Eating nutritiously on a budget the goal of Affordable Meals Campaign

For many post-secondary students, affording nutritious meals is a challenge. Meal planning, cooking skills, and rising food costs can make eating well feel overwhelming. To help, a new initiative is bringing practical solutions to campus.

The Affordable Meals Campaign is a collaboration between Manitoba Egg Farmers and Real Life Nutrition, with support from NECO (Nutrition Education Community Outreach), a student group from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Sawyer Stern, NECO outreach co-chair and human nutritional sciences student, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of equipping students with essential cooking and meal planning skills to make healthy food choices more accessible, even on a tight budget.

“We are thrilled to empower students with the knowledge to make better food choices while reducing the financial burden around eating well,” said Stern.

The campaign provides practical, budget-friendly meal solutions through:

• A free recipe booklet – Packed with affordable recipes, money-saving hacks, and meal prep tips. Download the recipe booklet.
• On-campus pop-up event – Check out the booth on April 1 in University Centre and on April 2 in the EITC Atrium (11 am to 1 pm both days), where they will be featuring free samples, giveaways and nutrition tips.
• A free hands-on cooking class – This on-campus event on April 3 will teach students how to make simple, nutritious meals featuring eggs. Sign up for the cooking class.
• Social media posts – The team will be sharing resources, tips, and recipes on Instagram. Follow @reallifenutrition.rd and @eggsmanitoba!

Janine LaForte, a Registered Dietitian and owner of Real Life Nutrition, is leading the campaign and will be facilitating the cooking class.

“As a dietitian, home cook, and mom of three teenagers, I know how tough it can be to eat well on a budget, especially without basic cooking skills. The rising cost of food makes it even harder, but having basic food skills can make a big difference,” said LaForte.

She believes that knowing how to cook is a valuable life skill that can help not only save money and improve health but also build connections with others.

Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF) are excited to be partners in the pilot campaign and hope to see it continue next year.

“Eggs are the perfect snack for studying, an affordable and easy-to-make meal for one, and a cost-effective option for brunch with friends. We hope that students are inspired to cook more with eggs thanks to the Affordable Meals Campaign,” said MEF spokesperson Claire McCaffrey.

“With the push for buying Canadian products lately, we are proud to say that nearly 100% of eggs sold in Manitoba grocery stores are locally produced by regulated egg farmers, right here in Manitoba.”

McCaffrey noted that eggs fit into a well-balanced diet because of their high-quality protein, vitamin and mineral content.

“Simply put – eggs are brain food, and they can fit into any lifestyle or meal. One of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods, eggs are also one of the least expensive sources of protein. We are egg-cited to share our love of eggs with students at the University of Manitoba,” she said.