Vic’s efforts at tackling food affordability
Ned’s Café has kicked off the academic year by introducing meals for $5.50 as part of a collaboration with VUSAC to increase food affordability at Victoria College. These meals include Grab’ n Go packaged entrées as well as warm snacks such as samosas, empanadas, and Jamaican patties from 11 am onwards. Additionally, a Campus Comfort Combo is available for $6.50, which includes a sandwich and a small soup. VUSAC President Rohini Patra has been working with administrators over the summer to bring about this pilot project, which she describes as “small but powerful.”
This initiative appears to be a departure from the approach to pricing taken by Ned’s in the past few years. In addition to raising prices to match inflation, Ned’s Café excluded several menu items from student meal plans in the 2023/24 academic year, which had been included in the year prior. This meant that rather than being able to purchase these items using meal points, students would be required to use the more limited Vic dollars on their meal plans, or pay using additional money. During the same year these changes were implemented, students at Vic were busy putting together the Eat After Eight program to help counter food waste on campus while also meeting the demand for free food. The need for this program and its positive reception suggest that access to food on campus is an important concern for the Victoria College community.
Patra acknowledged this concern during her campaign, when she first announced her plans for a $5 meals program. In a statement to /The Strand/, Patra discussed the particular impact that the affordability of food can have on university students, especially alongside other major fixed costs such as rent and tuition. She believes that “food insecurity isn’t just about an empty stomach; it’s about the toll it takes on our energy, our mental health, and our ability to truly thrive here.”
Food insecurity is a major issue faced by students across UofT and beyond. As of 2022, 25 percent of Canadians belonged to households experiencing food insecurity. Studies conducted on Canadian campuses suggest that post-secondary students are particularly vulnerable, with a 2021 report by Meal Exchange estimating that over 50 percent of students were food insecure. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), an organization representing 63 students’ unions across the country, has a dedicated task force attempting to address this concern. The task force is presently conducting a food experience survey to gauge the “precise food-related problems” that students face, as well as gathering feedback about food services on campus.
There are existing, community-based resources and initiatives helping to alleviate some of the pressures of food insecurity for UofT students. The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) operates a food bank located at the Student Commons. There are mutual aid groups providing assistance throughout the city, including Community Fridges Toronto. At Vic, in addition to the Eat After Eight program spearheaded by student leaders, the Dean’s Office offered free lunches last year through its Gather in the Goldring initiative.
The $5 meals project, while not eliminating the cost of food, mitigates some barriers to access by providing a wider range of options at lower prices than generally offered on campus. The outcomes of this program are yet to be seen. Interviews with Vic students at the Goldring Student Centre suggest that there is definite room for improvement. One student believes there are “not a lot of meat options,” while also acknowledging that more meat may simply not be feasible at the lower cost. Another student commented on the quality of certain foods: “The tofu could be way better. It is super cheap, so if they want to use that they can make it better.” It appears that both the nutritional value and taste are a concern for students. Patra’s vision for the program is to provide food that is “nourishing” in addition to simply being cheap, and student feedback indicates that there is further work to be done to achieve this. Patra acknowledged that there is room for growth, saying, “my hope is that this pilot program becomes more than just a menu—that it expands, improves, and continues to serve students while also building community by bringing more of us together through accessible, affordable meals.” Improving the program may require further collaboration with students, as well as a clear demonstration that there is a demand for these meals. Students who would like to support this project and have suggestions for improvements are encouraged to share their thoughts by emailing [email protected], contacting /The Strand/ at [email protected], or stopping by the VUSAC office between 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. A feedback form will be available soon.