Food & Dining

Introduction

Modern industrial food production often has deleterious environmental and social impacts. Institutions can use their food purchases to support their local economies; encourage safe, environmentally friendly and humane farming methods; and help eliminate unsafe working conditions and alleviate poverty for farmers. These actions help reduce environmental impacts, preserve regional farmland, improve local food security, and support fair and resilient food systems. Dining services can also support sustainable food systems by preventing food waste and diverting food materials from the waste stream, by making low impact dining options available, and by educating its customers about more sustainable options and practices.

Featured Resources

1209 resources

Master of Arts in Food Studies (MAFS) - MBA Dual Degree Program

  • Chatham University (PA)

Core courses provide breadth and depth in food studies, business, and sustainable business, equipping all students with a holistic understanding of food systems and business skills. All students are expected ...

  • Posted July 10, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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AAS in Sustainable Brewing

  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College (MI)

This degree combines the competencies in brewing science and technology with additional coursework in the sciences, business, sustainability studies, and allied fields. The program is designed to prepare students for ...

  • Posted May 29, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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AAS in Culinary Arts & Sustainable Food Systems

  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College (MI)

This program of study was developed with advisory groups of chefs, farmers, food processors/distributors and food industry entrepreneurs. Students will spend most of their time working in a real ...

  • Posted May 29, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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No Impact Meal - A More Mindful Dinner

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)

The No Impact Meal (NIM) program is transforming our relationship with food on campus, one meal at a time. Led by a group of sustainability interns since the spring of ...

  • Posted May 22, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
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Central College Bee Campus

  • Central College (IA)
  • The Xerces Society (OR)

Central College is a leader in sustainability education, both in Iowa and the Midwest. For more than a century, Central students and staff have prioritized sustainability at the college. After ...


Composting at Northwestern University Norris Center

  • Northwestern University (IL)
  • Real Food Challenge (MA)
  • Compass Group (NC)

The project consists of the successful implementation of a front-of-the-house composting program in Northwestern University's Norris Center food court dining area and the coordination of a series of experiments ...


Fighting Irish, Fighting Food Waste: Converting Food Waste into Energy at Notre Dame

  • University of Notre Dame (IN)

At Notre Dame food and hospitality are integral aspects of campus culture. Over the last three years, two student-centered projects aimed at fighting food waste will allow Notre Dame to ...


Student Leaders Supporting Student Success

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

The Bobcat Pantry serves as a sustainable service addressing food insecurity while combating student huger and malnourishments. The space encourages students to implement health-conscious lifestyles to further their academic success ...


The Good Store

  • University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
  • Prince George Public Interest Research Group (BC)

The Good Store is a low waste shop established on the UNBC campus to provide all members of the community with access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food options. The ...


Fostering a Straw-Conscious University

  • Boston University (MA)

Our initiative worked to make Boston University a straw-conscious environment.
Since most recycling facilities are not equipped with the proper machinery to recycle plastic straws, we focused our campaign on ...


Dollar Coffee Club

  • University of Montana- Missoula (MT)

The intent of the Dollar Coffee Club (DCC) is to leverage the powerful appeal of one dollar coffee to incentivize customers to participate in sustainability efforts through a quid pro ...


#LoveAMug: Reinvigorating a Reusable Mug Program

  • Princeton University (NJ)

In 2003, Princeton University Campus Dining (CD) introduced a 25 cent reusable mug discount in retail operations. Over the years, the program became stagnant and was applied to an average ...


Chandler-Gilbert Community College Food Waste Recycling Project

  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ)
  • Maricopa County Community College District Office (AZ)

The CGCC Food Waste Recycling Project is a grant-funded campus-wide ongoing collaborative project that offers deep, cross-disciplinary, experiential student learning via an innovative solution for CGCC’s food and green ...


Fill Plates, Not Landfills: Implementing the Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

The Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program is a collaboration between the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) and the Merced County Food Bank to reduce food waste ...


Eating Green

  • Harvard University (MA)

I created a guide to plant-based eating for students on Harvard's campus. Unfolding over the course of several months, this pamphlet translated into 2,000 hard copies and a ...


STARS Report as a Framework for Campus Sustainability.

  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)

The Eco Rep program at the University of Texas at Dallas expanded campus sustainability efforts by using AASHE STARS reporting as a framework for new student run initiatives and projects ...


Developing, Piloting, and Factor Analysis of a Brief Survey Tool for Evaluating Food and Composting Behaviors: The Short Composting Survey

  • Central Washington University (WA)

Composting on a university campus may take a variety of forms. Sustainable approaches to waste management can be taught and supported through educational programs, peer-to-peer behavior modeling, and composting program ...


The WinterGreen Project

  • University of Manitoba (MB)

Wintergreen Project aims to develop technology needed to address the Northern Food Crisis by using hydroponic technologies to grow food in a shipping container


Healthy Beverage Initiative: UBC Drinks Tap Water

  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • University of British Columbia Okanagan (BC)

Bottled beverages are packaged in single-use plastic & often loaded with sugar. They're harmful to both our environment and our health.

UBC launched a Healthy Beverage Initiative (HBI) to ...


Making the Most of Meals

  • Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) established a food donation program in 2014, which includes bulk donation of nutritious foods from residential dining buffets (approximately 27,000 pounds in 2017), as ...


Are estimates of food insecurity among college students accurate? Comparison of assessment protocols

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

A growing body of literature suggests that post-secondary students experience food insecurity (FI) at greater rates than the general population. However, these rates vary dramatically across institutions and studies. FI ...


Food System Field Experience: STEM Identity and Change Agency for Undergraduate Sustainability Learners

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • Oregon State University (OR)

Experiential STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning increases STEM identity and belongingness in STEM communities. Experiential food systems education affects change agency and intention to effect change. But little ...


Attitudes of dining customers towards sustainability-related food values at a public University campus

  • Oregon State University (OR)
  • University of Wisconsin-Extension (WI)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

The plethora of alternative food labels emerging in the marketplace reflects consumer interest in informed and sustainable purchasing. However, consumers’ preferences vary with respect to the sustainability metrics represented by ...


Low Carbon Footprint Dinner - Univ. of Oregon

  • University of Oregon (OR)

During Earth Week the University of Oregon hosted a "Low Carbon Footprint" dinner, featuring foods that have lower carbon emissions from production through to waste. Low Carbon Footprint options were ...


Cal Poly Earth Week Festival

  • California Polytechnic State University (CA)

Cal Poly Earth Week, hosted by Cal Poly Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability Department in collaboration with Green Campus and many other campus and community entities! See discussion section and schedule ...


International Development and Food Policy (BSc)

  • University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork (Co. Cork)

The BSc International Development and Food Policy is the first undergraduate programme in Ireland to have a primary focus on international development, particularly on the countries of the global south ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Food Minor

  • University of Michigan (MI)

The minor is designed to provide the information and analytic skills necessary to understanding the sustainable production and consumption of food. The course work analyzes the current food system across ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Food Studies Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS)

  • Syracuse University (NY)

The academic field of Food Studies trains students in the fast-changing landscape of international food policy as well as local food governance systems. The program at Syracuse University is characterized ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Food Studies (MS)

  • Syracuse University (NY)

The Master of Science in Food Studies is a 36-credit hour graduate program providing students with a foundation in the political economy of food systems, including food policy, human rights ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Food Studies Minor

  • Syracuse University (NY)

Food Studies is one of the fastest-growing fields of study in North America. It has expanded to become a broad academic discipline, encompassing the study of food delivery systems, social ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Food Studies (BS)

  • Syracuse University (NY)

Food Studies is one of the fastest-growing fields of study in North America. It has expanded to become a broad academic discipline, encompassing the study of food delivery systems, social ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Building sustainable university-based community gardens: Volunteer perceptions of enablers and barriers to engagement and benefits received from volunteering in the Moving Feast

  • University of the Sunshine Coast
  • University of Portsmouth

Community gardens are receiving increasing attention as a source of locally available and sustainable food, and aim to increase food security. Engagement and commitment from the volunteer workforce in community ...

  • Posted April 30, 2019
  • Publications
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Disruptive innovation and operationalization in local and sustainable food systems: Examining the University of Toronto-Local Food Plus partnership

  • University of Toronto (ON)

This paper traces the partnership between the University of Toronto and the non-profit Local Food Plus (LFP) to bring local sustainable food to its St. George campus. At its launch ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Boston University Earth Week

  • Boston University (MA)

In 2019 Boston University hosted its Ninth Annual Earth Week. Partnering with numerous area organizations, businesses, University departments, and student clubs, sustainability@BU put on several events to celebrate Earth ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Photographs
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Lettuce Bee Sustainable at Dominican University - River Forest, IL

  • Dominican University (IL)

Lettuce Bee Sustainable this Earth Day, Monday, April 22 from Noon to 2:00 pm in the Parmer Atrium.

• Build your own Salad in a Jar. • Taste test vegan Avocado ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Photographs
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MUSC Earth Day & Local Food Festival

  • Medical University of South Carolina (SC)

On Wednesday April 10th, 2019 MUSC hosted the largest Earth Day event in the Charleston area. Running from 11am to 2pm on the MUSC Horseshoe, MUSC Earth Day and Local ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Photographs
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William & Mary Earth Day Festival 2019

  • College of William & Mary (VA)

Individuals celebrating Earth Day at the College of William & Mary through tabling, a butterfly tent, and photographs taken with the Lorax

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Photographs
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How Can Wolves & Ag Co-Exist? (Earth Day Event)

  • Feather River College (CA)

Feather River College's Sustainability Action Team hosts a Spring Sustainability Series. This year it culminated with an event called "How Can Wolves and Ag Co-Exist" in partnership with the ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
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Tarrant County College Southeast Campus Aquaponics Cultivation Center and Wildlife Development

  • Tarrant County College Southeast (TX)

This is a massive, on-going project that we have been developing as a committee over the past 2 years. Right now, I am in the process of developing 2 miles ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
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UW-Madison Reusable To Go Containers- Ticket to Take Out!

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Beginning in Fall 2018, all University Housing Dining Markets moved exclusively to a reusable to-go container program for all carry-out food. The goal of this program, named Ticket to Take ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Case Studies
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From contracts to culture: Exploring how to leverage local, sustainable food purchasing by institutions for food systems change

  • Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (ON)

In recent years, certain hospitals, schools, and campuses across Canada have shown that they can transform their practices to serve more local and sustainable food. These changes have often been ...

  • Posted March 6, 2019
  • Publications
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Self-operated vs. corporate contract: A study of food procurement at two universities in Manitoba

  • University of Manitoba (MB)
  • University of Waterloo (ON)

Public institutions are increasingly being pressured to demonstrate how they are meeting their responsibilities and obligations to sustainability. Yet there is little academic research on food procurement at universities in ...

  • Posted March 6, 2019
  • Publications
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Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems (MS)

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

Learn online and earn your Master of Science (M.S.) in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Gain expertise in sustainable food systems and innovative ...

  • Posted Feb. 13, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Sustainable Food and Nutrition (BA)

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

Students can share their passion for food from farm-to-fork (food production through consumption) and working on food-related issues at a community, national or international level in the sustainable food and ...

  • Posted Feb. 13, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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Farming & Food Systems Focus (BA in Human Ecology)

  • College of the Atlantic (ME)

Understanding food and its production requires insights from history, anthropology, economics, politics, ecology, botany, chemistry, and so on. Accordingly, this program offers a diverse and interdisciplinary set of classes in ...

  • Posted Jan. 25, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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University of Vermont Dining Services Vendor RFP

  • University of Vermont (VT)
  • Real Food Challenge (MA)

Request for Proposals for the University of Vermont's dining services provider, specifying ways that the Real Food Challenge and other sustainability measures are to be incorporated into the vendor ...


Transitioning “Upward” When “Downstream” Efforts Are Insufficient

  • Western Colorado University (CO)

This article presents the results of a social marketing campaign to encourage individuals to compost at a university dining facility. Downstream efforts were less effective than desired in changing behavior ...

  • Posted Dec. 21, 2018
  • Publications
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The Real Impact of Real Food: 8 Ways Institutional Procurement is Building Real Food Economy

  • Real Food Challenge (MA)

This report pulls from interviews of 50 Real Food vendors across the US detailing how commitments to purchasing Real Food has improved their livelihoods and the overall infrastructure for a ...

  • Posted Dec. 21, 2018
  • Publications
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An emerging signature pedagogy for sustainable food systems education

  • Montana State University (MT)
  • University of California, Davis (CA)
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)

Concerns are growing over the ability of the modern food system to simultaneously achieve food security and environmental sustainability in the face of global change. Yet, the dominant tendency within ...

  • Posted Dec. 11, 2018
  • Publications
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Food Studies Certificate (FDST)

  • Dickinson College (PA)

Food studies is the critical examination of food—the evolution of its procurement, production, consumption and cultural meanings within the contexts of the natural and social sciences and humanities. It ...

  • Posted Nov. 20, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

OP 7: Food and Beverage Purchasing

OP 8: Sustainable Dining

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Food & Dining Partners