- Nourish Champions
Meet Summer Intern Dylan!
What drew you to get involved with Nourish Nova Scotia?
What first drew me to Nourish Nova Scotia was its mission. I’ve always loved working with youth, and as an aspiring dietitian, I’ve also developed a strong interest in food and nutrition. When I learned more about Nourish Nova Scotia, I saw an opportunity to bring these two interests together in a way that could make a real difference for youth. Getting to be part of such an incredible team and contributing to a mission I care about made the opportunity especially exciting for me.
What is a food story you cherish?
One story I always think about is making spaghetti with my dad. He had just received a new tool to make his own noodles, and we spent hours in the kitchen making all the ingredients from scratch. There was definitely some trial and error along the way, but after a few weeks, we finally perfected our recipe. Now whenever I visit home, we always make our spaghetti and meatballs for the family.
How do you see young people helping to influence food systems today?
Through running programs at Nourish Nova Scotia, I’ve learned so much about what food means to young people. Food is such a big part of all our lives, and as youth grow and learn more about themselves and the world around them, the decisions they make about food grow with them.
Their influence goes beyond the food choices they make themselves. It’s also in the conversations they have with the people around them, the traditions they choose to carry forward, and the memories they create around food. These everyday experiences can shape the food systems they want to see in the future.
If we continue to support youths’ education in building their food literacy, understanding nutrition, and exploring sustainability, we can give them the tools and confidence to turn their ideas into action. Our future food systems depend on the voices and ideas of today’s youth, and I’m excited to see where they take us.
What was your biggest take-away from your time at Nourish Nova Scotia?
As I look back on my time at Nourish, I’ll always remember the impact I had supporting youth as they explored their relationships with food. It always made my day when someone tried a new flavour or discovered a new food they loved. Those small moments reminded me just how meaningful food experiences can be.
I’ll also remember how much I grew throughout my time at Nourish. Working alongside such a supportive and kind staff team helped me build confidence in myself and my abilities. I learned that creating positive experiences around food isn’t just about teaching nutrition, it’s about creating a space where youth feel comfortable exploring, asking questions, and making food memories of their own.