October 16, 2023
THE VARSITY The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
Vol. CXLIV, No. 6
Chestnut and New College dining halls move to controversial pay-by-weight system Diners weigh in on price, quality, nutrition, and transparency concerns Je Ho Cho Varsity Contributor
At the start of the fall 2023 term, the New College and Chestnut Residence dining halls changed pricing for some food items — including those from the salad bar, entrée, pizza, and self-serve pasta stations — from an a la carte system, where students could purchase individual food items at set prices, to a pay-by-weight (PBW) system. Stations that operate under the PBW system charge diners based on the weight of their meals, which cashiers measure using scales at the checkout station. The Varsity found that Food Services at the University of Toronto, which manages both New College and Chestnut dining halls, did not publicly announce the changes on its website, on social media platforms, or in contracts with residents before the fall 2023 term started. Food Services has stated that the change will increase student choice. However, students have raised concerns about how food affordability under the new system may have
health repercussions for students who live or dine in these residences. In interviews with The Varsity, many students discussed how the PBW system makes them feel forced to limit their food intake and eat less nutritious food. These sentiments echo criticism from fall 2020, when Food Services last tried to implement a PBW system in some parts of both New College and Chestnut Residence dining halls. At the time, the proposed system led students to organize a dining hall boycott, and Food Services reversed its decision to charge by weight. The nutritional impacts of pay-by-weight According to the Meal Plan Calculator on Food Services’ website, a student with the $6,070 Meal Plan B — which Food Services describes as adequate for students with “average appetites” who stay on campus most weekends — that did not eat dining hall meals during the university’s holiday closure or reading weeks must spend an average of $27.59 or less to remain within their budget. The Varsity interviewed 19 students on their
experiences with the Chestnut Residence and New College dining halls. In those interviews, 15 students shared the prices of meals they had eaten in the past day. Based on the prices they shared, students paid $15 on average for a single meal — a total of $45 per day if they wanted to eat three comparable meals. Residents also discussed how they limited their food intake, skipped meals, and opted for cheaper, unhealthier options to preserve their meal plan balances for the rest of the school year. William Gomez, a first-year engineering student, estimated that he had lost at least five pounds in the three to four weeks since he moved into Chestnut Residence because he had been “eating less” to ensure that his meal plan lasts for two semesters. Eight Chestnut students The Varsity interviewed said that they regularly skip meals or reduce their portion size due to residence hall food prices. When asked about the PBW model’s impact on student finances and nutrition, Anne
Macdonald, the university’s assistant vicepresident of spaces & experiences, wrote to The Varsity, “All of our dining locations continue to provide a variety of affordable, healthy, and nutritious options for students to choose from.” David Chen, a first-year Rotman Commerce student living in New College, noted that, despite being on the largest available New College meal plan, he still limits his starch and protein intake and considers vegetables a “luxury.” In 2021, Food Services commissioned a report from Envision Strategies, a private consulting firm, about New College and Chestnut Residence’s dining programs — including their menu offerings, pricing, sustainability, and community engagement. In the report, Envision Strategies found that students felt limited to a $21–25 daily budget because they worried they would run out of meal plan money before the semester ended, which hindered them eating healthy and balanced meals.