<p>From what I've gathered thus far, Clark Kerr seems to have the best food. Does this mean that the food at the other buildings are bad? and also, I heard that berkeley has an organic meal plan. Is that true or are people whispering nonsense in my ear?</p>
<p>Yeah, apparently UC Berkeley is the first US university campus to have all-organic salad bars. Only Crossroads has it right now, but by Spring 2007, every DC will have all-organic salad bars.</p>
<p>CKC has the best food, ESPECIALLY brunches, but the food at the others aren't necessarily BAD (except for Foothill - it's just awful). DC3 is quite good in my opinion, and Crossroads has HUGE variety, so even if you don't like the dish that's being served, you have many other options - there's always a noodle bar, sandwich deli, burrito bar, vegan options, pasta, pizza, other Asian food, cereal, salad bar, soups...etc.</p>
<p>Foothill, though it may have the reputation for not serving the best food, is now known for its relatively decent late night food.</p>
<p>And the food at the DCs are not bad. Indeed, Cal Dining makes an effort to cater to the different tastes of thousands of residents. Think about how difficult it is to make a meal for your family, let alone thousands of students. </p>
<p>And yes, Crossroads is the first US univeristy campus to have an all-organic salad bar, from the lettuce to the salad dressin and even the croutons!</p>
<p>What's so good about organic food? (This isn't a debate, I'm asking a valid question).</p>
<p>Organic food doesn't use pesticides, herbicides, and aren't gentically modified. Some people think it's healthier for you.</p>
<p>And at the same time, organic foods is a popular trend in American food culture right now and Cal Dining wants to cater to that option for those students who prefer to eat only organic food.</p>
<p>I dunno what's so great about it but I certainly would like to have the option of having it on my menu. I also have another question: How are meal plans arranged and paid for? At UCLA, meal plans are coordinated with your living arrangement and that's the amount you pay for living, but on the Berk website, it only gives housing rates. So is food included? and do you have a choice as of how many meals you get a week like UCLA?</p>
<p>Food is including in those housing rates. </p>
<p>Berkeley uses a meal points system. The standard meal points (1250 per semester) cover approximately 10-12 meals a week, though you can use these points as you wish (meaning if you feel like eating all your meals in the dining halls that week, you can...or if you want to skip all your meals that week for another time, you can...)</p>
<p>These meal points allow you to swipe guests in. The meal points can be used at the four dining commons, two residential retail locations, and for on-campus retail locations.</p>
<p>There are no daily minimums and maximums.</p>
<p>More information at <a href="http://caldining.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D">http://caldining.berkeley.edu</a></p>
<p>Damn this school. Apparently, housing prices will be raised next year, and so will meal prices, but we still only get the same number of points even though we're paying more for them.</p>
<p>Current students: Would you recommend the regular meal plan or the premium meal plan (the extra 350 points for the year?)</p>
<p>The regular mean plan is fine. However, if you intend to never eat now (or just a few time(s)) then go for the premium mean plan.</p>
<p>If you plan to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, go for the premium. Though most people just eat breakfast/lunch and dinner.</p>
<p>At this point one of my roommates has 400points left from the regular plan (we are suppose to have <200pts now), while my other roommate has the premium plan and will have to buy 100pts more b/c he is running out (just like last semester).</p>
<p>Thanks for the information.</p>
<p>only 10/12 meals per week? Then that means we should also bring extra money to buy food right?</p>
<p>BlueElmo: Yes, if you have money to spare, you can bring extra money to buy food at the Durant Food Court, restaurants, and Safeway (to name a few). However, for some students, that's not an option. Their financial situation may narrow them down only to meal points.</p>
<p>To solve this problem, Cal Dining instituted Cal Club where you can purchase items on a wholesale level using your meal points. So you can buy pita bread and hummus (just an example) and have that cost about the same as dinner, but that pita and hummus can last you several meals. It gives students the ability to strecth their points if they must. </p>
<p>For myself, I bought cereal from Safeway (equivalent to SoCal's Von's) and ate that in my room because I didn't want the hassle of waiting in line in the morning. I also ate out on the weekends because at some point or another, I had cravings for Thai curries, so I had no issues with the shortage of points.</p>
<p>that sucks. i thought berkeley would provide like 21 meals a week. I mean... seriously.</p>
<p>It sounds like the Premium Plan works out to around 21 meals a week.</p>
<p>Blue Elmo: Of the UCs I know (UCSD, UCR, UCLA, Berkeley), it is often the case that the standard plan does not cover all 21 meals. </p>
<p>Most students eat out on the weekends.</p>
<p>Yeah UCLA offers 19 meals maximum. 3 meals per day on weekdays, and 2 on the weekend (brunch and dinner).</p>
<p>dyip: Are the 19 meals standard or do you have to pay for them?</p>
<p>At Berkeley, you can opt for the premium plan, but you will have to pay $350 ($175 a semester). This will cover up to 20 meals.</p>
<p>"Most students eat out on the weekends."</p>
<p>In fact, the Cal Dining website explicitly says they made the meal plan so that students would be able to eat out without having tons of points leftover.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Current students: Would you recommend the regular meal plan or the premium meal plan (the extra 350 points for the year?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I thought it was 500 more per year.</p>
<p>The food off campus is amazing. Eat off campus sometimes, people.</p>