Get the most out of your meal plan
A big part of life on campus is the meals; choosing the right meal plan and making the most out of it is an essential, along with finding the best places and times to eat. Like classes and clubs, meal times are things that we have to organize into our schedules; they are constants in day-to-day college life.
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to food, and it only makes sense that various meal plans are available. Gold meal plans are fantastic for those who like variety; you can eat at each and every dining location on campus. Maroon meal plans are perfect for those who don’t mind having limited dining locations (only the Galleria, C-Zone, Piazza, and Sporkz) and are trying to save some money.
According to super-senior Special Education and Elementary Education major Vanessa Daday, the choice of meal plans “really depends on what you’re looking for. If you eat three meals a day, go for a plan with 19 meals. If you don’t, then go for a plan with 15 meals. I would recommend getting Gold so that you can eat wherever you want on campus.”
The 10 and five meal plans are only available for commuter students and those who don’t live in the traditional residence halls. Additional meal plans available are the 175 and 75 block meal plans, which give you a total of 175 and 75 meals, respectively, for you to use throughout the semester.
For students with Gold meal plans, flex is often necessary at dining locations such as the Cub Café in the McFarland Student Union (MSU); Grinders and Joe’s Grill in the South Dining Hall (SDH); and the Bistro and Flatz in the Academic Forum (AF). Flex can also be used for purchases at Taylor & Byrnes in the SDH, MSU, and Rohrbach Library, and at Academic Grounds in the AF.
According to Daday, flex helps to cover what the meal plan cannot and also allows for additional purchases, such as coffee. “I have flex because not everything that I want to eat is covered under my meal plan. I also enjoy drinking a lot of coffee. With flex, I can get coffee anytime I want,” she said.
Something important to remember, however, is to use your flex dollars before the end of the spring 2010 semester. Flex dollars from the fall semester roll over onto your card for the spring semester. Once the spring semester ends, though, any extra flex is non-refundable and won’t come up on your card next year.
Also, don’t forget that your meal plan comes with five guest meals per semester; these are perfect to use when family and friends come to visit. Keep in mind, however, that they can only be used at the Galleria.
Another way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your meal plan is by making sure that you are eating healthy. There is a dietician available to students through AVI Foodsystems. Appointments can be made by calling 610-683-1574.
While Friday, Sept. 11 was the last day to make any changes to one’s fall meal plan, students will be able to select new meal plans for the spring 2010 semester if they so desire. Those with questions about their meal plans can contact the Food Contract Office by calling 610-683-1314.
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