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Meet Jasmine

Meet Nourish champion, Jasmine! Jasmine has been involved in many projects with us over the last year, but most notably, she has made incredible contributions to our Youth Food Leaders program during its pilot launch. Since then, she has continued her work with us to develop and deliver Food Skills workshops and create associated resources. We are excited to highlight Jasmine’s contributions this month!

What drew you to get involved with Nourish Nova Scotia?

I first got involved with Nourish at the beginning of my Master’s degree, and later, I was lucky enough to do my community dietetic internship with them. I’ve always been passionate about community nutrition, and I love that Nourish focuses on inspiring and equipping children and youth to learn about food and create change in the food system. I think it’s so important to get young people engaged in food systems early on, helping them build food skills, understand where their food comes from, and feel empowered to shape healthier food environments. When my internship ended, I was so happy to keep working with Nourish because it’s an amazing team to be part of. Everyone there truly cares about the work they’re doing, and you can feel the passion behind it.

What is a food story you cherish?

I don’t think I have just one food story, so many of my memories revolve around food. My mom was an incredible cook and a self-proclaimed foodie “before it was cool,” and she passed her love of cooking down to me and my sisters. To me, food isn’t just about nutrition; it’s about connection, community, culture, and comfort. I grew up watching my mom bring people together with food, and now, cooking is how I keep her memory alive. Even though she’s not here anymore, every time I cook, I feel connected to her. Working in dietetics has only reinforced for me how powerful food can be, it plays such a huge role in our lives beyond just eating. 

How do you see young people helping to influence food systems today?

Young people are already making a big impact on food systems. Their curiosity, creativity, and passion for change are pushing important conversations forward. We always talk about wanting to make the world better for future generations, but we don’t always give them a seat at the table. Whether it’s through school food programs, garden projects, or speaking up about sustainability and food justice, youth are leading the way in shifting how we think about food. When we support them with knowledge and opportunities, we’re not just shaping their future, we’re building a stronger, more just food system for everyone.