<p>Hey, i dont know how the meal plans work there in Lehigh University.
As a part of my financial aid package, I was bound to choose any meal plan from the Category I. I didnt realise that the Category I consist of 3 different meal plans, plus I didnt have any idea which one to choose from,so I chose the 19 meal plan from the following meal plans:</p>
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<p>19-Meal plan
14-Meal plan
225-Block meal plan</p>
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<p>I dont usually keep a fixed schedule of dining. I'm so random about eating food.
Could anyone describe how each of these meal plan work and which one is more suitable?</p>
<p>The last date to change any meal plans is May 31, so could u guys please put your insights in this?</p>
<p>The weekly are great if you a pretty regular with your eating and plan to be on campus each weekend. The problem with it from my family’s standpoint is that you lose unused meals each week whereas the 225 plans just saves them and you do not lose them until the end of the semester. So if you plan on going away for the weekend or eating in Bethlehem at a restaurant you do not lose meal money for those days. At the end of the semester you can buy stuff with your unused tickets at the University Center - cases of water, snacks etc…</p>
<p>My garage is full of cases of Gatorade, orange juice, Starbucks Doubleshots and more from leftover swipes from the 225 meal plan. One swipe (meal) is valued at $4.35. A case of Gatorade at the school market was $43.99 - only 11 swipes! I’m guessing my son didn’t eat much this past semester.</p>
<p>My son had around 12 left over first semester and only a few second. First semester freshman get a lot of free food at the different events around orientation. Also, the CHOICE housing program incldues events that involve free food. In addition, my son had an insane schedule first semester and frankly. it took him a few weeks to figure out how and when to eat on certain days due to his schedule.</p>
<p>This is from Lehigh’s Economics Society blog. The first comment even brings a little more detail. I found the same thing when I was deciding my meal plan. Unless you are forced to purchase a meal plan (which is an annoying rule) then the only meal plans you should consider are Dining Dollars, 19 Meals, or Unlimited. In economics jargon, we say that all other meal plans are “dominated” because no matter what other meal plan you choose and however you choose to use that meal plan, you could always spend less using Dining Dollars, 19 Meals, or Unlimited. That being said, it is difficult to make 19 meals or Unlimited cheaper than Dining Dollars unless you are eating a large proportion of your meals at Rathbone, Lower, or Brodhead.</p>