by Maria Trabjerg, Campus Service

All students must have access to cheap, healthy and climate-friendly food, which is why student meals have been introduced in AAU's canteens in 2022 – Student meals are filling, climate-friendly meals at very cheap money. It is really cheap for the students to eat, and a full meal costs far less than if you were to buy a sandwich in town, for example. In addition, you save extra by opting for the vegetarian version of the student meal. You can get the student meal with meat for DKK 26.50 and the green student meal for DKK 23.00.

The student meal is washed down with free fresh clean water from the nearly 100 fresh water dispensers available on campus. The purpose of the water dispensers is to give all students access to clean fresh water without having to buy bottled water – This is both cheaper for students and good for the climate. 

Students who need extra help to make the food budget come together can contact Aalborg Foodbank and every weekday receive free food and have a chat with the volunteers at 5 different addresses throughout Aalborg. It is also possible to buy surplus food in the canteens at a reduced price shortly before closing time.

Students and staff have access to food 24/7 and learn about Zero waste cooking

AAU wants the students to have access to food around the clock, as many students use AAU's facilities during remote hours when there is heavy pressure on project writing.

Therefore, refrigerators will be introduced that are open around the clock, where students can buy a meal that can be heated in one of AAU's kitchenettes. Here there will always be the opportunity to choose a vegetarian dish.

Jespers Torvekøkken operates the canteens at AAU and is on its way to becoming B-Corp certified, which means that they must live up to the highest requirements for sustainability and constantly develop. One of the initiatives that gives a little extra to the students is that the kitchen holds Zero waste cooking workshops for free for students with tips and tricks to make optimal use of the ingredients.

Together for less food waste and C02 reduction

In its food and meal policy, Aalborg University requires that the delivery of food and meals must focus on climate friendliness, the use of organic, local and sustainable ingredients. Our eating habits not only affect individual health, but also the environment. We must therefore reduce food waste, make use of seasonal ingredients, vegetarian dishes, smart serving utensils and sustainable service.

The food supply must reach a wide and diverse audience across ethnicities, diets, etc. For the sake of allergy sufferers, vegetarians etc. there must be visible information and declaration for food and dishes served.

These high demands on healthy and climate-friendly food at AAU form the basis for choosing Jespers Torvekøkken, which works strategically and ambitiously with reducing food waste. They have committed to halving food waste by 2025 (baseline 2018), as well as a 25% reduction in purchased raw materials. Towards 2030, they also have ambitious goals to reduce C02 emissions both in their own production and in the entire value chain. Read more here: https://torvekoekken.dk/baeredygtighed/strategi-og-initiativer.

Find your nearest canteen and see opening hours here: https://aau.torvekoekken.dk/ and stay updated on the week's menu and news at Jespers Torvekøkken AAU.