KPU’s Nutrition Month dishes out free meals and wellness wins
The university’s Student Health Promotion team has been providing students with tools to eat well, save money, and thrive
KPU students can grab free lunches on campuses throughout March. (Submitted)
Every year across Canada, the month of March is celebrated as Nutrition Month to educate people about nutrition and how to stay healthy by making informed choices at the grocery store.
This year’s theme, Nourish to Flourish, emphasizes how nutrition contributes to overall well-being, enhances emotional resilience, and strengthens social and cultural bonds.
At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the Student Health Promotion department has put together many events and workshops to celebrate this month to the fullest.
The university’s 2023 student satisfaction survey found that 35 per cent of students ate less because they did not have enough money to purchase food, something that students are facing in universities across Canada, says Megan Matthews, manager of Student Health Promotion at KPU.
“Many students may not fully understand how their diet impacts their overall well-being, academic performance, and energy levels. Ensuring that this message reaches as many students as possible is the ultimate goal of the department.”
One initiative the team has been leading throughout March is free student lunches offered on a weekly basis across all KPU campuses. To view a schedule of the free lunches, visit www.kpu.ca/wellness/nutrition-month.
They’ve also been running one-hour grocery store tours at three Save-On-Foods locations — Scott Road, Garden City, and downtown Langley — with dietitians guiding students on understanding food labels, making healthy food choices, and meeting special dietary requirements.
The last grocery store tour will take place on March 24 from 4:30 and 5:30 pm at the Garden City Save-On Foods. Interested students can email studenthealth@kpu.ca to register.
Student Health Promotion also had nutrition workshops queued up this month. Led by dietitians, the workshops helped students with meal planning, prepping, and shopping on a budget. The last workshop took place on March 19, where students got to make budget-friendly meals and walk away with a $15 Save-On-Foods gift card.
Student Health Promotion understands the importance of nutrition for both mental and physical well-being, especially for students juggling education, work, and independent living.
“Last year … we were able to give money to 2,400 students at KPU to help with their grocery bills and overall finances under the KPU Food Security Grant,” Matthews says.
The grant can be applied for through KPU’s Online Self Service (OSS).
“We want to support student’s health and wellness beyond nutrition month and educate students about the connection between nutrition, energy, and academic success,” Matthews says.
Students can access KPU’s food and nutrition support year round by visiting www.kpu.ca/wellness/student-food-security. To learn more about Nutrition Month at the university, visit www.kpu.ca/wellness/nutrition-month.
