SUO Smart Meals 2.0

But what is Smart Meals 2.0?

– Considering the feedback provided by students over the past year, this year’s committee has made some changes that will enhance the students’ experience by addressing their concerns about availability and variety of meals.

– Utilizing a 4 week repeat model, students will have 3 weeks of FREE hot breakfast served out of Picnic from 8:30 am to 10:30 am followed by 1 week of $5 lunches starting at 11 am and available at that week’s featured restaurant of either Fusion, Koi Sushi or J’ Cafe. Each week, the program aims to provide at least 200 affordable meals to UBCO students.

– The meals provided through both aspects of the program will contain elements of a plant based diet.

– Below is a sample of what the 4-week model will look like. Considering various reading and holiday breaks, the week model allows students to take advantage of an affordable breakfast and lunch each academic month without having to wait for the next month.

What kind of meals will be served?

– To address the feedback regarding the lack of variety available with the meals, the free breakfast will be different week to week and will aim to accommodate dietary requirements such as allergies, vegetarianism, religious restrictions and plant friendly. Each week will range anywhere from fruit, potatoes, pastries, meat alternatives, oats and protein. This portion of the program aligns with UBC’s affordability plans created by the Student Affordability Taks Force, which addresses students’ financial wellbeing regarding cost of living, particularly food security.

– For $5 lunches, students can expect plant-based meals curated by the participating restaurant. These meals are designed to align with UBC’s 2030 goals of reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions related to food on campus. SUO has a partnership with UBC’s Social Innovation Hub regarding this pillar of the program.

How to access the program

– Please show your UBC STUDENT ID! As we want to ensure the needs of students are being addressed, only current UBC Okanagan students can access this program. Meaning, you need to show either your physical or digital ID. *You can visit Student Connect on second floor UNC if you do not have your ID.

– Breakfast will be served in Picnic, located on the first floor of UNC, across from Paper and Supply Co. Starting at 8:30 am on Wednesday, students can show their IDs and get a filling breakfast and connect with their community and learn about

many mental health resources available and how to incorporate various sustainable practices into life as a student.

– $5 lunches will be available at one restaurant on each “lunch week”, meaning for those two days, students can grab their $5 lunches from the restaurant that is featured in that cycle starting at 11 am (while supplies last!). Each participating restaurant will be featured each term to showcase their fabulous plant-friendly meals.

– Term 1 dates are listed below and will be advertised strategically to ensure students are aware of days meals are available and what time to come to the UNC.

• Free Breakfast will be on: September 25, October 2, October 9, October 23, October 30, November 6, November 27, December 4 and December 11,
• $5 Lunch will be on: October 16-17, November 20-21 and December 18-19

Why are the pillars of this initiative:

1) Affordability and Food Security, 2) Mental Health and 3) Sustainability?

– Affordability and Food Security

• Between 2019-2022 UBC conducted a VOICE survey regarding Food Security on the Okanagan campus. It was concluded that 42% of surveyed students were experiencing food insecurity (Bottorff et al, 2020). and “67% of (these) food insecure undergrads worry about how to pay their tuition and living expenses” (UBC Wellbeing, 2022) Students should not have to make a choice over buying food or paying for their education. In June of 2021, UBC struck a Student Affordability Task Force with the goals of 1) defining what “affordability” means and the scope as it related to UBC and 2) develop recommendation and a plan to address the challenges faced by students regarding affordability (Carry, 2022).
• This program is to combat food insecurity by providing students with an affordable breakfast and lunch option in the UNC.

– Mental Health

• Through the VOICE survey, “Food insecure students are 15% more likely to report a mental health condition or physical disability.” (UBC Wellbeing, 2022) How can students be expected to function at a high level retain their academic knowledge when they can’t afford to fill their bodies with healthy and filling food?
• Breakfast has been dubbed the most important meal of the day and based on previous events hosted by Pantry and the SUO’s Campus Life Committee, we know students will continue to take advantage of a free hot breakfast any chance they get, to truly set themselves up for success.

– Sustainability

• UBC Okanagan Climate Action Plan (CAP) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by campus operations. One notable achievement is the Pritchard Dining hall where the “all you care to eat” model helps with eliminating food waste and packaging through reusable dishware.
• The CAP target is to reduce GHG emission by 50% come 2030. As a result of this plan, Smart Meals was designed to encompass plant-based meals, but that’s not enough!
• This year the campaign will continue to target Scope 3 emissions but will also include elements that reduce the waste produced by takeout containers, print marketing and general food waste. For breakfast each element of the meal will be compostable (plate, utensil and food scraps). For lunch, each participating restaurant will be required to source compostable or recyclable takeout containers.
• Educational posts regarding how to include more sustainable actions in their day-to-day life will be shared via social media and at smart meals events.

Sources Cited

Bottorff, J. L., Hamilton, C., Huisken, A., & Taylor, D. (2020). Correlates of food insecurity among undergraduate students. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 50(2), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.47678/cjhe.v50i2.188699

Carry, A. (2022, March). STUDENT AFFORDABILITY TASK FORCE. UBC Board of Governors.

UBC Sustainability. (n.d.). Food Systems | CAP 2023. UBC Climate Action Plan. https://ubco-cap-2030-ubc.hub.arcgis.com/pages/food

UBC Wellbeing. (2022). What is Food Insecurity? Kelowna; UBC Wellbeing.