The brain and body use an enormous amount of energy during the day, and we need fuel in the form of food to make them work. When that fuel isn’t available, it can start to take a toll on us. Food insecurity is defined as the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. (CICMH, 2022).
With the costs of living, food, and tuition on the rise, it may be difficult to manage costs (Indigenous Student Services Centre, 2024). Whether it is your first time away from home or you are looking to find ways to cut costs during your time in post-secondary, this section will highlight resources, tips, and f inancial support options that may be available or located near you. Remember that these resources and services are available for you during times of need. Please do not feel ashamed or embarrassed when accessing or seeking services on or off campus.
Food banks
Food banks offer free access to pantry grocery items such as canned goods (vegetables, fruit, soup, etc.), pasta, rice, peanut butter, and more. (Western University, 2023). You can access food banks either on your campus or in your community. Please reach out to your Indigenous student centre for more information on hours of operation and access requirements.
Access to free and low-cost meals
Soup days – Depending on your campus, the Indigenous student centre prepares free traditional soups. For more information, please consult with your local Indigenous student centre.
Food vouchers – For students who are finding it difficult to budget for groceries, depending on your campus there may be food vouchers or financial supports offered (Western University, 2023). Please connect with your Indigenous student centre and/or your financial aid office on campus for more information.
Community meal programs – Provide free prepared meals such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Services and mealtime can vary based on location. Personal ID and/or appointments may be required, so please review each programs’ requirements (Western University, 2023).
To search for local community meal programs available in your area, you may want to use the following terms:
- “free community meals near me”
- “community meals for [insert university or college] students in [insert your location, city, town etc.]”
Campus and community resources
To learn more about these campus community resources please visit the resource section found at the end of this toolkit.
Cook at home – Centennial College offers a list of recipes, and video tutorials of meal preparations that are cost effective and budget friendly for post-secondary students.
Eating healthy on a budget – The University of Toronto provides tips for budgeting and spending options on grocery items as a post-secondary student.
Eating healthy – First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has a great list of resources and tips to eating healthy, reconnecting to traditional foods and recipes.
