Marilyn Magaram Center

for Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics


Sequoia Hall 120 
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330-8308

Phone: (818) 677-3102

Send email

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN, CLE, FAND

Executive Director


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Nutrition Education in the Community

“MyPlate! The New Food Guide Musical” is a school-based childhood obesity intervention that incorporates educational theatre using Broadway directors & actors to help elementary school students learn about nutrition and healthy behaviors. To learn more, visit http://butleroff.com/

Collaboration between the MMC and CSUN Theatre Department to enhance and promote health and well being. Graduate nutrition students developed a research study evaluating the effects of educational theatre on eating disorder knowledge.

Childhood obesity intervention/prevention program enhancing students’ knowledge and skills in gardening and healthy dietary habits. Students help prepare the garden, plant, maintain, and harvest.

A family-based intervention implemented at a community center/school to educate parents on regarding nutrition, cooking, and physical activity.

Participating in “A Taste of Good Health” program will affect healthful behavior in parent participants by assessing their nutrition, physical activity, and cooking behavior at the conclusion of the intervention.

An umbrella program to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of physical activity, nutrition, cooking, and gardening classes in local elementary schools.

Data is collected from adults to assess changes in cooking, physical activity, and healthy eating. Data collected seeks to establish wellness councils in schools.

Program by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to deliver nutrition and gardening education to SNAP-ED eligible community members in Canoga Park. Research done is to assess health related changes upon participation in the intervention with family focus groups.

Research to assess changes upon participation in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health nutrition-gardening curriculum. Data is collected in family focus groups. To learn more, visit https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/calfresh-healthy-living

Environmental scan of the university on high-sodium products sold and behaviors related to sodium consumption. The goal is to increase awareness and educate CSU students on the importance of reducing sodium intake and encourage a plant based diet. To learn more, visit /marilyn-magaram-center/csun-sodium-reduction-initiative

Participating in outreach efforts and collect data to assess the students’ awareness of WIC on Campus and usage. To learn more, visit https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/wic-csun

Incorporates genomic information into a behavioral intervention for Latinos, who are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and have twice the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate curriculum for weight management, cancer, and diabetes classes.

The CSUN Nutrition Experts provide evidence-based nutrition information, nutrition-related services, and online resources to help ensure the academic success and overall wellbeing of CSUN students. Here, you will find information on such topics as healthy eating on a budget, healthy eating on and off campus, sports nutrition, meal planning, portion control, nutrition for families, child-friendly meals, quick and easy snacks, and much more. To learn more, visit https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/nutrition-experts

The purpose is to assist qualified faculty and graduate students to develop a research focus that will optimize the use of the MMC research facilities. This program will assist Nutrition, Dietetic and Food Science faculty in the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) by providing a grant-in-aid for the performance of and dissemination of research and/or to obtain pilot data to pursue extramural funding. The following research projects are funded through the MMC Faculty and Student Research Grant: 

  • Latino Food Decisions
  • Nutrigenomics Risk Among Latinos With Pre-Diabetes
  • School-Based Model of Child and Adolescent Health

Garden-enhanced nutrition education curriculum for upper elementary school children in LAUSD.

Marilyn Magaram Center

for Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics


Sequoia Hall 120 
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330-8308

Phone: (818) 677-3102

Send email

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN, CLE, FAND

Executive Director


Send email

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