Nutrition and Sustainability

Dining Services strives to increase local sourcing wherever possible. Current local suppliers include Charlie's Produce, ABC Donuts, Winegar's Ice Cream, and Caffe Vita. We also support and receive seasonal produce from the Wildcat Farm, a six-acre farm located right here on campus.

Sustainability is central to Dining Service's activities. We reduce disposable item use when possible, and we source most disposable items from World Centric, a compostable and zero-wate product.

Future initiatives include:

• Food waste audits
• Pre-consumer waste composting at the Wildcat Neighborhood Farm
• Post-consumer waste composting at the Wildcat Neighborhood Farm

Dining Services is proud to be a member of MCURC, a collaboration of forward-thinking scholars, foodservice leaders, executive chefs, and administrators for colleges and universities who are accelerating efforts to move people toward healthier, more sustainable, and delicious foods using evidence-based research, education, and innovation.

The Wildcat Pantry in Brooks Library 101C is a free resource for the CWU students, faculty, and staff to access food and hygiene products.

Wildcat Food Recovery was developed to better meet the needs of our students and campus community. Overseen by our Operations Support Manager, everyday meals from Holmes Dining Room are repackaged and distributed to the Library and Black Hall pantry locations.

Wildcats can volunteer to repackage meals. All you need is a food handlers card!

Vist The Wildcat Pantry website for additional information and resources.

Allergen Identifiers

Dining Services indicates main dietary preferences and allergens on all menus across campus. Dietary preferences indicated include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. The top eight allergens are indicated when present and include dairy, egg, fish, sesame, soy, wheat, shellfish, and tree nuts. Please be aware that Panda Express and Freshens Smoothie locations use peanuts and peanut products. These locations should be avoided if you have a peanut allergy.

Look for the following information on the menus available throughout Dining Services, as well as the corresponding icons next to menu items:

Purple Paw Program

Dining Services launched Purple Paw in January 2023. This program decreases allergen cross-contact by using easily identifiable purple equipment and prep space for meals. Students, faculty, and staff can ask for Dining Services staff members who wear a purple paw pin, signifying they are specially trained to prepare their food.

Halal Meat Options

Halal meat offerings are available beginning January 2023. Halal options will roll out first at Central Marketplace's El Gato and Quesadilla locations, as well as at Sesame Ginger in the Holmes Dining Room. Look for the "H" icon next to menu items, or email dining@cwu.edu for additional information.

The Registered Dietitian provides medical nutrition therapy/nutrition education to clients (staff, faculty, students) on the CWU campus for conditions such as weight management, hypertension, diabetes, and eating disorders. Clients are also seen on an individual basis for food allergies, customizing food likes/dislikes to Dining Services menus, vegetarian dietary needs, and special dietary requirements. These are on an appointment-only basis and referral from the Health & Counseling Center.

Nutrition education programs are delivered to residence hall residents as requested by the residence hall staff. The Nutrition Staff prepares and presents organized and factual oral presentations on current nutrition topics as well as answers questions concerning nutrition, wellness, and exercise.

Coming soon! Through Meal Choice Connect, students can access nutritional information for the foods that they eat.