Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center - Nutritious Food Resources

Nutritious Food Resources

Food Insecurity

The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

On this page, you'll find resources the combat food insecurity! 

Food Available Immediately

Aggie Compass Resources:
  • AggieEats Pay-What-You-Want style food truck that offers delicious, nutritious, and healthy food. Stop by the truck and pay what you want for a free or low-cost meal.
  • AggieFresh is a CalFresh equivalent program that provides up to $291 a month for groceries and restaurant meals to eligible students who cannot meet the CalFresh citizenship and/or work requirement.
  • CalFresh is a state program that can provide you up to $291 a month for groceries. Essentially, it's a free debit card for groceries. The application process is easy and we can walk you through it, just make an appointment with our CalFresh Team.
  • Fruit & Veggie Up! offers FREE produce for UC Davis students. This program is made possible by donations from The Student Farm.
  • Satellite Pantries assist in addressing food insecurity on our campus by increasing student access to canned-goods and other items via an environment they are familiar and comfortable in. Currently, we have 9 Satellite Pantries spread throughout campus. Check out the list of pantries!
  • The Freedge
    • Community fridge and mini pantry outside at the Memorial Union
    • The fridge component of The Freedge has been temporarily discontinued due to issues with food safety.
    • Please direct all questions to the Aggie Compass email (compass@ucdavis.edu).
Campus Resources:
  • Teaching Kitchen strives to provide resources such as cooking tips and recipes, community gatherings, and practical skills to support the busy and diverse students of UC Davis. To learn more about their current projects and resources, head to their Instagram page @ucdteachingkitchen.
  • The ASUCD Pantry is operating on a weekly distribution schedule. Register to pick up free food resources, menstrual products, and toiletries on the Pantry website.
  • The Aggie Meal Share Program provides Dining Commons swipes/meals for students in need of assistance. 
Free Foraging Gardens on Campus:
  • Salad Bowl Garden 
    • Price: Free!
    • Situated just outside the Plant and Environmental Sciences building, the Salad Bowl Garden is an interactive edible landscape where you can pick your salad and eat fresh food while at school or work.
In the Community:
  • Davis Community Meals Program offers a free meals prepared and served at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, located at 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis. Check website for more times and locations.
  • Davis Night Market
  • FRESH TEXT will send you text messages about produce/pantry distributions in Davis by texting TOMATO to 888777.
  • St. Tabitha's Essentials Pantry at The BelFry (216 A Street, across from Young Hall) offers free toiletries like deodorant, razors, and menstrual products. Visit the mini pantry anytime or fill out a request form for what you need. If it’s not listed, just ask! 
  • WOODLAND VOLUNTEER FOOD CLOSET
  • Yolo Food Bank is here to help any Yolo County resident in need of food assistance.
  • Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) is a supplemental food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support program. It serves low to moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and infant/children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. 

Healthy, Low-cost Recipes

Cooking Classes

  • Eatfresh.org Mini Course This course will boost your nutrition, cooking, and healthy living knowledge. Each self-paced topic takes 5-10 minutes to complete.

Nutritional Education

  • Seasonal Produce Guide This guide can help you explore different fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Seasonal produce in your area will vary by growing conditions and weather. Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried all counts.
  • My Plate on Alexa is now available as an "Alexa skill"! Get healthy eating tips on Amazon Alexa or through the free Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. Just say, “Alexa, open the MyPlate skill” to get started. 
  • UC Davis Nutrition Services offers appointments with a Registered Dietitian and other resources like, nutrition information, health snack ideas, food/EBT maps, and a lot more.
    • Medical Nutrition Therapy is offered for all registered students. A Registered Dietitian provides assessment and evaluation for nutrition-related concerns and conditions. 

Food Maps