Students How 2

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Fall 2023 studentshow2.wordpress.com

How to create the viral Tik Tok spaghetti

spaghetti
By: Shamiraka Jackson

TikTok is a social media platform known for creating,

sharing and discovering short videos from content
creators in more than 40 countries. It has become
increasingly popular in the social media community,
having over 3 billion downloads and over 1 billion users
each month.

There has been a rise in the popularity of food

content on the platform, which has led to numerous
food trends going viral. One, in particular, is the viral
TikTok Spaghetti, which has users in a frenzy trying to
create and taste the new way of making baked
spaghetti.

Popularity
The viral TikTok Spaghetti is taking social media by force
with content creators, celebrities and food critics trying
their version of the meal. Kimberly Nichols owner of
Kimmy’s Kreations said, “Everyone likes their food made
with their style, however, it’s important to try new things
and share these experiences because you never know if
it might interest other people.” Nichols is a well-known
social media influencer, known for her unique cooking
recipes, and is one of many creating this meal. Nichols has
over 3 million followers on TikTok, 2.3 million followers on
Instagram, and over 684,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Nyasia Porter, a culinary arts graduate in the food service

industry who attended Johnson and Wales University, says,
“Food can be a way of expression, and it is amazing to see
people share and try different versions of recipes on social
media platforms.”
Continued on page 2
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 The ingredients for TikTok spaghetti
• Ground Beef
• Heavy cream
• Marinara sauce
• Spaghetti noodles
• Garlic
• Shredded parmesan and mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic and onion powder
• Butter
• Onions & Green peppers (optional)

Continued from page 1

Prep your meal
The first step is preheating your oven to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish with
a nonstick cooking spray. Sit this aside and start boiling
your spaghetti noodles, adding salt and olive oil to the
water.

Next, you should start to “brown” your ground beef. Photo by: Shamiraka Jackson
Place your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high
heat. Break up the beef and add salt, pepper, garlic
powder, and onion powder to your meat. Onions and
green peppers are optional, but if you desire, add those
into the skillet as well. Cook until the ground beef is no
longer pink and the veggies have softened. This should
take approximately 8-10 minutes. After your beef has Nyasia Porter version of the viral
cooked, drain the excess grease and add your marinara TikTok spaghetti.
sauce to the skillet. Let this simmer on low heat while
you get started on your alfredo sauce.

In a pot melt half a stick of butter and add your chopped

garlic. Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, Italian
seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until the cheese is
melted thoroughly and the sauce has thickened. Add
your spaghetti noodles into the alfredo sauce, stirring
until the noodles are evenly coated in the sauce. Pour this
into your 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish you had set to the
side. Top your alfredo spaghetti noodles with your meat
sauce, making sure it is evenly distributed across the pan.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and
parsley on top ofyour meat. Bake in the oven for 15
minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted to your
preference. Serve with your choice of salad or garlic
bread.

Photo by: Shamiraka Jackson

2
 Photo by: Courtney Keller
How to gain muscle and stay lean
By: Lara Batca

Determination is key
Having a lean and toned body is a goal that is
very common in our population today. To
complete this goal, it is very important to make
sure each step is taken seriously, and all
motivation and dedication are put in to receive
the results wanted. Before starting a fitness jour-
ney, research online or speaking with someone
who has gone through this process can be very
beneficial. Putting on muscle mass while also
keeping a lean physique can be challenging but
with the right mindset and determination.

“It is important to remember to have balance in college”

Everyone is different said Courtney Keller.
Staying lean while gaining muscle can be different
for everyone, depending on your body type, age,
Calories count when staying lean
weight, height, and heart rate. It is best to find out
Batca has noticed how much better he looks
which exercises work best for you. Ron Batca, the
and feels after maintaining the right diet.
creator and owner of Batca Fitness Systems in
Raleigh, North Carolina, makes a variety of
“I focus on making sure I have a clean,
equipment to help anyone who is interested in
high-protein diet” Batca states.
fitness complete their goals in the way that is best
for them.
“I always plan my meals ahead of time and
tend to have a high-carb meal before exercising
“I create Cables, Dumbbells, Free weights, and
and a lean, high-protein meal afterward” said
functional training machines to help my clients build
Batca.
muscle while also staying healthy and improving
Continued on page 4
flexibility,” stated Batca. Batca’s equipment allows
you to get creative with your workouts while being A staple “lean meal” made by Lara Batca.
able to control how many reps, sets and lengths each
of your exercises contains. Batca has always had a
love for exercise and helping others achieve their
goals and decided to do this in the best way possible
by starting his very own company. He has received
many 5-star- Reviews posted on good showing how
his equipment has helped people all over the world
reach their goals of getting stronger and looking
toned, even in Taiwan, China.

Bodies are made in the kitchen

Exercise is a very important factor in your fitness
journey, and getting to a lean and toned physique,
but dieting plays a big role as well. Alec Batca, a high
school student from Raleigh, North Carolina has
been on his fitness journey for almost three years.
Photo by:Lara Batca
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Continued from page 3
Learn how your body works Photo by: Courtney Keller
Eating carbs such as cereal, fruits, rice cakes, etc,
can give you quick energy and help you complete
your workouts to the best of your abilities while
eating protein afterward helps you restore the
muscle tissue that had just been broken down
during your workout.

Before beginning your fitness journey, it is best to

learn how your body functions to set up a routine
that works for you. “While I was looking to stay
lean but also build muscle was focusing on around
30 minutes of cardio after each workout, my
favorite was getting on the stationary bike,”
stated Batca. “I calculated my maintenance
calories online to make sure I was eating exactly
how much I needed per day.” Batca mentioned the
calories he burns each day were around 2,000 and
burns 800 of those during his workouts. “A great way to stay active in college is by
utilizing local parks, my friends and me like
This means that he should be eating 1,800-2,000 to play tennis after class. This has helped
calories per day to maintain his muscles without
putting on and accessing fat along with it. “To
me to maintain a lean body in college.”
reach my calorie burn goal of 800, I focused the said Courtney Keller
most on my compound movements such as squat,
bench, and deadlift with a higher rep range and a
lower rate to keep my heart rate up,” Alec stated.
“Compound movements help me target more than
one muscle area and to push myself harder.

Staying consistent wins the prize

Lastly, the most important part of reaching your
fitness goals is to stay consistent and determined.
“I remember the first day I entered the gym, I was
so intimidated by the big muscular guys and had
no idea what I was doing,” Batca explained. “Ever
since I started, I have felt so confident in myself
and feel as if I can accomplish anything,”.

“Discover local trails and greenways to get active

on, like the Washinton Waterfront docks! Nature
trails are low-cost, safe, boosts mental health
and well-being. Which makes it an easily
accessable way to help “lean out” in college”
stated Courtney Keller.

Photo by: Courtney Keller

4
How to tailgate Photo by: Dean Larwa
By: Dean Larwa

College tailgates have been an American tradition

since the first football games in the late 1800s. The
tailgates before the entertainment event give a
chance for college students to enjoy themselves.
Tailgate traditions have been transformed over
time, along with technology. However, there is a
simple three-step process to a successful tailgate,
that every college student should be able to follow.

Find the perfect spot to set up your tailgate.

First, before you even get anything physically ready
for your tailgate, find a spot including the following. A
big enough space for some activities along with chairs
and some tables. It is also important to have close
access to a bathroom. The location should also be Enjoy some snacks before kickoff!
within walking distance of the entertainment event
you are tailgating to.
If you are over the age of 21 and plan on
However, there are some situations where universities drinking alcohol at the tailgate, food is a
will offer a shuttle system to transport students from priority before entering the game.
the tailgates to the events. In this case, your tailgate
location could have more options available. Some Continued on page 6
schools offer student parking lots, where the students
can purchase a parking spot to tailgate for the event.
Tailgating in a parking lot is the easiest method for
students.

Food and Drinks

Next, every tailgate must have some form of food or
beverage. The type of food or snacks and the amount
consumed are all about personal preference. Students
should always include a cooler to keep the liquids of
their choice, nice and cold.

According to East Carolina University alumni,

Monica Davis, a tailgate can’t be successful without
food or drinks. Davis currently has two children
attending ECU and has been tailgating for ECU
football games for over 25 years.

“I find the food and drinks to be the most important

nowadays with all these stadium concession prices,”
said Monica.

5
 You also want to make sure you leave your tailgate
“It’s important you fill your stomach before the a half hour before the event start time. This gives
game especially if you’re drinking alcohol.” room for event lines and security and some travel
Monica states exceptions.

Continued from page 5 Tailgate Games

Tailgating priorities
I have been making my buffalo chicken dip for
years now and it is always all gone before the game.
It takes some preparation but it’s worth it to watch
everyone else enjoy it.” said Monica.
Make it a priority to go to the store to get food
before, if you’re not planning on making something
at your house. For example, some easy food choices
would be Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. Some snacks
such as potato chips or veggie trays with dipping
sauce are always a good option. Every basic
supermarket or grocery store has all of the food
available and even tailgates special snacks ready to
grab and go.
Time management
After having all the resources ready, you must
create a plan for managing your time at the tailgate.
Correct time management is part of the tailgate
experience.
East Carolina senior, Mason Horton, has been
following a set plan for every football tailgate for
four years.
“Knowing when and where to go before the
football games is a huge stress relief for my football
Saturdays,” said Horton.
Multiple games can be played at college tailgates.
Playing games at a tailgate is a tradition at
American universities. Cornhole is a game that
any student can play physically. The game offers a
fun and competitive experience that could center
the attention of a tailgate.
A list of some other popular tailgate games in-
clude football, beer pong, Jenga, flip cup, and Kan
Jam. There are a variety of games students have
played over the year and as long as it can be easily
transported to and from your tailgate, then it will
better your experience that day.
Tailgates can include other forms of entertainment
such as tv’s or board games. If you are a big
football fan, then it is always a good idea to
bring a TV to watch the other games being played
around the country. If any of those games or
forms of entertainment don’t intrigue you or your
friends, then feel free to create a new tailgate game,
as the game ideas reflect personal interest.
Dean Larwa and guest at a tailgate!

The tailgate always revolves around the start time

of the event. According to Improve Your Gameday,
you should arrive at your tailgate four hours before
the event start time. This period gives you enough
time to set up and clean up your tailgate location
before and after you are done tailgating.

Horton also stated “The main reason I like to get

to the stadium early is to watch the football team
walk out of our tunnel to our school’s alma mater.
It’s important to me that I don’t miss the intro video
also, because they add something new in it every
single game.”
Photo by: Dean Larwa
6
 Trustees fountain at East Carolina University,
a public research institution.

Photo by: Courtney Keller

Both the content for this newsletter and the design are created by students enrolled in
COMM 3310 Copy Editing and Design in the School of Communication at East
Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina during the Spring and Fall semesters
under the direction of course instructor Barbara Bullington.
We welcome suggestions for article ideas for future issues.
For inquiries, please email bullingtonb@ecu.edu