We kicked off the year with our Dining Room Hacks Tours. If you missed it, don’t worry—this recap will fill you in on everything you need to know to navigate UBC's dining halls like a pro!
What Was the Dining Room Hacks Tour?
From September 17th to 19th, our Dining Room Hacks Tours provided a guide on how to make the most out of your dining experience. These drop-in tours were hosted at three residence dining halls: Feast at Totem Park, Gather at Place Vanier and Open Kitchen at Orchard Commons.
Our Nutrition Education Volunteers, alongside the Sous Chefs, Managers, and Residence Dietitian, were on hand to guide you through the dining hall. Keep on reading to learn some of the tips they shared on the tours.
Hacks You Need to Know About All Access Dining
Plan Ahead with Nutrislice
We kicked off with a dive into Nutrislice, our online menu platform where you can look up what's on the menu at the dining halls before you go. You can filter menu options with our menu icons (vegan, vegetarian, made without gluten, oceanwise, Halal protein and climate-friendly food label) to highlight the menu items that meet your dietary preference. For more information on Nutrislice, check out this page.
Build Your Own Meal
Make the kitchen your own by mixing and matching items from stations and side bars. If there is a topping that you’d like more, less, or none of, feel free to ask for modifications!
Don’t forget to explore our hot sides and salad bars to create a balanced and enjoyable meal. You will find a variety of plant-based protein options, as well as raw and cooked vegetable options to help you top up and achieve that half plate of veggies as recommended by Canada's Food Guide plate model. Following the plate model is a great way of ensuring that you are getting enough nutrients in a meal, to give you the energy you need in a day and support your overall health and wellbeing.
Make Climate Friendly Food Choices
On our menu labels, you will notice the climate-friendly food (CFF) label. As part of UBC’s Climate Action Plan, we have transformed our approach to create a more climate-friendly food system. The CFF labels are available at all UBC residence dining halls and on Nutrislice, helping you make more informed, sustainable dining choices. Menu items with the CFF label displaying the largest green earth on it means that the meal generated less greenhouse gas emissions and used less water, land, and nitrogen than other items on the menu.
This initiative, the first of its kind at any Canadian university, is part of UBC’s goal to reduce food system emissions by 50% by 2030. By opting for plant-based proteins, locally sourced ingredients, or minimally processed foods, you not only nourish your body but also contribute to a healthier planet. Look for these labels next time you are planning your meal, and choose yellow and green labels more often!
Sampling and Chat with Chefs
At the end of each tour, guests had the chance to sample delicious plant-based options and chat with our chefs. This was a great opportunity to taste our food firsthand and discuss the food vision and values behind our menu, such as local sourcing and minimal processing. Learn more about our vision and values here. Look forward to more sampling opportunities throughout the year.
Connect with Us
To keep the conversation going, we invite you to follow us on Instagram @ubcfoodie, Facebook, or sign up for our newsletter. You can also visit the website at food.ubc.ca. There, you can find key information, resources, and an events calendar for upcoming events
Upcoming Opportunities
If you couldn’t make it to the tours, don’t worry! We’ll be offering additional sessions through our nutrition & wellbeing booths throughout term 1. These will be held on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm starting September 25th. Drop by to connect with us, ask questions, win prizes and more.
Access our Eating Well with All Access Dining handout series personalized to specific eating patterns and dietary restrictions here.
We hope you enjoyed the Dining Room Hacks Tours and feel more confident navigating your dining options at UBC.
Until next time, happy eating!