so I don't get too much rest. I am a food production dietician working with the head chef for the royal family in Abu Dhabi. I devise daily, healthy menus for the Sheikha and her family. I also travel with them on vacations and weekends. What's involved with working for a royal family? I decide what the Sheikha needs to eat during different situations, such as before and after working out. There are four children aged 5 to 8, and I pick healthy foods for them. Some ask: "Why brown rice, not white rice?" I enjoy answering these questions, because they help me raise awareness about the importance of a healthy diet. On Fridays, I let them eat what they want (they splurge on chicken nuggets and fries), but I am proud that 80 percent of the time they make healthier choices. I'm training the chefs, too. Tell us about your home country. The UAE was a desert when I was born. Dubai has rapidly grown into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and the country has advanced rapidly. It has become a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. • 40 centralight fall '13

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