Food and nutrition

Food provides us with energy and nutrients that help our bodies function. It can be helpful to have a basic understanding of nutrition concepts, including the role of specific macro- and micronutrients, Canada’s Food Guide eating habits that prevent chronic diseases, and how to read food labels.

However, eating well is more than just about food, nutrients and balance. It is important to recognize that there are factors beyond the individual that affect what we eat. Eating healthily is also about where, when, why, and how you eat.

The diversity in the cultures and heritage of UBC students extends to the ways in which we eat and connect with food. There is no single best way to eat healthily—Canada’s Food Guide is just one way of looking at eating well. Your food choices may also include traditional or cultural foods which may not be captured in Western perspectives of what is considered healthy eating. The sharing and enjoyment of diverse foods with others enhances your relationship with food and is equally important in the process of eating healthily.

Browse money-saving strategies to help your food budget last. Below are some ways to get started:

• Bring your own lunch
  Bringing meals from home is one of the best ways to stretch your food dollars. Stop by the Wellness Centre to pick a new recipe each month, check out healthy recipes chosen by our friends at UBC REC, or try out UBC Food Services recipes.
• Plan ahead
  Knowing how to plan your meals and having practical ways to save money before grocery shopping can help you maximize your budget. You can also try using money-saving apps, such as Flipp, Flashfood, Checkout 51, and Too Good to Go to help you shop for food.
• Check out UBC’s low-cost food initiatives
  The UBC Food Hub continues to work hard to offer low-cost food service and grocery establishments like the Food Hub Market on campus. 
• Support student-led food initiatives ​​​​​
  From September to April, visit student-run cafes like Agora Café and UBC Sprouts for low-cost nutritious options. Sprouts also hosts initiatives like Community Eats, while faculties and student groups organize food-related community events too.

30 to 40% of UBC students report having challenges accessing safe, adequate, personally-acceptable and nutritious food. Food insecurity disproportionately affects international students, graduate students, queer and trans communities, as well as individuals who identify as IBPOC. You are not alone. Below are some places to get started if you find yourself having to make tough choices around food due to financial barriers.

• Connect with your Enrolment Services Advisor (ESA). If you don’t have enough money for food, your ESA can help you with budgeting, access to emergency funds, or other types of financial assistance.
• UBC Meal Share is a pilot program for students experiencing financial barriers to accessing adequate food with the opportunity to receive direct funds to their UBCcard or a grocery store gift card.
• Emergency food relief is available on campus through the AMS Food Bank and student group initiatives such as Sprouts Free Meals initiative and the community fridge. You can also find local food banks near you off campus.

Learn more about food security as well as food and financial resources through UBC Food Hub.

Everyone’s food choices can look different depending on their specific dietary needs. Whether it’s celiac disease, plant-based eating, food allergies, or religious dietary needs, there are resources to support you.

Below are a few example resources available to UBC students:

• If you are a varsity athlete, read helpful guides developed by the sport dietitian at UBC Athlete Nutrition.
• For students looking for Halal foods, the UBC Muslim Student Association offers a Halal Food Guide (pdf).
• If you live in residence, connect with the dietitian in Residence.
• For other specific dietary questions, connect with a dietitian.

Dietitians are trained professionals who can help you find strategies to eat well according to your unique dietary needs while considering cultural and food traditions. If you need more support around food and nutrition, dietitians are here to help you in person, over the phone, or online.

• UBC Residence Dietitian
  If you are a student living in residence, contact the dietitian in Residence to discuss a food allergy, intolerance, nutrition-related medical condition, or other concerns.
• Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC
  If you are a British Columbia resident, you can call 811 (or 711 for the hearing impaired) to speak with a registered dietitian. They are available by phone Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm PT. You do not need a referral from your healthcare provider. You can also find general food and nutrition information online.
• Find a dietitian in British Columbia
  Search up BC dietitians by their location and specialty areas, or find nutrition experts across Canada through Dietitians of Canada.
• AMS/GSS Student Health Plan
  All UBC students under the AMS/GSS Student Health Plan can submit claims of $20 per visit to see a dietitian, to a maximum of $400 per policy year. You will need a physician referral to qualify for this health benefit.

We’re building out more resources and programming to support students’ learning around topics about food and nutrition, as well as one’s relationship with food and body.

In the meantime, check out these starting points:

• UBC Food Hub
• UBC Food Services Blog
• Body image and eating concerns
• Disordered eating and eating disorders
• BC support for body image and eating disorders
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre
• AMS food or cultural groups