University Initiatives Help Students Eat Healthy on a Budget

As tuition, textbooks, and living expenses continue to rise, many university students are struggling to maintain a healthy diet within their limited budgets. Food insecurity among students has become a significant issue at post-secondary institutions, impacting both physical and mental health, and ultimately affecting academic performance. In response, **Wilfrid Laurier University** has developed several initiatives aimed at alleviating student hunger and promoting healthy eating.

One of the standout programs is the **Food Justice Garden**, which began as a resource for Indigenous students. This initiative is a collaboration between **Martin Luther University College’s** Centre for Earth Consciousness and Gender Justice and the **Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG)**. The garden provides students with hands-on experience in urban agriculture, cultivating crops such as squash, tomatoes, kale, and various herbs. These harvests contribute to the **Free Weekly Distro**, a grocery pop-up that offers students access to fresh food and pantry essentials.

Tavia Weber, Distro program and Luther’s development manager, explained, “Basically, students walk in and choose what they need and what they want. We don’t ask to see proof of need. The only thing we ask to see is the [Laurier] student card.” During the previous academic year, nearly **6,000 students** utilized this service, highlighting its importance in the campus community.

In addition to weekly food distributions, the Distro program has started providing recipe cards and cooking seminars to help students enhance their culinary skills. The **Students’ Union** also plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity, offering a food bank at both the Brantford and Waterloo campuses. This service distributes parcels of non-perishable foods and hygiene products tailored to accommodate dietary restrictions. Students can discreetly request up to five food parcels every twelve weeks, ensuring privacy for those concerned about stigma associated with food insecurity.

Maria Gonzales, vice president of programming and services at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, indicated that monthly events further support students by providing additional food resources. “We did the fresh food market. There, we offered different types of vegetables, fruit,” she noted. “Students literally show up and grab whatever they would need.”

For those looking to improve their cooking skills, the Brantford campus has created a cookbook featuring accessible recipes, while Waterloo’s campus is exploring the production of cooking videos.

Student Experiences with Cooking on a Budget

For many students, mastering basic cooking is essential for both health and financial savings. **Jaycob Linnamaa** and **Shively Holland**, both final-year undergraduates, rely on their culinary skills to manage their finances. “It does bother me a bit how many people I’ve encountered in university that don’t really understand the basics of cooking,” Linnamaa said. “It’s such a fundamental skill, especially if you’re trying to save money.”

Holland, who taught himself to cook before attending university, has found that being able to prepare his own meals has saved him substantial amounts of money. After moving off-campus and abandoning a meal plan, he estimates that he saved thousands of dollars. “We’ll bulk cook familiar meals and use herbs and spices to change up flavours,” Holland explained. They often coordinate cooking with roommates to minimize waste, particularly when preparing rice-based dishes.

Linnamaa has developed his own methods for utilizing food scraps, saving vegetable scraps and bones to create stock for soups and other dishes. “I could buy the ingredients for a decent steak dinner at the grocery store for the same cost as getting a fast food burger,” he remarked, highlighting the financial benefits of cooking at home.

Both students are part of **WatSFiC**, a club focused on science fiction and fantasy. They host communal cooking events, such as soup nights, where they combine their resources to create meals. “We have lots of people in the kitchen splitting up the work,” they said, describing how they adjust seasonings and flavors collaboratively.

Simple Recipes for Healthy Eating

In an effort to support students in their culinary endeavors, Wilfrid Laurier University’s **Student Wellness Centre** has shared several simple recipes. A popular dish among students is **Peanut Sesame Noodles**, which offers a nutritious and affordable meal option.

Recipe: Peanut Sesame Noodles

– **Sauce Ingredients**:
– 2 tablespoons peanut butter
– 2 tablespoons sesame oil
– 2 tablespoons soy sauce
– 2 tablespoons hot water

– **Optional Toppings**:
– Cooked lean meat or tofu
– Peanuts
– Fresh cilantro
– Bok choy, peppers, or other vegetables
– Fresh lime juice

**Method**: Combine cooked noodles and vegetables, mixing well with the warmed sauce. Serve with toppings of your choice.

Through these initiatives and student-led efforts, Wilfrid Laurier University is making strides in addressing food insecurity while teaching students the importance of healthy eating and budgeting. As the rising costs of education and living continue to burden students, such programs are vital for fostering a supportive and sustainable academic environment.