A woman's letter to her 'almond mom' about diet culture.

Plus, protests escalate at Columbia University.   THIS IS TODAY April 30, 2024 [VIEW IN BROWSER]( THIS IS TODAY Protesters at Columbia University ramp up a pro-Palestinian demonstration by storming and occupying a historic building. Plus, the coach who helped the cast of "Challengers" look like tennis pros in only three months, and a dietitian shares what it was like to grow up with an "almond mom."   The Latest   [Live updates: Students occupy a building at Columbia, escalating pro-Palestinian protests](. Dozens of protesters [gained entry to Columbia University's Hamilton Hall]( in the early hours of this morning, [smashing windows]( and flying pro-Palestinian flags from the windows. They referred to the anti-Vietnam War protests of 1968, when Columbia students occupied the same hall. "Let's finish what they did in 1968," one said. The protesters unfurled a flag declaring they had re-named it "Hind's Hall," in honor of 6-year-old [Hind Rajab, who was found dead in Gaza]( in February. [Here's the latest](. [A dietitian shares her struggles of growing up with an 'almond mom.']( Lyndi Cohen, a dietitian in Sydney, Australia, penned an open letter about the [impact of diet culture on families](, and directly addressed her mother. “Firstly, I’m so sorry that you were put on a diet," Cohen wrote. "For generations, we have been passing down disordered eating from mother to daughter like a crappy, chipped tea set that no one wants." [The phrase "almond mom"]( went viral in 2022, and refers to a person stuck in diet culture who projects their own fears of being overweight onto their children. [Continue reading](. [How did the cast of 'Challengers' look like tennis pros in just 3 months? This guy coached them.]( If you've seen "Challengers" (or if you've [only seen the buzz for it]( on your social media feeds), you may be wondering how three actors came to look like tennis pros. Brad Gilbert, Coco Gauff's coach and a former champion himself, was the man tasked with making Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist [look like the real deal](. While Faist played tennis in high school, Zendaya and O'Connor had no experience, and yes, all three did actually play tennis in the film, despite only having three months to train. “Tennis players and actors have similar DNA,” Gilbert tells us. [Read more about his strategy here](. [🧴 Exclusive deal alert! Save 25% on Scarlett Johansson’s skin care brand, The Outset.]( [Scarlett Johansson]( spoke with Shop TODAY about her decade-long frustration with acne and how her new skincare line, The Outset, aims to keep things simple. She walked us through [5 core products](, including a night cream and antioxidant cleanser. TODAY fans can get 25% off The Outset products through May 5 with our exclusive code. [Shop them all here](.       Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. [Eat your broccoli](! It’s an age-old adage, but today we offer up the humble cruciferous veggie as a reminder that everyone should be eating more of it. This green flower (yes, it’s a flower) may protect against cancer, safeguard your heart and promote digestive health, while also offering a good punch of fiber and Vitamin C. [Read more about its benefits](, and check out some [tasty recipe ideas.](   What's for dessert?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you These [strawberry crumble bars]( are the perfect combination of crispy dough and a fruity center, and all you need to make them is a bowl, a whisk and a fork. Yes, a fork — the crust and crumble topping call for melted butter, not chilled, so a stand mixer or food processor isn’t necessary. Bring a tray to your next spring picnic or family gathering. [Get the recipe](   Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Bravo star Andy Cohen's [daughter turned 2, and he quoted]( TODAY's Hoda Kotb in his birthday tribute! "Marking time through the filter of my children’s growth is blowing my mind at this later stage of my life. Everything feels on double-time but it’s also, as @hodakotb says, right on time." Cohen and his daughter Lucy Eve [wore matching plaid outfits]( while posing with a gold balloon in the shape of the number two, and of course, Cohen posted a pic with his longtime pal Anderson Cooper, captioning it, "Birthday Party Dads."   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you tomorrow. Written by Anna Kaplan | Edited by Philip Caulfield Enjoying This is TODAY? Invite a friend to[subscribe here.]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](