Choosing a Meal Plan

University Residences offers three meal plans to incoming students, but how do you know which one is right for you?

Do you eat three meals a day? Then the 20-meal plan is most likely your best choice. Do you find that you grab breakfast or lunch on the run? Consider the 15- or 12-meal plan. Will your academic course load and organizational involvement require you to be away from your residence frequently during the day? Perhaps the 10-meal plan is right for you.

University Residences asked several current residents to share not only why they chose their meal plan, but also how they use the benefits. Their experiences may help you make the best choice for you and your lifestyle.

Jonathan Blount

Current year at Purdue: Junior

Residence Hall: Cary Quadrangle

Which meal plan do you have? 20-meal plan

How did you choose this meal plan? It allowed me the most flexibility for eating, as well as the most food I could possibly get in one week.

How do you use your Dining Dollars? I use my Dining Dollars mostly for Sunday night meals at the Cary Knight Spot Grill. Occasionally, I also go over to the BoilerJunction in Tarkington for some snacks and drinks for my room.

Dana Bolden

Current year at Purdue: Sophomore

Residence Hall: Windsor Halls

Which meal plan do you have? 15-meal plan

How did you choose this meal plan? I chose this particular meal plan because I thought about how often I usually ate on a normal day while in high school, and it was between two and three meals a day. I think it is a good idea to always eat a balanced breakfast and dinner; if I have time, I eat lunch in between classes.

How do you use your Dining Dollars? I use my Dining Dollars when I do not want to go to Wal-Mart to get little items such as milk, snacks, cereal, juice, or toiletries. Also, I use my Dining Dollars when family or friends come to visit, and they want to eat in the dining courts. I’ll offer to swipe them in, so they can enjoy the wonderful food I eat every day!

Wells Huskey

Current Year at Purdue: Sophomore

Residence Hall: Harrison Hall

Which meal plan do you have? 15-meal plan

How did you choose the meal plan? I chose my meal plan based upon my usual eating habits. I know that I enjoy having three meals a day, but I am willing to go without breakfast if necessary — and I enjoy sleeping in whenever possible. If I had gone with the 20-meal plan, I would waste meal swipes. For me, the largest meal plan that I could have without wasting swipes is the 15-meal plan.

How do you use your Dining Dollars? I use my Dining Dollars on Sunday nights to eat dinner at the Harrison Grillé or to get snacks from the Grillé during the week.

Lora Martin

Current Year at Purdue: Junior

Residence Hall: Windsor Halls

Which meal plan do you have? 15-Meal Plan

How did you choose the meal plan? The 15-meal plan gives me lunch and dinner every day with two meal swipes left over. I don’t usually eat breakfast, so the 20-meal plan was too much. I use my two leftover meal swipes to get snacks from On-the-Go!

How do you use your Dining Dollars? I use my Dining Dollars at the mini-marts for dinner on Sunday nights when the dining courts are closed. I also use them when friends come to visit, so they can eat with me in the dining courts.

Fang Ni

Current year at Purdue: Sophomore

Residence Hall: Earhart Hall

Which meal plan do you have? 10-meal plan

How did you choose this meal plan? I chose this meal plan because I never have time to eat breakfast in the dining courts with my morning class. I usually just grab some milk and cereal in my room and rush out the door. For this reason, the 10-meal plan was the ideal choice for me. I never have left over meal swipes at the end of the week.

How do you use your Dining Dollars? With my Dining Dollars, I take my friends who live off campus out to eat at the dining courts. It’s a great way to catch up with friends in an excellent environment. I also take my parents to the dining courts every time they’re on campus. My mom loves the make-your-own stir-fry station in the Earhart Dining Court.

Patrick O’Malley

Current Year at Purdue: Sophomore

Residence Hall: Owen Hall

Which meal plan do you have? 15-meal plan

How did you choose the meal plan? I chose this plan because it seemed to be all that I needed and just enough at the same time. I am involved with the athletics department, so some weeks, I lose a few swipes because of my commitments. I am not much of a breakfast eater, so the 20-meal plan is too much for me. With the 15-meal plan, I have the advantage of food every day of the week (including weekends), and I can use my remaining swipes to eat breakfast or grab some snacks from On-the-Go!

How do you use your Dining Dollars? I use my Dining Dollars to buy necessary goods from the BoilerJunction in Tarkington Hall because I don’t have the time to go off campus during the week. I also use my Dining Dollars to buy food for Sunday evenings since the dining courts are closed at that time.