Many students experience food insecurity.

Rising rent, tuition, and living costs along with broader systemic inequities can make it hard to consistently access enough healthy, culturally appropriate food.

Food insecurity is not caused by poor planning or lack of effort.

Learning skills like meal planning, cooking, budgeting, and safe food storage can help with day-to-day challenges. It’s one piece of the puzzle, that can make life a bit easier when combined with access to affordable and culturally appropriate food.

Immediate Support

Food insecurity can be temporary or situational and help is still always available.

  • Use campus food resources right away

    WUSA’s Food Support Service – provides free food hampers to students. They are confidential and open to anyone in need. Available at Waterloo Campus and Stratford Campus.

    WUSA’s Pay-What-You-Can Program– found in The Bomber in the SLC, PWYC allows you to pay the full value of a meal or as little as $0.01 – whatever you can afford.

  • Reach out for immediate support

    Campus Wellness – staff can connect you to emergency food and other support.

  • Use local emergency resources

    Food Bank of Waterloo Region – open to anyone in need, not just students

    211 Ontario – Free/Low Cost Meals – community programs generally open to all, but focused on individuals who are on low incomes, homeless or unemployed.

Three students laughing while holding coffee in the chilly weather.

Downloadable Food Guides

Illustration of a sandwich and apple with text about first-year university food foundations, student tips, and the essential Student Food Guide.
Guide cover with illustrated food containers and the title "The Safe Start Cooking Guide: Store Food Safely"—an essential student food guide for mastering safe food storage.
Poster with a credit card, vegetables, and text about student meals, meal planning, and smart spending tips—a helpful student food guide for better budgeting.
Poster with “Smart Eating: Sustainability Edition” text, WUSA logo, clouds, a red flower on a beige background—perfect for students seeking a student food guide or easy student recipes.
Cover page with text “Budget-Friendly Recipes: $10 and Under,” surrounded by illustrated foods like egg and tomato—a perfect Student Food Guide for affordable meals.

Global Kitchen Cookbook

Disclaimer: These recipes are student-friendly adaptations inspired by global cuisines and are not intended to represent traditional or authentic preparations

This cookbook is your space to share recipes that hold a special place in your heart, whether it’s a comforting dish, a beloved family recipe, or a meal that reminds you of home.

Here’s why we created this cookbook: 

  • Affordable and Easy Meals: Discover recipes that are simple, budget-friendly, and made with easily accessible ingredients. 
  • Connecting Through Food: Every dish tells a story – share yours and learn about others. Celebrate the diversity and creativity of our student community. 

All recipes in The Global Kitchen Cookbook were submitted by students at the University of Waterloo

Grilled sandwiches on a white plate with dips and scattered corn on a black surface, bringing the comforting Tastes From Home to your table with a touch of International Cuisine.

Resources

Support That Makes a Difference

WUSA’s Food Support Service offers confidential and culturally responsive support. Initiatives such as the Pay What You Can program help reduce stigma and improve access so students can access food with dignity.

Waterloo Campus

Stratford Campus

Kitchener- Waterloo: 


Stratford Community Support:

The Local Community Food Centre – Offers community meals (free, no charge) and Community Access Markets where food is available at affordable prices. They also offer food skills programs, gardening and education about healthy food. 


Cambridge Community Support: 

Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank – hampers for residents 

Research

Starting university can be both exciting and challenging. For many students, living away from home for the first time means managing meals, budgeting, and balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities while facing rising tuition, rent, and living costs. These financial pressures can make it difficult to consistently afford food.

W25 Affordability Survey findings:

  • More than 50% of student respondents were responsible for paying for their own groceries
  • 13% reported skipping meals to save money

Additional research from Pepetone et al. (2023) at the University of Waterloo shows that:

  • Among students in co-op placements, 15.6% were moderately food insecure and 8.4% were severely food insecure (24% total)
  • Among students not in co-op, 21.3% were moderately food insecure and 18.0% were severely food insecure (39% total)

Food insecurity is more than occasionally missing a meal. It can affect mental health, concentration, academic performance, and a student’s sense of belonging and overall well-being. When tuition, housing, and daily expenses stretch limited incomes, food is often the first area students reduce.

Pepetone, et al. (2023). University of Waterloo food insecurity research. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. https://dcjournal.ca/doi/abs/10.3148/cjdpr-2023-003

According to the W25 Food Support Service Survey- Fall End of Term Report, students who accessed WUSA’s Food Support Service reported doing so because of:

  • Cost of food, 44%
  • Cost of living, 42%
  • Cost of housing, 34%

These results show how broader affordability challenges directly affect students’ ability to meet basic needs.

Food insecurity does not affect all students equally. Research from the University of Waterloo, Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism in 2025 highlights how systemic inequities shape access to food.

Students disproportionately impacted include those who are:

  • Indigenous
  • Black and racialized
  • International
  • 2SLGBTQAI+
  • Living with a disability

Indigenous food sovereignty recognizes the right to traditional foods and land based food systems. Colonial policies have disrupted these systems and contributed to ongoing inequities in food access.