Nicole Byers is everybody's friend-in-my-head and if you've ever watched her host Netflix's Nailed It, you've probably thought about you guys grabbing a bite to eat while she served up a witty critique of the meal. While that exact dream sequence is aspirational, Nicole treated fans to what she eats in a day, courtesy of Harper BAZAAR's #FoodDiaries. The comedian, actress, writer, and podcaster had plenty of LOL-worthy reviews of her favorite foods that include everything from a vegan dish to international cuisine. Hint: Her favorite food cities are New York and Rome.
Yes, only true foodies have a favorite food city—and Nicole has two. So without further ado, here's what die-hard foodie Nicole Byers eats in a day:
Breakfast
Nicole starts her day off with a meal fit for a queen. She describes her typical breakfast as "a weekend in Palm Springs and someone else is doing the cooking." What does that look like? Bacon, eggs, and toast or a bagel. And when she's actually in Palm Springs you might catch her chowing down on a frittata. Her frittata review: "A thing in a thing. Delicious. My favorite."
Lunch
After a hearty breakfast, Nicole lunch is more like a snack. It consists of Nature Valley Peanut Bars, and influencer-favorite carbonated beverage, LaCroix.
"My favorite LaCroix flavor is Peach Pear. A close second is Coconut because it tastes like sunscreen."
Just call her LaCroix connoisseur.
Dinner
For dinner, Nicole's been serving up Purple Carrot meals. The subscription-based meal boxes cater to vegans, but if you're confused (refer to Nicole's breakfast above) whether she's a vegan or not, so is she. She explains, sort of:
"I'm a vegan. I'm not a vegan, but I like to claim it."
Well, when she's claiming veganism, she makes spaghetti with meat sauce but substitutes the traditional recipe with Impossible ground meat.
Dessert
For dessert, veganism is a thing of the past. Nicole is having sweet potato pie but only if she can raise her Aunt Bertha from the dead or one of the church ladies she grew up with. Her words, not ours. We wonder if a Patti Pie will do. Hmmm...
Snacktime
The girl loves her peanut butter. She keeps it simple and munches on the hard-to-find Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers for a snack. Someone let Nicole know we found them at Target!
Not-So-Guilty Pleasures
Nicole travels A LOT. So indulging in cuisines city to city, or sometimes country to country is the norm for her. She has her orders down to a science in her favorite locations:
"In LA, I would get a Howlin Ray's chicken sandwich, with no pickles because it is the best chicken sandwich I've ever had...I would do cheese fries from this restaurant uptown [in New York] called Toast. It is so good. Also, their mac and cheese is really good. If I get their mac and cheese, I also get a Caesar salad with chicken, bacon, light on the croutons, dressing on the side...Then I would head on over to Italy. I would go to Rome and get carbonara. They make it there with egg yolk. Here they make it with cream—incorrect and kind of disgusting. But there they use egg and very slowly, envelop it into the pasta. It gets this like bright yellowy, orangey color...and they don't make it with bacon they make it I think with pancetta."
The carbonara in Rome made us shed a real tear.
Everything Comedian Nicole Byer Eats in a Day | Food Diaries: Bite Size | Harper's BAZAAR
Featured image by Nicole Byers/Instagram
Jazmine A. Ortiz is a creative born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn and currently living in Staten Island, NY. She started in the entertainment industry in 2012 and now works as a Lifestyle Editor where she explores everything from mental health to vegan foodie trends. For more on what she's doing in the digital space follow her on Instagram at @liddle_bitt.
A Cosmic Guide To Love In 2025: What The Stars Have In Store For Your Heart
The most important lesson we are learning about love in 2025 is change. Many major Astrological transits are happening this year, and these will last for years to come. As we walk through this new year, we are being asked to let go of the things we can’t control, and give more grace to the things we can. This is a year of a new perspective on love, finding gratitude in the little things, and watching as the universe supports us and the dreams we build for ourselves here.
At the beginning of the year, we are being shown how significant 2025 will be for love. From March 1, 2025, until April 12, 2025, Venus, the planet of love and relationships, will be retrograde. Venus goes retrograde approximately every 18 months and hasn’t been retrograde since the Summer of 2023. With love taking a step back at the beginning of the year, we move through a time of understanding the emotional world better and letting go of trying to control outcomes here.
What Does 2025 Have in Store for Love?
It’s time to refocus your relationship priorities overall, and with this retrograde happening in both Aries and Pisces, Aries being the first sign of the zodiac and Pisces being the last; there is a chapter we are closing and a new one we are walking into.
Another significant factor that is influencing relationships this year, is Jupiter’s entry into Cancer. Jupiter brings blessings, abundance, luck, and expansion, and in water sign Cancer, brings these gifts to your emotions. Cancer rules emotional safety, foundations, close loved ones, family, support, and emotional well-being, and with Jupiter in this sign from June 9, 2025, until June 30, 2026, we experience blessings in stability within love. This is a good year for building stronger foundations in love, aligning with those who are loyal and supportive, knowing what you need emotionally, and being a lot clearer on it.
Letting Go of the Past: The Astrological Theme of 2025
Overall, the guideline for the year when it comes to love is to focus on the bigger picture and let things work themselves out without forcing them to. Magic will come in for you this year when you can assess your needs and wants, let go of illusions or smoke and mirrors, and focus on the things you want for yourself rather than what you don’t. Your focus and beliefs on love are the priority right now, and things will be coming full circle for the better.
Read below to see your personal 2025 love forecast. Read for your sun, moon, and rising signs.
What Does Your Zodiac Sign Say About Your 2025 Love Life?
ARIES
2025 is one of the more significant years for you, Aries. A lot of the major transits are happening in your sign, which includes Venus retrograde in Aries at the beginning of the year, Neptune in Aries from March 2025 until 2039, and Saturn in Aries from May 2025 until 2028. Not to mention, Chiron, the wounded healer is currently in your sign until 2027.
What this means for you when it comes to love, is that you have learned a lot about where you want to be here, and it’s the year to implement more of these tools and knowledge of the heart.
This year for love is about honoring your integrity and what you need personally to thrive in life and creating that space to let it in. You need someone who will be there for you through whatever you are experiencing in life and not someone who adds to these challenges. This year is a time of rising above, and choosing better for yourself.
TAURUS
2025 for you when it comes to love, is all about perspective and taking better care of your heart, Taurus. Uranus, the planet of change, rebellion, progress, and upheaval, has been in your sign since 2019, and this year you get a break from all of the surprises. From Jul. 7, 2025, until Nov. 7, 2025, Uranus leaves your sign and enters Gemini, giving your mind and your heart some time to breathe.
This year you are being given the opportunity to see things for what they are, rather than what you fear them to be. You are able to see your relationship dynamics clearer, allowing you to feel more confident in what you are building and creating for yourself in this area of your life. What you are working on this year is letting go of overthinking, and allowing things to play out the way they are meant to in love.
GEMINI
This year you are feeling in balance when it comes to love, Gemini. Relationships are important to you in life overall, as you are a relationship-oriented sign, but it can be difficult at times to keep the balance and perspective here. This year, with lucky Jupiter in your sign until June, you have the opportunity to be blessed with some fortunate circumstances personally and within romance.
You are feeling yourself this year, and this is attracting you success and new opportunities within love.
Uranus will also be in your sign this year from Jul. 7 until Nov. 7, and some surprises are in store for you. Pay attention to what happens in your love life during this period, as similar themes will be coming back around for you when Uranus officially enters its Gemini transit from 2026 - 2032. Overall, this year is about balancing what’s coming and going in love, and finding your peace within your inner confidence for it all.
CANCER
2025 for you, Cancer, is about stability in love. You are growing emotionally from the ground up, and are feeling a sense of support, confidence, romance, and receptivity in your love life this year. You are one of the lucky signs of 2025, and this is due to Jupiter, the planet of blessings, entering your sign from June 9, 2025, until June 30, 2026. While Jupiter is in your sign, your life expands and you are able to see the gifts of your world that may have been harder to come by previously.
This is a year of spending more time with your loved ones and feeling more heard and supported emotionally. Safety and security are especially important to you this year, and you are only entertaining the people who feel that way about you and provide that. Many Cancers will be expanding their families this year or developing a long-term relationship, and overall this is a year of feeling stronger when it comes to love.
LEO
When it comes to love this year for you, Leo, it’s about trusting your intuition and listening more to what your heart is telling you. There are not many major transits happening in Leo in 2025, which means there is a lot of room to grow, but you may be feeling a lack of support or encouragement to do so. A lot of Leos are taking a step back to look at where they are currently in love, and yearning for some change and a new direction here.
Neptune will be in your 9th house of adventure for most of this year, and you are being asked to get inspired and do things differently, but don’t take unnecessary risks in love that may not serve you in the long run.
It can be easy to get lost in the fantasy of love rather than the actual reality you’ll live in here, and taking more time to understand yourself, your relationships, and the dynamics in your love life will be necessary. Overall, your heart is healing this year and you are moving away from the past and creating your new future.
VIRGO
This year when it comes to love, you are going through changes that are aligning you closer to your goals and dreams here, Virgo. You are focused on making things work that you want to see bloom, and also letting go of putting effort into people that aren’t reciprocating the same energy. With the North Node entering your sister sign Pisces and the South Node moving into your sign from Jan. 11, 2025, until Jul. 26, 2026, you are doing a lot of letting go over the next year.
However, with the North Node being in your 7th house of love, new doors and gifts are also opening up for you and your partnerships. The more you can let go of perfection and overworking your mind and your heart, the more blessings you will experience when it comes to love this year. In 2025, you also have two Eclipses in your sign, and there are overall a lot of changes Virgos are moving through this year. Your main guidance for love is to stand by the things that serve your heart and release yourself from what burdens it.
LIBRA
Love is coming to fruition for you this year, Libra. You have been through a lot in your personal life these past few years, and walking into 2025, you are ready for some positive change. This is a year of feeling in balance with your personal goals and dreams, and what you are experiencing romantically and financially as well. Relationship dynamics are serving you and your sense of abundance, and many gifts are coming your way in love this year.
With Neptune, Chiron, and Saturn all being in your 7th house of love, your love life and partnerships are the main focus for you in 2025.
You are moving through changes, overcoming previous obstacles, and bringing back the dreamy energy here. With Chiron in the 7th, you are still doing some healing of the heart, but with Neptune now entering, it all feels a little more romantic and spiritual at the same time. This year is about believing in the impossible in love, taking care of yourself, and allowing someone else to take care of you as well.
SCORPIO
This year is all about opportunity when it comes to love, Scorpio. You have your eyes on the prize and are focused on what you want for yourself, but also how you want to show up for love as well. You have goals and intentions that you are setting for your love life this year, and a lot of them reflect the passion and strength you are feeling as you enter the year. Vesta is in your sign this year until September, and you have a spark within you that is a magnet for success and love. You are walking forward confidently and are feeling inspired, sexy, and magical this year.
This is a very sensual and powerful year for you, and this energy is being reflected in the relationship experiences you are having. Jupiter also enters your 9th house of adventure halfway through the year, and there is something special about the trips you are taking and the risks you are taking in love. Overall, this is a year of doing things your way and attracting love to you through your inner confidence and charisma.
SAGITTARIUS
This is a beautiful year of feeling balanced and abundant in love, Sagittarius. There is a lot of energy coming in and you are giving a lot of love as well. This sense of synergy you are feeling within your love life this year has a lot to do with Juno, the asteroid of soulmates, in your sign from Feb. 19 - Apr. 15. Your people are coming in and you have options this year, Sag.
This is a year of feeling loved for the inspiring, outgoing, and unique being you are, and meeting more people who match your energy.
Saturn also enters your 5th house of romance this year, and you are learning a lot through your experiences with others. You are learning how to be more confident in who you are and what you want for yourself and also recognizing the importance of making more time for fun and playful experiences. This is the year to see love as a more light-hearted experience and to not take yourself too seriously.
CAPRICORN
You are letting things come to you when it comes to love this year, Capricorn. You are feeling beautiful, capable, and worthy, and you are receiving the gifts that come from this sense of confidence and patience. This past year, you were setting a lot of new goals for yourself and your relationships, and in 2025, you are experiencing the results of these efforts.
Jupiter moves into your sister sign Cancer from June 9, 2025, until June 30, 2026, and enters your 7th house of love, partnerships, romance, marriage, and harmony. Your love life and experience of it all are expanding this year, and benevolent Jupiter is sending blessings to this area of your life. This is a year of things coming full circle for you in love, and you feel less confused about it all and more sure of yourself and what is becoming for you here.
AQUARIUS
Love is a highlight for you this year, Aquarius. You are coming together with another, and many Aquarius’ will be forming new relationships or growing within a strong relationship. You are experiencing the fruition of your dreams in love, and are also able to heal and let go of past emotional experiences that have been overwhelming for you in the past.
The North Node enters your 12th house of closure this year, and you are motivated towards change, cleaning house, and releasing the cobwebs of the past.
You are walking into new emotional experiences with less baggage and self-doubt, and are experiencing a fresh start in love. This is a year of asking for what you need emotionally and receiving it. Love is coming in for you in harmonious and magical ways, and you are rewriting your story in love in 2025.
PISCES
You are moving through a lot of changes when it comes to love in 2025, Pisces. This is a year of closure, healing, and giving yourself a fresh start, and the way you enter the year will be a lot different than the way you end it. The North Node of Destiny enters your sign this year, and the South Node of Karma enters your 7th house of love. So, a lot of your focus this year is on your personal goals and path, and there may be some neglect or lack of focus on your relationships.
This can create some discord with those close to you, and your guidance for this year is to try to balance the personal successes and wins you are experiencing, with the love changes that also need your attention right now. Know that what leaves your life this year is being replaced by something better, and also know that your healing doesn’t need to have a timeline and you can take as much time as you need to grow. Overall, you are turning a new page in love in 2025.
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Rewriting A Legacy: Jaleel White’s Complicated Relationship with 'Family Matters'
What Jaleel White did for the culture on Family Matters is unmatched.
Jaleel’s memoir Growing Up Urkel has reignited conversations about his legacy and the impact of Family Matters on Black television. As the actor who brought the iconic character Steve Urkel to life, the Cali native became a household name, yet his journey with the series has been anything but straightforward.
Through his memoir, White attempts to grapple with the highs and lows of his Family Matters experience—and in doing so, opens the door to a broader discussion about accountability, ego, and the legacy of Black storytelling.
Reflecting on His Comments
In an interview at the Wilmington Library for the launch of his new book, Jaleel said, “Being a part of the ‘TGIF’ [ABC programming block] brand sometimes makes you feel like you don’t belong in the pantheon of Blackness.” He went on to say, “Blackness has been treated as a very monolithic experience in entertainment. 'If it’s not a hood story, it’s not a Black story.' And you know, sometimes I feel left out of that.”
Jaleel continued, “If there’s ever a poll, and they say what are your favorite Black shows? Martin is in there, Living Single… I already know we’re coming in last. But if there’s ever a poll and it’s just your favorite family shows, suddenly we rank really high. So it’s kind of interesting in how we look at ourselves even as Black folks.”
Jaleel White on feeling left out in the legacy of Black entertainment, saying, “If it’s not a hood story, it’s not a Black story,” and speaks on Family Matters always ranking last on polls for favorite Black shows, underneath Martin and Living Single.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) December 9, 2024
(🎥Wilmington… pic.twitter.com/Bz72OtmjRw
This assertion dismisses the show’s groundbreaking representation of a middle-class Black family and its importance in cementing diverse Black experiences on television.
White’s recent reflections on Family Matters reveal a sense of tension about the role that defined his career. In one particularly striking statement, he expressed frustration that the show’s legacy often overshadows his personal contributions to its success. However, his commentary also delves into a narrative suggesting that he was unfairly labeled as "difficult" due to his popularity, a claim that has raised eyebrows among fans and former colleagues alike.
A Counterpoint: The Importance of Diverse Black Stories
Family Matters may not align with the "gritty" narratives White referenced, but its significance cannot be understated. As part of the TGIF lineup, the show offered a joyful, heartfelt portrayal of Black family life that resonated with audiences across racial and socioeconomic lines. Its success paved the way for more nuanced representations of Black life on television, proving that Black stories are not monolithic.
White’s comments seem to reflect a narrow perspective that undervalues the cultural impact of Family Matters. By focusing on what the show wasn’t, he risks overshadowing what it was: a celebration of Black joy, love, and resilience. This delusion echoes a broader challenge in revisiting one’s past with clarity and accountability.
Parallels with Will Smith and the 'Fresh Prince' Controversy
White’s narrative invites comparisons to another iconic Black sitcom: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will Smith, the show’s star, faced similar accusations of ego-driven behavior, particularly in his tumultuous relationship with Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv. Hubert’s departure from the series became a long-standing source of tension, with Smith’s rising stardom often cited as a factor in their feud.
However, Smith’s recent reflections demonstrate a willingness to take accountability for his actions. In interviews, he has openly acknowledged his mistakes, calling his treatment of Hubert a "young and foolish" error. This maturity and growth stand in stark contrast to White’s current stance, which appears to deflect responsibility and place blame elsewhere.
They reconciled in 2020 and even this year, Will pulled up at an event to support Janet, proving that the work can be done.
Arrested Development vs. Accountability
The difference between Smith’s and White’s approaches underscores the importance of accountability in rewriting one’s legacy. Growth requires the ability to confront uncomfortable truths, to acknowledge harm done, and to make amends where possible. Without this, attempts to reshape the narrative risk falling into the trap of arrested development—a refusal to move beyond past grievances or to recognize one’s own role in perpetuating conflict.
In late December, he showed some remorse for his initial comments saying, “I want to say, I misspoke, but I could’ve worded things better if I had known I was speaking on a world stage and not just a small room in Delaware.”
Jaleel said, “I shouldn’t have invoked the word ‘hood.’ When you say the word ‘hood,’ it makes certain people feel like you’re demeaning them. And that’s not what I meant at all. I conflated a couple of ideas. There’s a lot of good in the hood, and I shouldn’t have generalized. Those are the two mistakes I made in that.”
Moving Forward
Jaleel White’s memoir offers an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of fame, ego, and legacy. While his frustrations with Family Matters are valid to an extent, they should not overshadow the show’s cultural significance or the positive impact it had on countless viewers. As he continues to navigate this chapter of his life, White has the chance to embrace accountability and celebrate the diverse tapestry of Black stories that Family Matters represents.
In the end, legacy is not just about the stories we tell—it’s about how we choose to tell them. For Jaleel White, the next steps will determine whether his narrative is one of growth or of missed opportunities to honor a history that shaped him.
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