Success Stories

Teaching Kitchens Enhance Nutrition Awareness Across Eastern Newfoundland

Submitted by Toshia McDonald, NLHS Dietetic Intern and Christina Ozon, RD, District Manager Patient Food Services – Eastern Zone, Compass One Health Care, NL Health Services

In partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS), Compass Group Canada is bringing Teaching Kitchens to communities across the Eastern Zone of Newfoundland and Labrador - creating welcoming spaces where people can learn, taste, and build confidence in their food skills in both urban and rural settings.

To support this work, Compass Group Canada collaborated closely with NLHS Community Health Dietitians to develop the Teaching Kitchen Recipe Book, a collection of simple, budget-friendly, and nutritious recipes. Filmed cooking-class demonstrations are also underway, with videos now available on the NLHS Health Information website, making food skills education more accessible throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Alongside the filmed Teaching Kitchens, Compass Group Canada has also been offering live sessions to further support this initiative. During Canadian Malnutrition Awareness Week, dietetic intern Toshia McDonald and Executive Chef Jason Harding brought the Teaching Kitchen to life at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s. Together, they prepared Apple Spice Breakfast Rice Pudding and a High-Protein Strawberry Mousse while sharing practical tips to prevent malnutrition - both in hospital and at home. Teaching kitchen attendees also received Canadian Malnutrition Task Force resources and handouts, reinforcing key messages from Canadian Malnutrition Awareness Week.

Most recently, the Private Josiah Squibb Memorial Pavilion in Carbonear hosted its first Teaching Kitchen, led by Registered Dietitian Pamela Thoms and Executive Chef Dwayne Davis. Attendees enjoyed tasting Beef Stew and No-Bake Granola Bars while learning about grocery budgeting, fibre intake, knife skills, and food safety.

Starting the year with a Teaching Kitchen at the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre  for Alzheimer’s Prevention Month, followed by sessions planned for Heart Healthy Month in February and Nutrition Month in March, Compass Group Canada and NLHS dietitians continue to work together across the Eastern Zone to support patient care, enhance nutrition awareness, and help build lifelong food skills.

                              
                                                Toshia McDonald, Dietetic Intern & Jason Harding, Executive Chef, Compass One Health Care                                Pamela Thoms RD & Dwayne Davis, Executive Chef, Compass One Health Care