By Elaine Smith 

To prove the University’s commitment to addressing food insecurity, the requirement to produce a daily value meal was written into the contract for its food services request for proposals in 2022. 

“Anyone who has attended university has likely eaten macaroni and cheese for a week straight at some time during their studies, so they understand the concept of food insecurity,” said Tom Watt, Interim AVP, Ancillary Services at York University. “It’s important that our contracted food service partners help us to combat hunger and food insecurity, so we have created value meals to make nutritious eating affordable.” 

In addition to this, “it shows our contractor how important this issue this is to us,” said Watt, “and gives us a mechanism for ensuring they are accountable.”  

The University rolled out the value meals in dining halls on each campus in spring 2023, and they will be available in Glendon, Stong and Winters dining halls beginning in Sept. 2023 for $5.99. 

With inflation affecting food prices, data from the National Survey of Student Engagement reveals that increasing numbers of students are experiencing food insecurity. The Vice-Provost, Students established a working group to tackle the issue, and value meals are an important piece of the puzzle. 

“We have a different meal daily and it’s a nutritionally complete meal with grain, protein and vegetable components,” said Heath. “Our Registered Dietitian vets all the menu offerings, like the Masala butter squash curry and turmeric rice with a side salad and the local roasted Ontario veggie and bean bowl.” 

Based on feedback from the Food Insecurity Roundtable, chaired by the Vice-Provost, Students, meals for the 2023-24 academic year will be “plant forward” – or vegetarian and vegan. “Vegetarian and vegan meals are better received because more people can eat them. Acceptance is more limited when there’s a meat offering.” 

This year, all the snack vending machines on campus will also offer a value item, keeping student budgets in mind.   

Food and Vending Services will also continue hosting monthly student-oriented Teaching Kitchen sessions, complete with a cooking component. A Registered Dietitian leads sessions touching on topics ranging from meal planning and budgeting to nutrition.  

YU Eats is also focused on sustainable and diverse approaches to managing food and they source food locally when possible, while reducing food waste. Menus include global food items, recognizing the diversity of York’s student population.