Join the Beyond the Plate Recipe Challenge!
Submit your original plant-based recipe for a chance to win exciting prizes and have your dish featured on the Open Kitchen menu! Whether it’s a recipe for a hearty main dish or delicious soup, a new recipe or a time-tested tradition passed down in your family, we’d love to see it.
Why should you enter?
$25 Bookstore
Gift Card
You could be one of 10 winners who receive a $25 gift card to the UBC Bookstore, just for submitting a recipe!
$100 Bookstore
Gift Card
Judges will choose 3 finalists that will each win a $100 gift card to the UBC Bookstore. One of these finalists will go on to win the grand prize.
Grand Prize Showcase
One grand prize winner will receive:
• A recipe showcase station takeover at Open Kitchen (bring along two friends!)
• Your recipe featured on the menu rotation
• Professionally printed recipe card
• UBC Foodie blog post feature
How To Enter Your Recipe
- Submit an original plant-based recipe that includes recipe name, ingredients (with quantities), and instructions on how to make the recipe.
- Plant-based recipes should not include meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs.
- Explain why the recipe is important to you (500 characters max).
- Explain how it connects to at least 2 of our food vision & values: wholesome, nutritious, sustainable, and diverse (750 characters max).
- Optional: Include picture.
Submissions close January 25th, 11:59pm. Open to all students on an All Access Dining Plan.
What We're Looking For
Judges will select 3 finalists based on the following criteria:
- Challenge Guidelines: Demonstrates adherence to the challenge requirements
- Student-Friendliness: Recipe is easy to prepare and budget-friendly
- Personal Connection: Clearly explains the recipe’s personal significance or meaning
- Food Vision & Values: Connects the recipe to at least 2 Food Vision & Values: wholesome, nutritious, sustainable, and diverse
- Originality: Shows creativity and potential great taste–family or cultural traditions are also encouraged!
Submit your recipe!
If you have any questions about this contest, please feel free contact the residence dietitian at gloria.sun@ubc.ca
Recipe Challenge Terms & Conditions
- Open to currently enrolled UBCV students on the All Access Dining meal plan residing in a first-year residence.
- Recipes must be original and suitable for dining hall production. Participants confirm their submission does not infringe on any third-party rights.
- All submissions must be received by January 25, 2026 at 11:59pm PST. Late or incomplete entries may be disqualified.
- By entering, participants grant UBC Food Services permission to use, modify, and serve submitted recipes in university dining facilities.
- Recipes may be adjusted to meet food safety, allergen, nutritional, and operational requirements.
- Prizes are non-transferable and may be substituted if necessary.
- Participants consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in connection with the challenge and allow UBC Food Services to use their image, name, and recipe for promotional and marketing purposes in any media, without compensation.
- UBC Food Services is not responsible for lost or late entries and reserves the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time. All decisions by UBC Food Services are final.
- Submission constitutes acceptance of these terms.
