“Budget Bites” Workshop Helps Students Identify Food Resources and Create Tasty, Nutritious Meals

By Simrat Chhokar, Jessica Sellers and Mahmadkaif Ghanchi

In the Global Innovation and Design Lab (GID Lab) our work centers around design thinking and problem solving. This spring, our intern cohort got a taste of problem solving and workshop design as we created a peer-led workshop on accessing food resources for students.

The workshop, called Budget Bites, focused on creating affordable, nutritious meals using available ingredients while supporting students in navigating food insecurity. Approximately 20 participants attended the workshop.

Why this topic?  As we explored student concerns, we learned how big food insecurity is for many students. A recent 2023–2024 ASUWT Food Equity Taskforce survey revealed that 46% of students at UWT experience food insecurity, which is above the U.S. average of about 41%. 

In researching this information, we learned that our campus and community has provided a number of useful resources, but students don't know about them. So a big objective in our workshop was to ensure that students understood their options for food resources, no matter what their home situation was for food preparation.

Our design thinking workshop drew more participants than we imagined! We led our fellow students through various scenarios where they could choose food options, preferences and cooking vehicles, such as stoves, microwaves or no cooking at all. We shared campus resources that help students access affordable food options and basic needs support. By working through a design challenge, participants learned practical tips and resource awareness, so they could flex their inner chef muscles. The event encouraged students to build healthier eating habits on a budget and feel more confident utilizing support systems and resources available on campus and community, such as the UWT Pantry, Nourish Truck, and Giving Garden--all helping students find free or low-cost food or snacks so they can stay focused, healthy, and supported throughout the day.

So will the impact last? We think so. "This is a workshop that can be replicated in the future by a lot of different groups for our student population," said Intern Jessica Sellers. "This can ensure that students are healthy and successful."