What are the benefits of having a meal plan in college?

Students who eat a balanced diet are less likely to get sick — nutrient-rich diets high in vegetable intake and low in processed foods, sugars and red meat create a more robust immune system. Long-term benefits of healthy meal plans include a reduced risk of heart disease and better weight control.

Why is it important to plan your meals?

Planning meals to prepare at home is a good way to improve your food choices. Planning can also help you avoid less healthy drive-through meals. A good place to start is MyPlate Plan. This tool calculates daily food group targets based on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level.

How do you solve a meal plan?

4 Ways to Make Meal Planning Easier Decide on meals. Make a simple weekly menu of meals your family enjoys. ... Check for ingredients at home. See what you already have in your pantry or fridge. ... Set aside time to shop and cook. ... Make a shopping list with your budget in mind.

How to use flex dollars u of u?

Flex Dollars are funds included with Meal Plans that are used just like a debit card at any Dining Services location. Flex dollars roll over from fall semester to spring semester but not from one academic year to the next.

What are 5 benefits of meal planning?

Some benefits of meal prep: Can help save money. Can ultimately save time. Can help with weight control, as you decide the ingredients and portions served. Can contribute to an overall more nutritionally balanced diet. Can reduce stress as you avoid last minute decisions about what to eat, or rushed preparation.

What are the 5 principles of meal planning?

There are five principles of meal planning – Adequacy, Balance, Variety, Moderation and Nourishment. Adequacy. By adequacy, we mean eating enough to support our bodies through day-to-day activities like school and work, and we're giving ourselves fuel to support physical activity. ... Balance. ... Variety. ... Moderation. ... Nourishment. Feb 15, 2023

What are the factors affecting meal planning?

FACTORS AFFECTING MEAL PLANNING. Nutritional Adequacy. Age. Sex. Physical Activity. Economic Considerations.

Do meal plans save money?

You can save money by planning your meals in advance. It can help ensure you only buy what you need, make good use of leftovers, reduce food waste, and order less take-out food. Your meal plan should also include a shopping list with the ingredients you require for the week.

Do universities make money on meal plans?

This means that many auxiliary dining services by universities are used as a revenue stream to further fund their organizations. These universities are making a profit from forcing their students into expensive meal plans.

Are college meal plans tax deductible?

Are college meal plans tax deductible? No, college meal plan costs are not tax-deductible. According to the IRS, expenses such as transportation, insurance, and room and board (which meal plans may be baked into) aren't considered a deductible education expense.

Using Your Meal Plan - Housing & Residential Education (2024)

Home Using Your Meal Plan

USING YOUR MEAL PLAN

Meal Taps

PHC

Urban Bytes

Our dining plans are stored on your credential account and must be presented at the time of dining. Tap your credential at the entrance and you're on your way! The PHC Dining Room offers buffet-style dining and has the most variety in Heritage Commons. Residents with meal plans primarily use their meals here, but anyone can dine at the PHC by paying at the entrance.

Dietary Concerns? Delicious Without in the PHC Dining Room where meals are prepared without the eight most commons allergens.

Meal Transfers

Plans

When

Where

Map

Students utilize a dollar value of a meal from your meal plan at another location on campus to purchase food and drinks. If food and drink purchases are over that amount, residents can use flex dollars, dining dollars, cash, or debit/credit for the remaining amount.

You are able to transfer a meal by selecting up to the dollar amount in food and drink purchases only; there are other items sold in the Honors Market that are not food items, such as toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, and medicine, which are not included.

If the meal purchase costs more than the transfer amount designated for that location, students may choose to use Flex Dollars, Dining Dollars, or USD to pay the difference. The typical ticket price for meals was utilized to identify the meal transfer rate.

Breakfast: $6.35
Lunch: $8.55
Dinner: $8.55

Students will be able to transfer one meal per meal period to another location, while additional meals within that meal period can be consumed in the Peterson Heritage Center or Kahlert Village dining rooms.

Miller Café in Lassonde Studios meal periods:
Breakfast: 1 a.m. - 9:59 a.m.
Lunch: 10 a.m. - 4:29 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 12:59 a.m.

Student Union: Crimson View, Crossroads Bistro, Shake Smart

Gardner Commons: Rooted, Absurd Bird

CRCC: Food Hall

Lassonde Studios: Miller Cafe (late night option)

Kahlert Village: City Edge (late night option)

Student Life Center: Shake Smart

Honors: Honors Market

PHC: Crimson Corner, United Table (late night option as transfer meal, via Boost)

Boost Mobile

About

Set-up & Use

Your mobile ordering app on campus! Order ahead at a variety of locations on campus.

Select a dining location, view the menu, and select a time to pick up your meal. You can check out with your credential account!

Download the app from the AppleStore or Google Play onto your mobile device.
Sign up using your UMail account
Set up your campus card with your UNID
Choose your location, add items to your cart, and check out!
Pick up your items by following the boost traffic arrows at all locations. boost pick-up areas will be marked with signage!
If ordering ahead using boost, DO NOT tap in at the door of the PHC Dining Room or Urban Bytes at Kahlert Village)
Grab your order and head out to enjoy!

Starship

Robot Delivery

Set Up & Use

Dining Services has partnered with Starship to launch its innovative food delivery service, using autonomous personal delivery devices (PDDs). Order and pay for food for delivery from the Starship app.

Download the "Starship Food Delivery" app from the App Store onto your mobile device.
In the app, you’re presented with things to buy from U of U dining locations.
Drop a pin on a map selecting where you want to receive your delivery.
Once you’ve paid, a person at the store packs a robot with your order, and you can track your robot as it travels to you.
Once the robot arrives, you get a notification to say it has arrived. Then use your phone to unlock the robot via the app.
The robot then travels back to work on its next delivery!

Flex Dollars