Special Programs

Smart Choice is the food wellness awareness program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The program was developed by UCSF Medical Center Department of Nutrition & Food Services and the UCSF Campus Life Services - Retail in March 2009 with the goal to promote healthy eating among UCSF retail food consumers.

The program has two main objectives:

• Increase consumers’ awareness of nutrient content of foods by providing nutrition facts, labeling, and icons.
• Increase consumers’ likelihood of buying healthy items via promotion of healthy items (i.e. incentives).

How to identify Smart Choice items:

• Entrees/meals meeting the following criteria will be identified with a Smart Choice icon on a menu sign or “cling” at the serving areas. If the item is packaged, the icon may also be placed directly on the package.
• Smart Choice criteria are summarized in an easy-to-read format and posted in café area.
• Specific nutrition facts for Smart Choice items are available to customers, posted in café and are available in writing. This web site will provide links to nutrition information in the future.

The Smart Choice nutrition criteria are based on health maintenance and disease prevention. Customers with existing health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, may need to adhere to more stringent criteria than offered by our program. As with any public health promotion, our guidelines are general rather than specific. We encourage customers with specific health concerns to meet with a registered dietitian for individualized counseling and meal planning. For more information see our standards for meals, beverages, and our vending. 

FastPay is a cashless program available to faculty, staff, students, and other individuals affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).  Developed by the Department of Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) in partnership with Campus Life Services (CLS), this voluntary program is available to anyone at no cost.  Find out how to associate your ID badge with your FastPay account here.  Log in to your account at freedompay.com/fastpay.  

The Department of Nutrition and Food Services sells a variety of gift cards!  Available only by department recharge, can purchase the following gift cards:

For no administrative fee:

• Dining Dollars in increments of $5 - for use at the Moffitt Cafe, Shorenstein Family Cafe, and the Mount Zion Cafe

Available in increments of $20 plus an 8% administrative fee:

• FastPay gift cards in increments of $20 - for use at any UCSF vendor who accepts FastPay

Available in increments of $25 plus a 12% administrative fee:

• Amazon
• Fandango
• Safeway
• Shell
• Target
• Marshalls/TJMaxx/HomeGoods

Gift cards with an administrative fee are available only by department recharge with two required signatures.  Custodian (person responsible for gift card inventory) and the Approving authority signature of the department.  Please fill out the Excel spreadsheet and send to [email protected].  Authorized signatures must accompany the form.  DocuSign signatures are acceptable with final routing. 

Order is processed at Parnassus.  You will be notified by email when order is ready for pick up.  Pick up at Mission Bay and Mount Zion are processed in 2 business days.

Please specify a pick up location:

Parnassus:  Nutrition & Food Services Business Office, M-294 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday (closed holidays)

Mission Bay: Shorenstein Family Cafe, 8am-3pm Monday-Friday

Mount Zion: Mount Zion Cafe, 8am-3pm Monday-Friday (closed holidays)

Questions?  Call Nutrition and Food Services at 415-353-1461 or 415-353-8921.