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The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia

FOOD AT UBC VANCOUVER

FOOD AT UBC VANCOUVER

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New for Term 2 at Open Kitchen

» Seating areas expanded to increase capacity 

» Opening more stations more often 

» Extended Hours of Operation

» Improved line ups allow for faster service 

» Food trucks added exclusively for Residence Meal Plan customers

» Updated Open Kitchen COVID-19 Protocols

COVID-19 Update for UBC Food Services

Operational and service protocols have been adjusted to comply with recommendations from the Provincial Medical Health Office, BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and BC Ministry of Health and Vancouver Coastal Health.

  • Benefits
  • How it Works
  • Where Can I Use My Plan
  • Budgeting Support
  • Nutritional Support
  • FAQs

Residence Meal Plan

The Residence Meal Plan is required for UBC First Year Residents. Having a meal plan has many advantages, but most importantly it means you’ll be sharing great meals with friends in a caring environment where diversity, wellbeing, and community matter.

COVID-19 Protocols for your Residence Meal Plan, including enhancements for Term 2, can be viewed on the Open Kitchen page.

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Eating Together

Improves self-esteem, academic success, nutrition, happiness and more.

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Save Time & Energy

Focus on studying, making friends & getting involved in your new community.

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Lighten your Load

No need to plan, shop, prep & clean up meals.

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Nutritional Support

Healthy eating tips, dietary preference and allergen guidance from our RD.

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Fresh, Healthy Food

High-quality & wholesome ingredients guided by our Food Values.

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Over 20 Locations

Restaurants, cafés, eateries and more.

How Your Meal Plan Works

When you purchase your meal plan, funds are loaded onto your UBCcard. The Residence Meal Plan is a declining balance plan. Like a debit account, Dining Dollars in your meal plan account are deducted when you make food purchases.

To Make a purchase, swipe your UBCcard at a cash register. Every food item has an individual price. In the residence dining rooms, your order total and price reduction will be displayed on a transaction screen at the cash register. Dining is not “all you care to eat” and there are no pre-set numbers of meals allotted to each student.

You must have your UBCcard with you when you make food purchases from your meal plan. If you don’t have it you will be asked to pay cash, credit or debit and will not receive a discount. Meal plans are non-transferable.

Residence Overhead

Residence Overhead is a critical upfront payment that covers a portion of fixed costs. Essentially, it is a deposit that is gradually offset every time you make a purchase in the residence dining rooms through a 25% price reduction.

25% of $4,065.60 = $1,016.96*, your total Residence Overhead Fee.

Term 1 Term 2 Total
Residence Dollars
$1,483.90
$1,565.15
$3,048.64
Residence Overhead*
$494.86
$522.10
$1,016.96
Total Per Term
$1,978.35
$2,087.25
$4,065.60**

The price reduction you receive is equivalent to the overhead paid. If you spend all of your Residence Dollars in the three residence dining rooms, your entire Residence Overhead is recovered. If you spend half your Residence Dollars, only half of your Residence Overhead is recovered.

* Yes, 25% of $4,065.60 should be equal to $1,016.40! The way our system calculates daily rates creates discrepancy within $1.00 depending on the calendar year.

**Does not include Flex Dollars ($1,126.72).

How Much do I Have to Spend?

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You have $5,191.32 to spend during your full meal plan contract – a combination of Residence Dollars ($3,048.64), Residence Overhead ($1,016.96) and Flex Dollars ($1,126.72).

When you spend Residence Dollars in residence dining rooms, you are charged 25% less than the retail food value to offset your Residence Overhead fee. For example, when you buy a burger with a retail price of $10, you are charged $7.50 Residence Dollars for it. You also have $1,126.72 Flex Dollars to spend at nearby food service locations and campus partners.

Check out our handy Budget Calculator to estimate your daily spend based on your eating habits and personal schedule.

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Where Can I Use my Residence Dollars?

Plan to eat about 80% of your meals using Residence Dollars in residence dining room to get the most value from your plan and stay on budget. The cost of food purchased at Open Kitchen and select locations is tax-exempt (5%) and reduced (25%) to reflect that Residence Overhead has been paid.

Residence Dollars can also be spent at select Restaurant, Food Trucks and Quick Serve locations. Food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased at these locations are tax-exempt (5%) and discounted (25%).

Gather dining room stations

Residence Dining Room

Open Kitchen serves comfort foods made from scratch with local ingredients whenever possible. Plan to eat about 80% of your meals at this locations.

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Restaurant

Try The Point’s famous chicken & waffles with spicy maple syrup, decadent selection of burgers, wraps and salads, fried tofu bowl and epic brownies with vanilla gelato.

Two breakfast sandwiches

Quick Serve Locations

Find great food at convenient locations around campus including: TripleO’s, Mercante, Harvest*, Hero*, Pacific Poke,  Subway and Food Trucks.

*Residence Dollars can be used for drinks and deli purchases only.

Where Can I Use my Flex Dollars?

Enjoy 20% of your meals using Flex Dollars at UBC Food Services cafés, most locations in the Nest, owned by the AMS, select national franchises and more. Food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased at UBC Food Services locations are discounted by 5%.

If you use up your Residence Dollars before your Flex Dollars, Flex Dollars will automatically transfer to Residence Dollars when you make purchases in the residence dining rooms, and you will continue to receive a 25% price reduction and 5% tax savings.

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Cafes & Markets

Enjoy hot drinks, baked goods, sandwiches, entrées, groceries and more at conveniently located cafés and markets across campus. Locations include Starbucks at Bookstore, Tim Hortons locations(2) and Harvest*

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Campus Partners

16+ locations on and near the UBC campus, including The Nest (UBC Student Union building),  Browns Socialhouse, Domino’s Pizza (3), Great Dane Coffee, Vera’s Burger Shack, The Pita Pit and UBC Bookstore more. No discounts apply. More → 

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Other Locations

Hero Coffee + Market* (Orchard Commons) offers extended hours and grocery staples. Flex dollars can also be used at many campus vending machines and Pay for Print in UBC libraries and study areas.

Budgeting Support

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Budget Calculator

Estimate your daily spend based on your eating habits and personal schedule.

Calculate
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Sample Menu Plans

Menu plans for healthy eating and vegetarian diets.

Coming Soon
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Budget Blog Posts

Tips to help you stay healthy and on-budget all year long.

Learn More

Nutritional Support

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Read the Nutrition Blog

Learn tips and tricks to perform your best while attending UBC.

Nutrition Blog
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Book an Appointment

Students in residence can meet with our Registered Dietitians to discuss food allergies, intolerance, nutrition-related medical conditions or general healthy eating.

Book Appointment
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Ask a Question

No time to meet up? Students in residence can email our Registered Dietitians with food or nutrition questions.

Email the RD

FAQS

How do I add more Residence Dollars or Flex Dollars?

Only Flex Dollars can be topped up. If you run out of Residence Dollars, your Flex Dollars will automatically transfer to Residence Dollars when you make purchases in the residence dining rooms, and you will continue to receive a 25% price reduction and 5% tax savings.

Top up anytime through the online service center or at the SHCS Main Office.

What happens to unused Residence Dollars and Flex Dollars at the end of my contract?

Residence Dollars are automatically transferred to a Carryover Plan in early May, enabling you to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages at UBC Discount Locations at a 5% discount. Residence Dollars can also be transferred to a UBC Food Services Gift Card by submitting the form below by the deadline provided. There is no charge for the transfer to a Carryover Plan or UBC Food Services Gift Card.

Flex Dollars are automatically transferred to a UBCcard Plan at no charge at the end of your contract. Flex Dollars can be refunded for a $25 admin fee by submitting this form by the deadline provided.

For more details please refer to your Residence Contract.

What happens if my UBCcard is lost or stolen?

Lost or stolen UBCcards must be deactivated and reported immediately.

  1. Freeze your Residence Meal Plan by deactivating it through the SHHS Online Service Centre.
  2. Report your lost/stolen UBCcard through the UBC Carding Office.
  3. Get a replacement card from the UBC Carding Office.
  4. Visit a UBC Food Services location on campus and ask the cashier to swipe your new card—this puts your new UBC Card information on the system.
  5. Reactivate your Residence Meal Plan through the SHCS Online Service Centre.

UBC Food Services assumes no responsibility for fraudulent use of your UBCcard before your account is deactivated and your lost/stolen card is reported to the UBC Carding Office.

What does UBC Food Services do with my money?

UBC Food Services Financial Breakdown: 2016/2017

* General operating expenses include kitchen, serving supplies and small equipment, cleaning and office supplies, licenses, insurance, IT, POS systems, bank charges, customs/freight, and more.

Featured Dishes

Follow @ubcfoodie on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to find out what’s cooking on campus this week.

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We acknowledge that SHCS and UBC are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. We thank the Musqueam Nation for its hospitality and support of our work.

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We acknowledge that SHCS and UBC are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. We thank the Musqueam Nation for its hospitality and support of our work.

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