ASU exercise and nutritional sciences student combines rap with research

Shreya Raval’s decision to pursue her doctorate in exercise and nutritional sciences at Arizona State University College of Health Solutions was the natural next step in her professional journey, combining her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics with her master’s in sports nutrition.

Raval’s motivation to combine disciplines led her to create the "School Meal Rap" through the Phoenix Bioscience Core Student Art Grant. The rap aims to build awareness and excitement around school meals for elementary school students. Alongside teammates from the ASU Food Policy and Environment Research Group, Raval filmed a music video at a school within the Osborn School District.

In the below Q&A, Raval discusses how she is continuing her work researching solutions and crafting health policies to shape population health. 

Question: What led you to combine your coursework with your passion for rap?

Answer: I have always been passionate about supporting children in developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. Working with children is especially meaningful to me because habits formed during childhood often carry into adulthood. With the ASU Food Policy and Environment Research Group, I’ve been involved in projects evaluating school meal policies, and over time this has become a topic very close to my heart.

I started writing rap songs in 2020 as a creative outlet during the pandemic, often using them to tell stories or share health-related messages with friends and community groups. I have written raps on topics such as nutrition, diet and cancer, as well as lighthearted, humorous raps that many people can relate to. Rap has always been a fun, expressive way for me to connect with people, and I enjoy the rhythm, wordplay and storytelling it allows. So, when I got the opportunity to express my research interests through art, writing a rap about school meals felt like the perfect way to combine my professional work with something I truly enjoy. This project gave me a refreshing break from my regular academic routine and a chance to reconnect with that creative passion.

Q: What was your experience writing and performing the "School Meal Rap"?

A: The process was initially overwhelming and I was nervous about completing the project during the semester, and uncertain if I would be able to find a school willing to collaborate. However, my mentor and my friends believed in me, and that motivated me to pursue this idea. Once the audio was ready, I reached out to a school nutrition department via Instagram and explained to them the project. Fortunately, the Osborn School District nutrition department loved the project and were excited to participate.

Later, my teammates from ASU Food Policy and Environment Research Group — Robin DeWeese and Lauren Housley — helped me shoot the video and I’ll always be grateful for their time and help. Then I edited the video, added caption and it was completed right on time. This ended up being one of my most favorite rap projects I have ever done, not only because I got to shoot at schools with children, but because it had a meaningful purpose and allowed me to see the joy it brought to students and staff.

Q: Why did you choose to advocate for school lunches?

A: Extensive research, including from our group, demonstrates that school meals benefit children in multiple ways, from improving diet quality to supporting academic performance and healthy weight outcomes. While much of my research focuses on understanding state and federal policy impacts, I wanted to use this grant opportunity to engage more directly with students.

I know how important school meals are for children in our community — it is also said to be the most nutritious meal children eat outside of their home. Creating this rap allowed me to advocate for school meals in a fun way, while highlighting a topic that’s both personally and professionally meaningful to me.

Q: Who do you think played an important role in the creation of the "School Meal Rap"?

A: First and foremost, I’d like to thank Cynthia A. Standley and the Phoenix Bioscience Core Arts Committee for launching this initiative. I’m also grateful to the exercise and nutritional sciences program for sharing the opportunity with us students. My mentor Punam Ohri-Vachaspati’s encouragement played a key role in motivating me to undertake the project.

A special thank you goes to the Osborn School District, especially to Principal Cory Alexander and his team for graciously allowing us to shoot the video with their students and cafeteria staff during lunchtime.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Phoenix Bioscience Core Art Grant?

A: The PBC Art Grant is a fantastic initiative. It encourages students who are often immersed in academics to reconnect with their creative side. It was a good break and a stress reliever for me. I first heard about the opportunity via an email from the PBC Art Committee, shared in our ENS program newsletter and by my mentor, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, who encouraged me to apply. I applied through a Google Form and later received the notification that I had been awarded the grant. I really appreciated the clear communication throughout the process, especially from Standley, and the generous timeline — we had about three months to complete the project — with check-ins along the way.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

A: My greatest accomplishment has been taking the leap to pursue my PhD at ASU. It was a tough decision to move away from my family and comfort zone to chase my dreams, but I’m proud of that choice. Over the past two years, I’ve grown not just as a researcher working on impactful projects and learning from outstanding coursework and mentorship but also as an individual. This journey has been transformative in more ways than I could ever imagine.

Q: What led you to the College of Health Solutions?

A: While applying for doctoral programs in the U.S., I was looking for a place that would foster my growth as an independent researcher. I wanted a program that offered strong mentorship, access to cutting-edge research, and opportunities to grow personally and professionally. The College of Health Solutions checked all those boxes. I’ve felt supported here by the faculty, staff and student community, and I appreciate how the college celebrates and uplifts faculty and students’ achievements.

Q: What are your long-term career goals?

A: My long-term goal is to work in research focused on how health policies affect individual and population health. I want to explore how systems, environments and policy-level factors shape behavior and well-being especially using the social-ecological model as a guiding framework. Ultimately, I hope to work at national or international research institutions, contributing to evidence-based policy solutions that promote health equity across different communities and countries.