School Food Program Implementation and Policy Research

Dr. Mavra Ahmed is a public health nutrition and food policy scientist with recognized expertise in systems-based approaches to improving child nutrition and food environments. She is a Research Associate at the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. She also holds adjunct faculty and lecturer positions at the Ontario Tech University, Toronto Metropolitan and York University. Her areas of expertise include food and nutrition policy (e.g. school food programs, food labelling and nutritional quality of the food supply, marketing, nutrient profiling, and consumer nutrition literacy), dietary assessment, digital health interventions, and the application of machine learning/artificial intelligence in nutrition research.

Research

She currently leads several projects investigating the role of food environments in shaping children's and adolescents' dietary choices and health outcomes. This includes Feeding Kids, Nourishing Minds (FKNM), a national initiative examining school food programs across Canada, and Nutrition Equity, a project aimed at characterization of food environments. 

Annette is a research assistant at the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition and the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She holds an MSc in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, with a specialization in public health policy. With prior experience at Employment and Social Development Canada, Annette brings a policy-informed perspective to her work and is passionate about using evidence to drive lasting, equitable change.

Research

Drawing on survey and menu data from school food providers across Canada, Annette's research provides a snapshot of school food programs (SFPs) prior to the introduction of the National School Food Policy. Her work highlights the fragmented nature of existing programs, offers an important baseline for measuring progress under the new policy, and underscores the need for coordinated funding, clear guidelines, and robust evaluation mechanisms, to support SFP implementation. In parallel, Annette has contributed to research exploring the impact of SFPs from the student perspective, centering student voices and perspectives in the development and evaluation of school food initiatives.

Asma Musa is a Registered Dietitian and PhD student in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, affiliated with the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition. Her doctoral research explores the intersection of school food programs, Black food sovereignty, and culturally affirming nutrition policies. With a background in public health and frontline dietetic practice, Asma brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She is particularly committed to advancing equitable and community-led school food initiatives that centre the health, well-being, and academic success of Black children in Toronto.

Benjamin Organ is a registered dietitian and public health professional with over a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, health policy, and academic research. He holds a Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Toronto, with specialized training in clinical nutrition, public health systems, and food policy. Benjamin has worked across diverse settings—including hospitals, public health units, research centres, and private consulting—where he has led and contributed to initiatives focused on nutrition equity, systems change, and evidence-informed policy. His work bridges the gap between research and practice, with a strong record of translating complex findings into actionable strategies for government, academic, and community audiences.

Research

In his capacity as research assistant at the Lawson Centre, Benjamin is currently developing the most comprehensive mapping of the political and policy environments surrounding school food in Canada. This work, employing a mixed-methods approach, leverages publicly available records, interviews with policymakers, and direct engagement with Canadian voters. This suite of studies represents voices from across orders of government and political affiliations, with data drawn from every province and territory.  His work provides practical insights for designing and communicating national policy that can be sustained across changing governments and political contexts.

Selina Quibrantar is a researcher and master's graduate from the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. With a background in qualitative research methods and a strong commitment to community engagement, Selina aims to ensure that the voices of individuals are represented in research concerning nutrition and public health. Selina has conducted various community-based research projects and has been recognized for her work on food insecurity by Work-Integrated Learning Canada. With a passion for creating positive change and promoting healthier communities, Selina aims to make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals and communities across Canada.

Research

Selina's research explores perceptions and needs of parents and caregivers regarding school food programs (SFP) attributes. Through mixed-methods study with parents and caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area, she developed a framework that highlights attributes of holistic and multicomponent SFP. This framework can be tested and modified with additional information from other locations and can validate other frameworks to inform policymakers on the most important objectives, attributes and cultural considerations for a national SFP.

Nina Trask is a Research Officer at the University of Toronto’s Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition. She is a Registered Dietitian who holds a Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics with a specialization in Public Health Policy from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Through work with the Coalition for Healthy School Food, the University of Saskatchewan, George Brown College, and the University of Toronto, she has contributed to advancing research on school food programs locally and globally. Her current work with the Feeding Kids, Nourishing Minds team at the Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition examines policy-to-practice realities, ground-level delivery, and the lived experiences of coordinators, students, and families. As Canada builds on its first National School Food Program, Nina is committed to strengthening evidence to improve program quality, promote equitable access to nutritious food, and enhance healthy food environments for youth.

Research

Through a stakeholder-informed approach with school food coordinators across six Ontario school boards, Nina’s research examines the structural barriers and enabling factors that shape program delivery. Her work provides decision makers with critical insights into the operational feasibility and sustainability of school food programs, underscoring the importance of staffing infrastructure, cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity. She has also contributed to a large scale study capturing the perspectives of hundreds of students, coordinators, and parents, exploring how program design and implementation influence effectiveness, student well-being, and educational outcomes. By centering lived experiences at the ground level, Nina’s research identifies system gaps and opportunities to strengthen program delivery and reflect local realities.

Nicole Weber is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto focusing in areas of public health policy, food literacy and community development. She has supported the development of a national school food program (NSFP) for over five years by researching School Food Program characteristics and operations both locally and globally through roles with the Coalition for Healthy School Food, George Brown College, and the University of Toronto. As a researcher with the Feeding Kids, Nourishing Minds study at the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition at the University of Toronto, Nicole co-leads with colleague Nina Trask a stakeholder analysis that gathers insights from Canadian SFP coordinators that will guide decision-makers on the implementation of the NSFP at the school-level. She is also coordinating a study with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) exploring the impact of SFPs on student intake, achievement and well-being, along with gathering student perspectives on the NSFP.

Research

Nicole's research centers the voices and experiences of school food coordinators to build an evidence base that supports equitable, inclusive and effective school food policy. Her work identifies best practices for enhancing the uptake and reach of school food programs, including considerations for equity, cultural diversity and inclusion, while exploring critical insights into program practicalities such as funding and physical infrastructure. Notably, Nicole's work represents one of the largest school food program perspectives in Ontario, covering six school boards, providing rich data on the local realities of program implementation. In parallel, Nicole has contributed to research examining the outcomes and benefits of school food programs in addressing systemic barriers to participation and supporting diverse student populations in achieving healthy eating and academic success. This work offers valuable insights for the design of SFPs that are responsible to community needs, and positioned for long-term sustainability.