- Nourish Champions
Meet Diana
Registered Dietitian Diana Dibblee has been a long time champion for Nourish Nova Scotia, most recently using our What’s for Lunch? cookbook in a pilot cooking class to get students hands-on with food in schools. Diana’s work spans from supporting students’ health and nutrition such as starting the BlueNose Youth Run, to passionately supporting women’s midlife and menopause health. Outside of work she loves anything outdoors such as swimming, walking and hiking trails around the world (40 countries!), and spending time with her family and Springer Spaniel. We asked Diana to share more on her thoughts on food, read below.
What drew you to get involved with Nourish Nova Scotia?
As a registered dietitian & school health educator I’ve seen how access to nutritious food can change lives. I believe everyone—especially children—deserve not only enough food, but food that nourishes them and helps them thrive.
That’s what drew me to Nourish Nova Scotia. Their commitment to improving food access while creating positive, hands-on food experiences aligns perfectly with my own values. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to support Nourish in different ways, most recently by organizing school cooking classes where students prepared the Morning Glory muffins recipe together. Seeing children discover new ways to enjoy fruits and vegetables, work as a team, and realize that healthy cooking can be fun reminds me why this work matters so much.
What is a food story you cherish?
Some of my favourite memories involve growing and sharing food. Every summer, my cottage garden is filled with vegetables and fruits, and I love harvesting fresh ingredients to cook with my family. My daughter grew up helping in the garden and kitchen, and those simple moments together have become some of my most treasured memories. Supporting school gardens, breakfast programs and other food related events, made me realize the true impact of food in our daily lives.
I also love cooking with children and youth. Watching them proudly taste something they’ve made themselves—or discover they actually enjoy a new food—is incredibly rewarding. Those experiences remind me that food isn’t just fuel; it’s connection, curiosity, confidence, and joy.
If you could wave a magic wand and have your dream come true, what would your wish be for the food landscape in Nova Scotia?
My wish would be for every person in Nova Scotia to have access to affordable, nourishing food and the opportunity to develop food literacy skills that last a lifetime.
I’d love to see every child graduate from school knowing how to grow a few vegetables, prepare simple, healthy meals, and understand how food supports their health. Food security and food literacy go hand in hand. When we make nutritious food accessible and give people the confidence to use it, we create healthier families, stronger communities, and a healthier future for everyone.
Is there anything you love to grow or cook?
Absolutely! Gardening is one of my favourite ways to connect with food. Every summer I grow tomatoes, beans, greens and whatever else I can fit into my garden. There is nothing more satisfying than walking outside, picking fresh ingredients, and creating a simple meal to share with family and friends.
In the kitchen, I enjoy making colourful, nourishing meals—from homemade soups and salads to our family favourites like Tuesday taco night. I especially love cooking alongside children and youth because those shared experiences help create positive memories around food that last a lifetime.
