Food glorious food!!!!!!!!!!! Students?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
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<p>Alas, the greatest indicator I have that I have irrevocably crossed the generation gap is that I envy my children not the social aspects of their college experience, but the fact they can go to a dining hall where all the food is already prepared with great variety--no hassles of shopping, cooking, cleaning up.</p>

<p>Yep, I'm old!</p>

<p>In any case, I was wondering how kids manage on the Flex 14 plan, with 14 meals in the dining hall per week, then $250 or something like it to spend in other on-campus food venues. Some questions:</p>

<p>Are 14 dining hall meals a week enough, or do you ever go over?</p>

<p>If you go over on dining hall meals, do they charge you the ridiculous per meal rate there?</p>

<p>Do meals missed one week carry over to the next one (i.e. if you only eat 10 meals in the dining hall one week, do the 4 carry over?) or is it lose it or use it?</p>

<p>How long does the $250 last in the semester before you start dipping in your own pocket?</p>

<p>Any hints on making that cash last?</p>

<p>Oh, one more, just for fun--what is your:</p>

<p>1) Favorite entree in dining hall
2) Favorite dining hall
3) Favorite non-dining-hall eating venue
4) Best deal for the flex bucks...</p>

<p>Thanks!!!!!!!!!! :)</p>

2

<p>not currently a student and i know this is only answering one of your questions, but ive eaten in the dining hall several times...you have to try the muffins, they're terrible for you, but its a must.</p>

3

<p>Will answer for son--as he would not or should I say does not have time to answer right now! He is on the Flex 14 plan with flex bucks. He has not ever gone over the meal allotment although sometimes he does not eat dinner in the dining hall--(Food Court instead using flex dollars). He rarely eats lunch because so far, he eats a big breakfast! Because he has an 8:30 class three days a week, and a 9:30 class one day a week, he has to get up anyway, and since he enjoys a big breakfasts (already prepared and choices in the dining hall), he rarely eats lunch. What usually happens he says, is that he will then eat an early dinner. (When he has been home for breaks, it has been interesting--he still wants a big, cooked to order breakfast and dinner early!) Meals do not carry over from one week to the next, but the Flex bucks will carry over from one semester to the other. Also, I'm thinking that the flex bucks per semester are more like $300, not $250, but I can check on that. His favorite dining hall is South, of course, but then he lives right next door!! Don't know that he has a favorite meal--or entree. I do know that his favorite non-dining hall eating venue is Burger King in the Food Court--probably not very healthy, but sometimes when he's in a hurry, he says, it is his favorite place. He also enjoys Reckers for pizza and milkshakes.</p>

4

<p>I can't remember the last time I actually used all 14 meals in a week. Probably back in the first month or so, and that's pretty much the norm. Following that, I've never gone over, so I wouldn't know how much they charge.</p>

<p>The meals do not carry over, but if you get Grab 'N Go (sort of a take out thing for a meal, with prepackaged sandwiches, juice boxes, etc.) before 11 you can get breakfast and lunch, and pretty much just use your breakfast to get snacks like granola bars and pudding. </p>

<p>You now get 295 flex points. That's a lot of flex points. Unless you regularly get meals using them (as in, more than like 5 times a week) there shouldn't be a problem.</p>

<p>Believe it or not, ND actually does a pretty good job with food services, even though a lot of people seem to disagree with some of their policies.</p>

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<p>Are 14 dining hall meals a week enough, or do you ever go over?</p>

<p>On the contrary, I usually have anywhere from 1 to 6 meals left over at the end of the week. </p>

<p>If you go over on dining hall meals, do they charge you the ridiculous per meal rate there?</p>

<p>Yes, I think it's like 10-11 dollars.</p>

<p>Do meals missed one week carry over to the next one (i.e. if you only eat 10 meals in the dining hall one week, do the 4 carry over?) or is it lose it or use it?</p>

<p>Unfortunately, no. Although that was one idea proposed in the most recent student election.</p>

<p>How long does the $250 last in the semester before you start dipping in your own pocket?</p>

<p>Last semester, my Flex Points lasted up until the last week of school. However, I didn't discover the wonders of coffee until about halfway through last semester and my caffeine intake has increased quite a bit since then. Starbucks is expensive...</p>

<p>Any hints on making that cash last?</p>

<p>Stay away from Starbucks. If you don't use a meal, go to grab and go and get some cereal or something that you can snack on instead of spending money on food. Also, if you are picky about water, get a filter you can use in your room so you don't have to pay for bottled water.</p>

<p>Oh, one more, just for fun--what is your:</p>

<p>1) Favorite entree in dining hall - quesadillas made with the panini press
2) Favorite dining hall - SDH by far
3) Favorite non-dining-hall eating venue - Cafe Poche in Bond is fun
4) Best deal for the flex bucks... Quarter dogs</p>

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<p>now i am very curious about quarter dogs, so thats 25cents a hot dog?</p>

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<p>Basically Quarter Dogs are only sold after midnight. Meaning they are the hot dogs that were not sold during the day, and, so as not to waste, they drop the price so hungry late night snackers will eat them up.</p>

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<p>that is still alsome, i guess after 6 hours of study into the night everyone needs a little something. lol</p>

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<p>OK, here's the deal. Quarter dogs are NOT the hot dogs not sold during the day. They make them every day at midnight and sell them for 25 cents until they all run out. Some nights, they last until 2 AM (I would not recommend that you eat them at this time), others, they sell out within minutes. Basically, quarter dogs are awesome. They are probably the worst, cheapest hot dogs ever, but they are amazing.</p>

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<p>lol, shellzie I am glad to see you have found the wonder that is the quarter dog. I have actually only had them once, but I agree that they are amazing.</p>

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<p>The worst, cheapest hot dogs ever are amazing? Is it the price tag or the time of night?</p>

<p>Also, where do they sell the quarter dogs?</p>

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<p>They are sold in the Huddle. And yes, they are amazing. It's ineffable. Sorry.</p>

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<p>Lol, Irish, you've seriously only have them once? I think I went over to the Huddle for quarter dogs every day during finals week last semester (probably not the best dietary decision ever...). I think it's the fact that they only cost 25 cents and something about how they are just about the worst quality hot dogs you can get that makes them so great, because I don't usually even like hot dogs. :)</p>

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<p>the dining hall food is so bad. south is better though</p>

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<p>The dining hall food is not bad at all!!! It gets old after awhile, but it really isn't so bad, especially if you get a little creative. You are right about one thing though- South is most deifnitely better. North is only worth it for make-your-own-pizza, pasta stir-fry, and the crepes. Don't bother eating the regular food there.</p>

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<p>but when you live RIGHT next to NDH, it makes it better than SDH especially when it's below 0 outside.</p>

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<p>NDH is never ever better than SDH. If I lived in Siegried I wouldn't go to North.</p>

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<p>PCB is right, SDH is totally worth the trek.</p>

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<p>ehhhhhh. i live by north, and it definitely is worth going there. especially when its snowing outside/when its freezing. south isnt even that great itself. i mean, its easy to get lost there, the food room is no better than north's, etc.....</p>

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<p>Get lost? How would one get lost in a structure that consists of an entrance and 3 rooms? I suppose it's an NDH thing...</p>