How to Save Money on Your College Meal Plan

One expense that college students do not always consider are meal plans. That cost is typically separate from your tuition and board, a service you can usually access with your student identification card. Although the expense for such meal plans can be significant, important savings can be realized by considering what your school has to offer. Find the right plan and you will enjoy nutritious meals at great savings to you.

Read on for some tips on how to save money with a college meal plan.

1. Your institution.
Every college and university that offers on-site food service has meal plans in place. Some provide a set number of meals per semester while other plans are based on the number of times that you seek food. Some colleges offer block plans based on the number of meals you plan to eat each semester with unlimited plans offering the most flexibility, but at the greatest price for students.

2. Personal preferences.
While great savings can be had by carefully choosing the right plan for your needs, a great expenditure can be made if you let your plan go to waste. Know what you like to eat, when you prefer to eat and where you are most apt to dine when choosing a meal plan. If you are a late riser and prefer solitude, you may find yourself skipping breakfast out completely, choosing to welcome the day from the quiet of your dorm room. For some students, a late night meal is a must — is your dining hall open at midnight? Choose the plan that works best for you and supplement that with your other dining options.

3. Consider plans.
If you know that you will be on campus every day during the semester and will be seeking three meals per day, then a flat-rate semester plan may be the best value for you. Such plans typically allow students to pay upwards of $2,000 per semester or about $5 per meal. Value plans can be considered too, allowing you to choose the number of meals per week that you will eat in the dining hall. Choose such a plan if you know that you will get some of your food elsewhere. Some universities offer block plans too where you get a set number of meals for the semester. Once the block is used up it is gone. Typically, great savings are achieved by purchasing the unlimited, all-you-can-eat plan.

4. Where to eat.
Larger universities offer multiple choices where students can eat. Besides the traditional dining halls, some institutions have outside vendors on premises including Burger King, Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks. Some students have strict dietary requirements for health or religious reasons. You want to ensure that the meals served include the foods that you are most likely to eat, otherwise a meal plan may not work out for you. Instead, familiarize yourself with nearby off-campus eating establishments, pricing your food accordingly.

5. Flexibility and refunds.
Some colleges allow students to upgrade or change their meal plans in the middle of the semester while others show no such flexibility. Plan to visit your dining hall and other on-campus food establishments to learn what meals are served. You may not be eligible to receive a refund even if you drop out of school or decide that the food served is not right for you.

6. Understand nutrition.
Many colleges and universities "get" nutrition and are careful to serve foods that are delicious, healthy and nutritious. Still, that does not mean you cannot have access to an abundance of fats, making it possible for sedentary students to quickly put on much weight. So-called all-you-can-eat meal arrangements offer great value, but can also be abused. Carefully choose what you eat with an eye toward seeking balance and nourishment too.

Food Facts

Many institutions offer meal plans for commuter students too. These plans can provide great savings over ala carte meals, with discounts realized by choosing block or semester packages.

References
Penn State University: Meal Plans — http://www.hfs.psu.edu/FoodServices/MealPlans/index.cfm
American Diabetes Association: Create Your Plate — http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/create-your-plate/

Author Information
This is a guest blog by Ryan Berman, an avid blogger with extensive experience in the food catering industry. Visit ShortOrder.com for more restaurant equipment solutions.