<p>That’s definitely how I keep from getting bored. I rarely hit the same dining hall twice in a row. I love going down to Stevenson/Cowell and getting croissants or other interesting breadthings that never appear at Crown. And then when I’m lucky, 8/Oakes is serving meatball subs, another dish I haven’t seen anywhere else. Then there’s good ol’ Crown, with burgers that 9/10 would never have the guts to serve. :P</p>
<p>With 5 day dining plan, can students buy food with cash on campus or do they have to go off campus?</p>
<p>Meals can be purchased at the dining halls as well as the cafes with cash.</p>
<p>I lived on-campus for three years and am currently living off-campus. However, I do purchase the 55-meal plan so I do eat at the various on-campus eating facilities.</p>
<p>The food at the College Nine/Ten dining hall is just horrid. I cannot think of a better word to describe it at the moment. The food there is lacking in both variety and quality. I’ve had better food from a gas station.</p>
<p>Cowell is hands down, the best dining hall for both quality and variety. Their breads are great and the menu items are better than the other dining halls. When the sushi bar is held at Cowell, the sushi is somewhat edible. </p>
<p>Kresge’s owl’s nest delivers acceptable food in a hurry. Prices are high though, so only come here if you have extra Flexi to use up. The C9/C10 Terra Fresca restaurant is great, though a bit expensive and has limited hours.</p>
<p>I like all the input about the dining halls! I have a few questions though. For eating on campus at the various cafes/eateries, about how much does the food cost? And how many Flexi dollars do some of you use each quarter? Do you recommend the 5 or 7 day meal plan? Sorry for all the questions, I’m just trying to get a better idea of food costs. Thanks :]</p>
<p>I have similar questions to rinryuu. Also, how late are the cafes/eateries usually open until on the weekends?</p>
<p>For the most part, I can buy a meal for around $8. That’s usually the main item, plus a generous helping of fries, plus a large drink if you’re doing a combo. For a little less I can get a huge burrito and a drink. I usually use most of my flexi dollars over the course of the quarter. Though I know some people who don’t use them at all. </p>
<p>My meal plan recommendation is somewhat dependent on what college you’re living at. If the main dining hall is closed during the weekends and you don’t mind microwave food or ordering pizza, then sure. 5 days is good for you. I believe the price difference between the 5 day and 7 day is about $200, so it might be hard to make it financially beneficial to be on the 5 day.</p>
<p>The cafes usually are open until 11pm or so. A few close a bit earlier than that, and recently some have cut back on their hours. I’d double check before the school year starts.</p>
<p>My D got her housing package from Stevenson (might have been her first choice) and I spent a bit of time checking out the food options/costs. With S a jr. at another college we’ve learned, eating healthy makes a huge difference- as does convenience. But at his school it’s only an All-You-Can-Eat at dinner. I think UCSC’s endless food options at EVERY meal is great for you big guys, but for your average mid-size young lady??? It seems the 1800 calorie/day people are subsidizing the 2500+ calorie people. Yes, I know she could choose a simple salad with grilled chicken- but she’s paying for a pig-out.</p>
<p>I’m impressed that USCS does it’s own thing regarding local foods, healthy options, etc. but the endless eating- while certainly exciting at first, kind of goes against the emerging consciousness about portion control. Or will you tell me it’s all okay because getting to classes on the UCSC campus requires 1000 extra calories a day?</p>
<p>Er…it’s all about self control. If she doesn’t know how to restrict portions herself, it’s time to learn. The all-you-can eat is there to accommodate everyone, from my roommate who is the pickiest eater I know to my friend who is on the cross country team. It’s not the university’s job to keep us skinny. </p>
<p>I believe the meal plans come down to about $8 a meal. I think that’s a good deal unless you only eat cereal and pizza. </p>
<p>UCSC is striving for 0-waste dining. Instead of excess food being tossed in a dumpster, it’s composted. Even the napkins go into the compost bin. They encourage taste testing, and they have little paper cups around so you can try a small serving before you go for the plateful. So maybe it’s not necessarily the best for student health, but they are doing their best to keep the planet healthy. </p>
<p>If you have any questions instead of straight up complaints, maybe I can answer better.</p>
<p>I agree with Liesel. It is up to the student to exercise self-restraint and understand what sort of dietary needs they have. It is not the University’s job to monitor a student’s food intake. They provide the healthy options and the not so healthy options along with the nutrition information for both. If you feel your child is not mature enough to monitor her own diet, it is likely because you have not provided her with the tools to do so. Teach her how to eat healthy and make smart choices if you are so concerned.</p>
<p>I would also add that officially, UCSC refers to it as “all you care to eat” rather than “all you can eat.” They actively discourage the latter term as it gives the connotation you are describing. They do not want anyone gorging themselves until they burst.</p>
<p>No one is paying to “pig out.” The price is quite a bargain. If someone eats three meals a day, it works out to roughly $5/meal for the 7-day plan. This is a bargain as far as food goes before even factoring in the fact one does not have to prepare the food or clean the dishes. A meal at Fresh Choice, for example, is going to cost you more than $10 when you purchase your plate. That would be your access to the buffet and salad bars, a drink, and protein (which is limited unlike in UCSC’s dining halls).</p>
<p>You can eat quite minimally and the cost is still worth it. You do not have to “pig out” and you are not encouraged to do so. Anyone who does is doing so because they chose to.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I am a very tiny slip of a girl who has 1400-1500 calories/day need with extreme food issues that severely limit what I can eat. I have never felt like I’m subsidizing anyone and appreciate the long hours food is available and the wide range of options provided. I have not gained any weight because I monitor my diet and only eat within my limits.</p>
<p>As a freshman, I had a 7-day meal plan and I never really pigged out thinking I needed my money’s worth. I would eat my food and if I was still hungry a few hours later, I would just go back later that day to grab a snack.</p>
<p>As a sophomore, I didn’t have a meal plan because I lived off campus. A lot of my friends lived on campus and they all had 55-meal plans. Most of them made their food in their on-campus apartments so they always had extra meal plans which they always used to swipe me into the dining hall. I think it was a little different in this scenario because once the meals were limited to a set amount (55 meals/qtr) then we kind of felt the need to make use of that meal swipe. Sometimes I did overeat when they swiped me in, but it really wasn’t that much. I probably would add an extra salad or a half more serving of the day’s entree. I’m a pretty skinny person and require only about 1800-2100 cal/day (depending on my exercise regiment) and I’d probably just down an extra 200-400 calories in these instances. </p>
<p>If I did that EVERY day, I would have gained a pound in a week and a half. However, I only went to the dining hall probably 3-4 times a month and I also played club/IM sports. I think it’s just important to learn self-control and find some time to get some basic exercise in. Walking around campus might seem like good enough exercise, but it’s really offset by all the time we spend sitting down in lecture/discussion/lab/studying. Just go for a walk/jog 2-3 times a week and make sure you are fulfilling your nutrient requirements and you’ll be completely fine. If you develop bad eating habits early in college, it’s going to plague you for awhile unless something really opens your eyes.</p>
<p>Even with the numbered meals, though, one can just “cash them out” at the end of the quarter to buy groceries at Banana Joe’s. They’re overpriced compared to just getting things from Safeway, but it’s better than letting any of them expire or feeling a self-imposed desire to “pig out” to make the meal feel worth it.</p>
<p>However, since the numbered meals are assigned a definite value ($8/meal in equivalency dollars, $8.95/meal to add additional meals, $7.50/meal to add additional meals in quantities of 20 or more), I can see some feeling as if more value needs to be gotten from them. But I still feel the buffet style dining is ridiculously cheap when you consider the food being served and what it would cost to have a similar, well balanced meal anywhere else that has been prepared for you.</p>
<p>What I usually see is people with the numbered meals will go in with homework and spend a few hours just sitting, snacking, and getting work done. Or simply using their meals to purchase groceries and extending the value further in their eyes.</p>
<p>LOL- Okay, suggesting I haven’t taught my D to control what she eats is a tad snarky but for the record, she didn’t need me to figure that out. Once a girl in HS stops growing height-wise she learns the awful truth re horizontal growth the moment she takes her jeans out of the dryer. Also, she’s an athlete and has figured out regular activity equals freedom to indulge on occasion.</p>
<p>While some of you may feel like the price is reasonable- and certainly it is, to an extent- I was comparing the overall semester rate to what my son’s college charges with a pay per item cost on breakfat/lunch, and an unlimited dinner plan. His school also offers more options: various plans based on how much you eat. Santa Cruz’ meal plans ask you to pay for a large quantity of food choices whether you are a small eater or a large one. </p>
<p>So you all know, one of the reasons I liked Santa Cruz was because the school ditched it’s private cafteria concessionaire so they could focus on their own mandates of serving healthy, locally-grown-as-much-as-possible food. I was getting sick of seeing Panda Express and Taco Bell outlets right on the campuses. It was like a corporate take-over had occurred since I finished college in the 80’s. So UCSC was a breath of fresh air (and the food co-op up in the woods made me feel, yup this is the place! My D liked the non-Starbucks cafes).</p>
<p>I think I would just like the administration to provide some more options. That’s all.</p>
<p>@Liesel: “If you have any questions instead of straight up complaints, maybe I can answer better”. Nope, I was making comments, adding to the dialogue- not straight up complaints at all. Interpretation is individual, of course. Your thread is a good one and it drew comments as intended.</p>
<p>Will it be ok to keep some foods in my dorm? I eat a lot of 90-99% chocolate, and I would like to be able to continue to do so. Also, would it be ok to keep olive oil and some spices like turmeric and pepper in my room - would I be able to add amounts of those to options from the salad bar. Or add coconut oil to the oatmeal which I presume is offered?</p>
<p>And with regards to the 55/75 meals a quarter plan (which works out to 1 meal a day approx): could I make that meal a big meal - could i take 1500 calories with me each time I entered? Like I could pack the food in something and smuggle it out. Is that feasible? </p>
<p>Am i even eligible for one of those plans? (I will be living in merill college).</p>
<p>Thank you for making this thread liesel!</p>
<p>@maenidmom: It just sounded like you had a lot of concerns, but weren’t throwing them out there as questions. That’s all. It sounds like the meal plan options at your son’s school would be nice to have.</p>
<p>@enfieldacademy: Absolutely. There are no rules against non-alcoholic food items. I’ve honestly never seen anyone try to /bring/ food into the dining hall, but I don’t think they would have any complaints. I think you might find some of those items within the dining hall though, especially olive oil.</p>
<p>If you’re living in the dorms, you only qualify for the 7-day or 5-day. And sure you could stuff yourself with 1500 calories if you were willing to dedicate the time and stomach space to it. I can’t say I know anything much about smuggling food. You’re allowed to take out a piece of fruit or desert when you leave the dining hall.</p>
<p>maenidmom:
All anybody did was point out that your concerns should be unfounded so long as you have trust in your daughter to make healthy decisions. It would have been more helpful had you addressed your concerns in a less abrasive manner rather than what some of us saw as nothing more than unfounded complaints based off of misunderstandings of how the meals break down.</p>
<p>What I like about the day plans is it encourages multiple small meals because of the unlimited access. This is a far healthier way to eat for many people and is the only way I can eat without becoming ill from eating too much. I’ve been known to go in just to fill my refillable bottle with soda or a coffee mug with hot cocoa to take to class.</p>
<p>UCSC is one of the most expensive campuses to live on for room&board in the country. We get some very nice choices (I was shocked the week we had pine nuts available for salad garnishment), though. I swear, that container had to be at least $100 worth of pine nuts considering their price per pound at the time. It was a delicious treat while it lasted!</p>
<p>I actually would love to have a commercial place or two on campus that were better tied to our meal plans (at least the numbered ones). Even a Panda Express that wasn’t would be wonderful! I was tickled when the Panda Express opened down on Mission near Safeway despite it still being a bit of a walk. Their fried rice is the only thing I can stomach when my acid reflux is acting up and I used to have to bus all the way out to 41st Street just to get some. I got some strange looks for buying four large containers at a time…</p>
<p>My point is to just be careful how you word things. Many of us are more than willing to help alleviate your concerns and to clear up any confusion (we have experienced these meal plans first hand) :). And if you trust your daughter, why worry? A balanced meal that is in one’s calorie range is definitely a lot more than just a salad and grilled chicken. I eat a lot more healthy at school than I do at home!</p>
<p>Now, those fresh baked cookie days at Porter/Kresge can really get to some people, though ;). Even I have to exercise a lot of self-restraint with those delicious, hot from the oven treats!</p>
<p>Liesel:
I take in my own cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches I make with the panini press :B. I hugely dislike the mild cheddar they keep at the sandwich bars so I keep a package of american in my mini-fridge. I’ve considered bringing in my own bread since the one I like to use usually runs out fast, but I’d never go through it before it would expire.</p>
<p>enfieldacademy:
Like Liesel said, there’s nothing against keeping your own food in your dorm. Do everyone a favor, though, and don’t leave out anything that will attract ants. A hallmate did that over winter break and we came back to a hall infested with ants. We couldn’t leave anything out for more than 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Sneaking food out is difficult because it’s not allowed. You can take out one fruit or one dessert under the official policy like Liesel said. There are ways to do it, though, but you run a risk if you do it too often. Plus with the day plans, there’s really no need as you can swipe yourself in an unlimited number of times. If you must sneak out, extra cookies are the easiest to do it with. My CA suggested hiding one in a napkin with the other cookie on top of it, but they’re definitely wising up to this trick. If you have a really strict student working the front desk, they’ll notice and are often looking for it.</p>
<p>Smuggling food is not something I’d recommend. You could do a take out meal and pile it with things that will last in your fridge. I believe they charge for the take out boxes, now, though. Not something I’ve ever done.</p>
<p>Something that is not officially banned (by signage, at least), but not officially encouraged either is drinks. Many people take in their own refillable bottles and coffee mugs to use. This of course can result in the liquid being taken out as well quite easily.</p>
<p>“less abrasive manner rather than what some of us saw as nothing more than unfounded complaints based off of misunderstandings of how the meals break down.”</p>
<p>Kender, I suggest you read a book called The Four Agreements. You will learn about projecting your beliefs onto others’ words. When I read a post I don’t know whether someone was in a hurry, was smiling when he/she wrote it, or were thinking back on some personal memory. I also don’t think people would say in person to people the things they “say” to them on these forums.</p>
<p>My “complaint” isn’t unfounded. I won’t waste more time explaining how maintaining such variety isn’t cost-efficient for all students. </p>
<p>It’s wearisome how people on these college forums take the posts of others and find offense. We’re talking about meal plans on this one, not any one’s mother. </p>
<p>Fairwell, thread, fun while it lasted.</p>
<p>maenidmom:
I think you should take your own advice ;)</p>
<p>Here’s some more advice for you: if you feel your daughter will be expected to gorge herself or subsidize the meals of others, then have her live off campus. It’s as simple as that. Or push for Kresge where she would be guaranteed an apartment and access to the numbered meal plans and could take advantage of spending them on groceries at Banana Joe’s. Why even let her go to UCSC at all if you feel the meal plan is so terrible? As I mentioned previously (which I think you overlooked): UCSC is one of the most expensive colleges to live on campus in the country.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to waste time, then why raise the issue? Why not give those who experience it (and in my case as well as the case of others: pay for it ourselves as mommy and daddy aren’t footing the bill for school) a chance to counter your concerns with facts and first-hand experiences?</p>
<p>Others and myself have been more than polite and are trying to give you advice to help alleviate your concerns. You may have left (although I’ll be surprised if you aren’t still reading this), but I invite you to share counter-arguments to the ones raised by others and myself in response to your statements about the meal plans lacking efficiency. That’s what adults do. They discuss things reasonably. Please try it some time.</p>
<p>I wish your daughter well and I hope she doesn’t gain some outrageous freshman 50 or something trying to make her meal plan “worth it.” I mean that sincerely. I like to see healthy individuals.</p>
<p>As further advice, there are several very interesting PE programs offered through the school that would help burn off any extra calories one might feel obligated to consume. Scuba diving, sailing, aikido, fencing, strength training, yoga, and so many others are offered every quarter. There’s even a gym if none of the classes appeal to her. I don’t recommend biking unless she’s very strong in that department. UCSC is beautiful for hiking, but can be difficult for amateur cyclists. An incredible way to keep the pounds off, though, if she’s up to it.</p>