Nutrition-labelling research earns AHS student $150,000 scholarship

Saturday, July 7, 2012

WATERLOO — As a student of nutritional health, Lana Vanderlee falls off the wagon sometimes and eats junk food like the rest of us.

But the PhD student at the University of Waterloo says she would never eat a plate of loaded nachos in a pub.

“That’s your whole calorie intake for the entire day,” said Vanderlee, whose research in nutritional labelling on menus has made her more aware of what she eats and how active she is.

“I’m still a pretty normal person. I make bad decisions sometimes and good decisions sometimes,” said the 25-year-old Kitchener woman, a former Varsity volleyball player at Waterloo.

“I’m more cynical about what I eat. French fries will never be the same,” she said.

Vanderlee is one of 10 Waterloo students awarded the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Each student will receive $50,000 per year for three years.

“It was such an honour to be chosen,” said Vanderlee of the $150,000 scholarship. She hopes to continue in academia, researching and teaching after finishing her PhD.

See full story in The Record.