PHD, Nutritional Sciences and Metabolism (University of Guelph)
MSc, Exercise Physiology and Metabolism (University of Guelph)
BSc, Nutritional Sciences (University of Guelph)
Research and Scholarly Interests
“Eat whole foods. Not too much. Mostly plants. And with great variety!” This quote
adapted from Michael Pollan (In Defense of Food) summarizes my research focus. My
goal is to understand and support healthy eating in children and adolescents. Through
my research and the support of my Nutrition Ignition! team, we strive to encourage
children to eat well and improve their food literacy, in hopes that it will influence
their choices over a lifetime.
Awards and Recognition
2015 The Steward in Catholic Education Award, London-District Catholic School Board
2017-2018 Campus Collaboration Award, Brescia University College, for Nutrition Ignition!
2017-2018 Award for Excellence in Teaching, Brescia University College
Teaching
Foods and Nutrition 3373A/B – Nutrition and Physical Activity
Foods and Nutrition 4471B – Nutrition and Metabolic Processes
Foods and Nutrition 9888A - Seminar in Foods and Nutritional Sciences
MPH 9006A – Building Healthy Communities (Nutrition Module)
Professional Memberships
Dietitians of Canada
College of Dietitians of Ontario
Ontario Home Economics Association
Canadian Nutrition Society
Representative Publications and Presentations
MR Ismail, JA Gilliland, JI Matthews, and DS Battram.Food providers’ experiences with a central procurement school snack program. Canadian
Food Studies 9(3): xx-xx, 2022.
MR Ismail, JA Gilliland, JI Matthews, and DS Battram. Process evaluation of the Centrally Procured School Food Program (CPSFP) in Ontario,
Canada: school-level perspectives. Health Education Research 36(5): 554–567, 2021.
Karmali, S, Ng, V, Battram, D, Burke, S, Morrow, D, Pearson, E, Tucker, P, Mantler, T, Cramp, A, Petrella, R, Irwin,
JD. Coaching and/or education intervention for parents with overweight/obesity and
their children: Study protocol of a single-centre randomized controlled trial. BMC
Public Health, 19(345), 1-12, 2019.
Turton, L. Piché and D.S. Battram. Adolescent attitudes and beliefs regarding caffeine and the consumption of caffeinated
beverages. JNEB 48(3):181-189, 2016.
D.S. Battram, L. Piché, C. Beynon, J. Kurtz and M. He. Sugar-sweetened beverages: Children’s perceptions,
factors of influence and suggestions for reducing intake. JNEB 48(1): 27-34, 2016.
Pearson, E. S., Irwin, J. D., Morrow, D., Battram D, & Melling CWJ. The CHANGE Program: Comparing an interactive versus prescriptive
approach to self-management among university students with obesity. Canadian Journal
of Diabetes 37(1):4-11, 2013.
Teaching Philosophy
As a professor, I believe my role is to facilitate students in the learning career.
My role as an educator is to present information in a stimulating way that encourages
independent thought and critical thinking. My goal is to create a supportive learning
environment where students can question and discuss even the most delicate of topics
in an open and non-judgmental manner. Overall, my hope is that students who leave
my classroom are as enthusiastic and passionate about nutrition, food and health as
I am.
Current Grants
Better Lunch Boxes: Testing the feasability, acceptability, and preliminary impact
of a family-based intervention to support nutritious home-packed lunches. CFDR (co-applicant)
REDS Awareness in Adolescent Athletes. Brescia Internal Research Grant (Principal
Investigator)