Episode 102: The Future of Fatty Acid Guidelines: Amy Symington’s Work on DRI Development

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re joined by (soon to be Dr.) Amy Symington.Amy Symington is a Toronto-based nutrition professor, researcher, and plant-focused chef with over 25 years in the food industry and more than 12 years of teaching experience. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition and is currently pursuing a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. Amy leads culinary nutrition programming at Gilda’s Toronto, a not-for profit cancer support organization, and works with Humane World for Animals Canada’s Forward Food team, training executive chefs in hospitals and universities on plant-forward menu planning aligned with Canada’s Food Guide. She also supports the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank as a chef, consultant, and instructor. An award-winning author, Amy wrote The Long Table Cookbook: Plant-based Recipes for Optimal Health and regularly contributes recipes and nutrition writing to national and international publications. A passionate advocate for evidence-based, sustainable eating, she is also the proud mother of two healthy vegan children. As part of her PhD she is currently working on a clinical trial investigating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (also known as DHA). DHA is considered an important omega-3 fatty acid that research has shown to help support brain, eye, and heart health, reduce inflammation, and be important for fetal and infant development.Amy Symington’s Socials:Website: https://ameliaeats.com/home Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amy-Symington-3Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ameliaeats/?hl=enPlant-Based Canada’s Socials:Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)X / Twitter @PBC_orgBonus PromotionCheck out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2025 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn.Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.Support the show