Research Summary
What we eat shapes our long-term health—and the health of the planet. Dr. Vasanti Malik, Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention, is studying how to design diets that prevent chronic disease, protect the environment, and reduce health inequities.
She and her research team are building a unique database to pinpoint diets that are both nutritious and environmentally sustainable. They are also focusing on childhood nutrition, evaluating school food programs to support healthy eating habits early in life. In Ontario’s Peel region, where rates of type 2 diabetes are high, she is leading community-based nutrition programs to reduce barriers to healthy eating in diverse populations. By connecting research with real-world policy and practice, this work is generating the evidence needed to guide public health strategies that improve lives, advance health equity, and promote sustainable food systems.