My first day at Shepherd Village as a Nutrition and Food Service Management student placement was far from ordinary. I arrived just in time to help with a Cooking Show and Catering Event for residents and their families. What a hands-on and heartwarming way to begin!

I supported the dietary team in preparing and serving meals for the event. I assisted with meal plating, managed food presentation, helped transport items to the dining area, and ensured residents’ dietary needs (such as modified textures and allergies) were considered.

Beyond the excitement of events, I also participated in meal audits to monitor food quality and resident satisfaction, and observed quarterly assessments for evaluating residents’ nutrition risk. These experiences gave me insight into how care is constantly reviewed and improved.

One highlight has been participating in CareSynch meetings. I truly enjoy these sessions because I get to meet new residents and learn their food preferences, dislikes, cultural or religious dietary needs, and how they like to eat. These conversations helped me feel personally connected to residents’ care journeys.

• PointClickCare (PCC) for clinical documentation

• Continyou Care for nutrition screening and audits

• StaffCare for reviewing staff schedules and payroll systems

Being a student at Centennial College gave me the opportunity to reach this goal. I feel well-equipped and confident to continue making a positive impact in the field of healthcare food service.

I also supported team coordination by delegating tasks to staff, practicing communication and leadership skills in a real work environment. This gave me a taste of the daily responsibilities of a food service supervisor and helped build my confidence.