- Nourish Champions
Meet Yen
This summer, we were so lucky to have an amazing summer student join our program team! Yen Tran joined us for their community dietetic internship placement from Mount Saint Vincent University. We are so thankful for all of her wonderful contributions to our programs this summer. Learn more about Yen and her time with us below.
What drew you to get involved with Nourish Nova Scotia?
I had the opportunity to work with Nourish Nova Scotia this summer as part of my community dietetic internship. As someone who has always been passionate about cooking and teaching, Nourish Nova Scotia felt like the perfect place to share my interest while growing as a future dietitian. What I admire most about Nourish is its commitment to educating youth about the importance of food- not just how to eat well, but its origins, cultural stories behind the meals we cook, and the simple joy of sharing food with others. Throughout my time here, I learned so much from the team. Everyone is so knowledgeable in their respective fields, and I felt truly supported and inspired every step of the way.
What is a food story you cherish?
One food story that still makes me smile-even if it didn’t feel that way at the time- is the first time I tried to bake a Victoria sponge cake. I accidentally left it in the oven for over 10 minutes, and the cake was very chewy to say the least. I was so disappointed and ready to throw it away, convinced that I had failed. But just as I was about to toss it, my dad stopped me. He encouraged me not to give up and reminded me that learning to cook takes time and patience. To cheer me up, he ate the whole overbaked cake himself. That small act of kindness and the confidence he instilled in me has stayed ever since.
How do you see young people helping to influence food systems today?
Young people are more engaged than ever when it comes to food. I see a growing curiosity among youth about where their food comes from, how it’s grown and who is involved in producing it. That initial interest is so important as it lays the groundwork for future advocacy and meaningful change in our food systems. What’s needed now is to create more opportunities for youth to explore these ideas hands-on, whether through school gardening program, community initiatives and food programs. By giving them the space to connect with food in tangible ways, we can support then in becoming more informed and active participants in shaping a more sustainable food systems in the future.
What was your biggest take-away from your time at Nourish Nova Scotia?
My biggest takeaway from my time at Nourish Nova Scotia is that changes happen slowly but with a team of passionate individuals who all bring unique strength to the table, we can made something really special. It reminded me that as a future dietitian, collaboration is key.