Tapestry’s kitchens are often referred to as Heart of House because that is where our culinary employees work together to create inspired meals that not only nourish bodies, but also warm the hearts and souls of our residents and guests.
Tapestry’s culinary experience is a true differentiating feature of our communities. We pride ourselves on serving meals using authentically-local ingredients sourced from responsible providers that share our focus on quality, sustainability and value. We are also committed to creating menu items that balance taste with nutrition to support our focus on wellness.

One of the ways we achieve this fine balance is by working with Jessica Wang, a Registered Dietitian based in Vancouver. Jessica has been working with Tapestry’s kitchens since 2018 and consults with our Executive Chefs to ensure every meal served in Tapestry’s dining venues are delicious and nutritious.

Before any new culinary creation is served, Jessica reviews the ingredients included in each menu item and considers nutritional content. She works in partnership with Executive Chefs to explore potential healthy substitutes, always focused on creating meals that are colourful and delicious and shaped by Canada’s Food Guide.

A lifetime food enthusiast, Jessica attended the Dietetics program at the University of British Columbia where she applied her love of biology and food to find a career path that excited her. Jessica, who consults with many companies on nutrition, is also an avid cook and foodie who loves spending time trying new recipes and creating nutritious meals.

“Working with chefs can often be a tug-of-war of sorts,” says Jessica. “However, I love to work with Tapestry Executive Chefs to find ways to strike a balance. We work closely together to determine how substitutions might make a meal healthier without affecting visual appeal or taste. They are always open to my suggestions and we have a great partnership working together to support Tapestry’s focus on wellness.”

For Jessica, the important thing is balance. Often referred to as “80/20 Rule”, Jessica suggests building plates and diets that are 80 per cent healthy, while still allowing yourself opportunities to indulge in what you love. “You can’t deprive yourself of everything, just make sure you have earned it. If you feel guilty eating something, it is probably going to taste worse anyway!”

This practice of balance is not only something she demonstrates in the kitchen, but Jessica also focuses on her wellness through other dimensions. In the new year, Jessica has been focusing on cardio workouts, as well as staying socially connected with friends and family. Another important pillar of wellness for Jessica is the environment. Buying local and in season items can have a major impact on the greater environmental footprint, and it also helps that local and sustainable items are often a lot more delicious.

If Jessica could leave Tapestry residents with three easy tips to adopt to follow better nutrition habits, she would suggest the following:
1. Eat as little processed foods as possible and focus on “real foods.”
2. When looking at processed food products, purchase items with less than five ingredients.
3. Refer to Canada’s Food Guide. Colourful plates are healthy plates.