What is required for the Management and Food Systems Emphasis?
The Management and Food Systems Emphasis requires:

  • A minimum of 8 weeks spent in placement in a management/food provision setting. Currently, these placements are provided through our partners at Compass Group Canada (CGC) and University Health Network (UHN) Nutrition Services.
  • An additional 0.5 FCE course requirement, addressing areas such as:
      • Business, financial management or marketing, OR
      • Food supply chains or health care funding, OR
      • Human resource management; and
  • A relevant assignment for CHL 5656Y – Nutrition and Dietetics Culminating Project. The nature of the project assignment will need to be aligned with the objectives of an Emphasis, and is provided by the host agency where you completed your food provision practicum work.

How many students will be accepted into the Management and Food Systems Emphasis?
This may vary from year to year. Compass Group Canada has usually accommodated 2 students in the food systems and management emphasis in recent years.

What types of work would be completed as part of the Management and Food Systems Emphasis?
CGC is the country’s leading food service and support services provider. The company specializes in providing services across various sectors including hospitals, senior’s residences, universities, schools, sports and leisure venues, remote camps etc. Majority of placements will be in CGC’s healthcare sector referred to as Compass One Healthcare.
This emphasis offers learners the opportunity to explore the role of Dietitians in leadership and management in the healthcare sector. In addition, learners will have the opportunity to work on innovation, projects and research that will enhance the patient dining experience across Canada.

Students opting for the Management and Food Systems Emphasis should be comfortable with regular change, managing multiple tasks, and the need for students to participate in all functions of an operation with our leadership team, if the conditions require it.

Examples of Areas for Compass Group Canada Learner Experience

Recipe and Menu Development for specialty diets and new client sites Make menu recommendations for a hospital patient dining proposal. Review community food trends, socioeconomic data, patient demographics and ethnic background of the hospital community.
Create and deliver staff training presentations on key nutrition topics Implement patient during dining program at hospital and support mobilization
Update and maintain patient dining menu nutritional standards Operating statements and financial presentations for Cuisine Centre operation
Recipe development for therapeutic and modified texture diets  Prepare a business case and implement nutrient dense desserts
Develop and facilitate virtual Teaching Kitchen classes to community members and patients Develop patient facing menus for key patient population
Determine impact of implementing patient dining model on food cost, labour and patient satisfaction Plan and implement new sandwich and salad to hospital menu rotation including staff training, costing, production, purchasing, etc.
Develop survey and summarize key learnings from 1st of COVID-19. Create a playbook for operations based on lessons learned and key policies and procedures Develop job routines for nutrition associate in the hospital food service department
Translate hospital menus for patients and develop pictorial menus to increase menu accessibility Review hospital menu rotation and nutritional analysis for various key diets. Make recommendations to help ensure menus meet Compass nutrition standards

How do I apply for a Management and Food Systems emphasis?
Once candidates are accepted into the MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program for September admission, incoming students may apply for the Management and Food Systems Emphasis. An application will consist of:

  • An updated CV, and
  • Response form answering the following four questions (max 250 words each):
      • What interests you most about management and food systems?
      • Why are you interested in a placement with this partner organization?
      • How have you prepared for this area of practice, understanding your target audience and being able to adapt to a fast-paced, self-directed environment?
      • Understanding the current trends in food service and patient dining, where do you see patient dining elevated to in the next 2-5 years?
  • Top candidates will be contacted for virtual screening interviews.

All interested incoming students may express interest in an emphasis in May/June before they begin the program. The process and timeline is described more fully to the incoming class in early May. Students are notified in July about the match with their selected emphasis.