Nourish
As climate accountability becomes integral to health system governance, food services are a key area for meaningful impact. This session will explore how health care systems can prepare for emerging sustainability mandates and accreditation standards that will require planetary health-aligned menus, and also be a powerful leader of systems change through menus, procurement and food environments. Presenters will outline a practical roadmap for developing and implementing a Planetary Health Menu Framework grounded in nutrition science, operational realities, and culinary innovation. Drawing from recent pilot projects and on-the-ground experiences, and the latest research on the planetary health diet, this session will highlight the imperative for climate action and strategies to optimize plant-forward menus in both inpatient and retail settings while improving nutritional quality, patient satisfaction, and cultural mindfulness. Participants will gain actionable insights into interdisciplinary collaboration between dietitians, physicians, chefs, and foodservice providers, positioning dietitians as leaders in advancing sustainable and health-promoting menus for patients and retail food environments.
Jennifer is an Executive Director of Nourish, where she brings more than two decades of experience in sustainable agriculture, local food promotion, community food security, and food policy. A collaborative leader with strengths in strategy development, policy analysis, and strategic communications, Jennifer believes that aligning mission, mandate, and margin can unlock transformative systems change—and that delicious food is a powerful catalyst for innovation in healthy eating and sustainability. Throughout her career, she has worked with farmers, community organizations, institutions, and policymakers through roles at Food Secure Canada, Select Nova Scotia’s Buy Local campaign, and FoodShare Toronto. Across these efforts, she has championed equitable access to good food and strengthened regional food networks that support both people and the planet. At Nourish, Jennifer guides national initiatives that help health care institutions embrace food as medicine and leverage their influence as anchor organizations to advance health equity, climate action, and community well-being. Known for her systems thinking and partnership-driven approach, she works closely with hospitals, Indigenous partners, policymakers, food producers and innovators to catalyze meaningful, lasting change in Canada’s health care food landscape.