Meet Meals on Wheels Dietetic Intern, Sumi Iqbal

Sumi, who has lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, since she was eleven years old, is a fifth-year student in the Bachelor of Science in Applied Human Nutrition in Dietetics with Internship program at Mount Saint Vincent University.

As a child, Sumi always loved eating and trying different foods. She was very curious about how food is absorbed into the body to provide essential nutrients and the important role it plays in the development of certain health issues and chronic illness management, which is what influenced her study in nutrition.

“I was very fond of this initiative [Meals on Wheels],” says Sumi. “It operates at a large scale and provides community members with nutritious meals on a budget while helping those who cannot make meals on their own.”

By the end of her internship, Sumi wants to be more involved in the community. Through hosting more workshops and cooking classes, facilitating presentations, and attending community conversations around the topic of nutrition, Sumi hopes to educate and make a difference in the community.

Sumi says with New Dawn Meals on Wheels she has been exposed to a diverse environment in a short period of time. Through her internship, she was able to strengthen many different skill sets including networking.

“I am very happy that I picked New Dawn Meals on Wheels as my first internship placement. Being able to see the difference you make in the community, and how fast-paced everything here is, makes it very interesting and rewarding! It feels great coming into work every day and knowing no two days are the same.”