Food security research at Conestoga
Two research projects funded by the Conestoga New and Emerging Research Grant explored food security of Conestoga students and further Canadian post-secondary intuitions.
Healthy eating initiatives in post-secondary environments
Led by Jennifer Shamblaw, School of Health & Life Sciences, the Healthy eating initiatives in post-secondary environments project investigated healthy eating initiatives across Canada and evaluated their suitability for implementation at Conestoga.
This research explored food access and nutrition initiatives at Canadian postsecondary institutions, focusing on published data, environmental scans, and interviews with key stakeholders. Findings highlighted the positive impact of peer-led education, culinary programs, community food hubs, and healthy vending on student nutrition and engagement. Common barriers included stigma, limited access, and affordability.
The study also reviewed food service operations and identified opportunities to improve contracts with nutrition and equity standards. Recommendations include expanding peer nutrition programs, community gardens, and emergency food access across campuses.
Resources
Exploring college food security strategies through a food safety and waste reduction lens
Food insecurity affects nearly 40 per cent of Canadian university students, yet efforts to address it often overlook an important factor: food safety. Ken Diplock, School of Business, explored food security initiatives across Ontario post-secondary campuses with two key objectives: to identify existing programs, especially creative or lesser-known hidden gems, and to apply a food safety and waste reduction lens to those initiatives.
Researchers found that most initiatives do not include food safety messaging, which can lead to unnecessary food waste or health risks. To address this, the team created targeted safety materials including infographics, package stickers, and recommendations for integrating safe handling practices into student programming.