A Guide to Meal Plans

With college right around the corner, I see you fearfully envisioning your student’s diet as one of  burgers and pizza and fries, oh my! Yes, we’ve been making meals for our kids for as long as we can remember. (So, quite frankly, we might welcome a break.) And yes, some of our kids have learned how to cook or even to enjoy doing so. But most have come to rely on their meal being ready the minute you — or their stomach — yells “Dinnertime!” NOW what will happen?

Before you get ready to go on a cooking, packaging, and labeling frenzy to send food with them, just STOP. I’m  here to assure you that college food has indeed changed since many of us went to college. That’s not to say they won’t still be tempted by the same fast foods that were our staples. And for many, there will still be those late-night temptations of deliveries and snack runs. We’ve all heard about (or experienced) the Freshman 15 for a reason. But today’s college campuses, in addition to offering those burgers, pizza and fries, also offer quite an array of healthy meal plans and options.

Freshman Ease

For incoming freshmen, it’s really quite easy to sign up for the meal plan. Access to do so is often facilitated during Preview. My daughter started Summer B and was living on campus, immediately chose to sign up for a plan, and was happy with her choice. It was a great way to meet other freshmen and learn to make healthy choices. Her meal plan allowed for her to have a Declining Balance card that gave her other meal options outside of the dining halls. And she could still indulge herself. Occasionally.

Pick a Plan

The Open-Access Meal Plan can be purchased for either 5-day or 7-day access and gives your student the ability to eat at any one of the Gator Dining locations. These Open-Access plans offer unlimited meals at both dining halls per allotted (5 or 7) days of access. They also include a daily cash-exchange swipe at any of the dining locations around campus. Or you can choose to purchase a basic 10 meal/week plan.

Each of these plans also comes with a specified dollar amount of Flex Bucks (determined by the meal plan purchased). These Flex Bucks allow your student to eat at any of the other restaurants on campus including Chick-fil-A, Wing Zone, Starbucks, Panda Express, and Croutons. They can also use the Flex Bucks at on-campus convenience stores. Be aware that if you commit to the Meal Plan, you are committing for TWO semesters.

Another option is the Declining Balance. This choice works like a debit card and is tied into your student’s Gator 1 ID card. It is, perhaps, the most flexible account for dining. You can deposit funds at any time; it’s accepted at all Gator Dining locations; there is no minimum balance to maintain. The balance even carries forward until you graduate or leave school. Additionally, if you have purchased a plan with Flex Bucks and they need replenishing, you can add Declining Balance at any time throughout the semester.

Kits, Plans, and FLEX-ability

Available strictly for commuter students (which my daughter became as she moved off-campus her second year), Gator Dining has recently added Commuter Meal Plans. These plans include a 65 Block plan (65 dining hall meals per semester and $25 Flex Bucks, a 35 Block plan (35 dining hall meals per semester and $300 Flex Bucks) and a 30 Block and Home Chef meal plan. This third plan includes 30 dining hall meals per semester, $180 Flex Bucks, and $120 in Home Chef Meal Kits (12 meals).

As with all the other meal plans, Flex Bucks can be reloaded as Declining Balance at any time. But you do need to spend the original amount of your Flex Bucks by the end of Spring Semester or they expire. The word on campus sidewalks says to go to the POD market and buy a stash of snacks that will last longer than your expiring Flex Bucks.

Ask Your FAQs

Make your choice after an honest conversation between you and your student. We recommend you familiarize yourself with how each program works.  Go to gator dining to learn more. Be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions section. Pay attention to the deadlines for changing your meal plan. For example, after the grace period, you can upgrade a meal plan but may NOT downgrade a meal plan. A similar grace period is provided during the Fall and Spring semesters during which you can transfer the prorated values of your Residential Meal Plan to Flex Bucks.

Please Note!

If you have chosen a payment plan, the payments continue until the 8th and final payment is made to fulfill the 2-semester commitment. There is a grace period during both semesters where you may transfer the prorated value of your meal plan to Flex Bucks. After the grace period, you can still upgrade your Meal Plan, but you cannot downgrade. Only the participant may use the allotted meals.  A student can, however, bring a guest to the dining hall, and pay for their meal with Flex Bucks.

If your student joins a fraternity or sorority, Gator Dining will refund a prorated cost of the Meal Plan or Declining Balance Account with certain restrictions. Check it out here.

How to Choose?

Your choice is a personal decision that should reflect both your student’s preferences as well as needs. Because my daughter had dietary restrictions and requirements, it was easier for her to acclimate by having a plan that allowed her unlimited access no matter where she was on campus or what time it was. The same might be true if your son is known for his bottomless pit of a stomach. For many, the flexibility and longevity of a Declining Balance account is the best choice. They will still be able to join their friends in the dining halls when they want while having greater flexibility in on and off-campus meal choices otherwise.

For the hours of each dining facility on campus, click here. Please note that dining location hours are subject to change due to school holidays and exam schedules.

More Options

If your student is adamantly opposed to signing up for a meal plan, we still suggest using a Declining Balance card. This makes it a lot easier for them to grab something quick when on campus. For their big-picture meal planning, they can head to any of the grocery stores by bus or car to purchase the food they need or want (see our blog on grocery stores). Or they can choose from among the many restaurants around town.

If cooking on their own works best for your student, most dorms have room for a small refrigerator. Most also allow for microwaves (under 1500 watts). Many of the dorms have a communal kitchen, but your student will have to bring their own pots and pans. (These usually have to be stored within their dorm room).

Keeping with Tradition

Or perhaps you can persuade them to try making Krishna Lunch one of their healthier and more cost-effective meal staples. Not only will they be in the company of many al fresco-dining Gators on the Plaza of the Americas, but they’ll be enjoying an enduring UF tradition.

Does your student keep Kosher? The Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center has Cafe Chabad and They also have a Jewish Gator Semester Kosher Dining Meal Plan. Or check out Hillel who has partnered with Gili’s Kitchen to offer delicious Shabbat, holiday, special events, and meals on select days.  To see future days, follow the UF Hillel Facebook page. They also are a Kosher meat supplier and have expanded their Butchery Department.

A Different Type of University Meal Plan

There is a whole new type of meal service that is becoming popular with students who haven’t cooked before and don’t want to buy groceries but still want healthy meals and mom-style instruction.  I bet you’ve already been introduced to this meal kit industry at home. The premise is that the company provides pre-portioned, packaged meals that are delivered weekly to your student’s door. Check out our blog on A College Student’s Guide to Meal Kits. You’ll hear from our interns, who ate well while testing many of the meal kits.

Of course, you can always end up sending them some of your home-cooked meals. But take your well-earned break first. Let them work up a taste for home!

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Meal Plan and Other Ways to Eat appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Calling all Gator chefs de college cuisine! Here’s where to find your grocery stores.

Those of you from Florida — or any of the Southeastern states, actually — will be familiar with the major supermarket chain, Publix. Publix is a Lakeland, Florida-based supermarket featuring every department found in most grocery stores. You’ll find fresh produce, a deli and a bakery, fresh meat and seafood, canned goods, dairy and frozen foods, soda, beer and wine, flowers and stationery, candy and more. Their Pub Subs are the uncontested taste of home for Floridians, both native and UF-adopted!

Conveniently, Publix has recently opened a smaller location directly across from the north side of the UF campus, featuring prepared foods that include more than just those famous subs. Your student can satisfy their craving for bento bowls, sushi, Florida-produced grocery items, and Starbucks coffee, all in one place. This location hopes to augment students’ near-campus take-out and dining-out options.

There are three other larger Publix locations that UF students typically frequent, including a store on University and SW 34th street (just outside the northeast corner of the campus) and two more in the Butler Plaza Area. The larger location in Butler Plaza West on Archer also features an adjacent Publix Liquor store, and the smaller location in the Butler Plaza’s Esplanade is known for its enviable wine selection.

More Links in the Grocery Chain

Other major chain supermarkets available to your student shopper include Trader Joe’s, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and Aldi. Trader Joe’s enjoys a (well-deserved) devoted following, and I don’t know a UF student who isn’t happy to be able to shop at their convenient location in the same Butler Plaza area mentioned above — easy access, easy parking, easy on the wallet.  Fresh Market is a bit further away, but definitely worth the drive or Uber ride on Tuesdays, when they have their weekly fresh meat market specials. And IMO, their olive bar is the best around.

Whole Foods has also opened at the renovated Butler Plaza on Archer Road. In addition to its fresh produce, seafood, meat department, and prepared food section, it also has a create-your-own acai bowl bar, a pasta bar, and a hot food station. Their lounge area seats up to 100 people and sells beer. And for those who have Amazon prime accounts (remember the student discount for Amazon prime!), discounts include 10 percent off sale items along with exclusive deals. To get these discounts at Whole Foods, download the Whole Foods app and sign on with your Amazon prime log-in info. You can then show your app discount to the cashier or give the phone number associated with your Prime membership.

Another recent addition to the Gainesville community is Aldi. Aldi is known for being very reasonably priced while selling their own brands and offering them in smaller quantities. Students can bring their own bag or buy one of their reusable bags…and don’t forget a quarter to rent the shopping cart. Sustainability brings increased affordability, too! The fresh produce at Aldi is exceptionally well-priced, and they have a marvelous cheese selection. You’ll also want to check seasonal specials there. Aldi is where we can find our favorite red pepper jelly during the winter holidays. There are two locations in Gainesville – one at Butler Plaza next to Lowe’s  and one on NW 13th Street.

Alternative Grocery Fun

Two other food stores worth checking out are known for being organic and food-to-table type  markets. One is called Ward’s and the other is called Earth Origins. Ward’s, about three miles northeast of the UF campus, is a family-owned, local grocery store that relies heavily on local vendors. My daughter was first introduced to this affordable local treasure by her friend, a Gainesville native, who religiously buys his freshly roasted coffee beans here. Along with the coffee and groceries, they also shop their extensive bulk foods offering, inexpensive live herbs, and vast selection of wine and beer — all at college-kid affordable prices.

Earth Origins Market is a bit further away, near The Oaks Mall. They like to call themselves the “green neighborhood market,’ and accommodate various diets and lifestyles including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, keto, and more. Visit their website to find out how to save 10% on your grocery purchases there.

Ethnic stores are another great grocery resource. Look for them tucked into various corners around campus or in the local community. A few favorites include Eastern Market, India Bazaar, La Aurora Latin Market, and (a personal favorite) Chun Ching Market. And nearly every day, there’s a farmer’s market somewhere in town. With a short Uber ride, your student can enjoy a happy excursion that will also fill their fridge.

Get the App

Can’t make it to the grocery store? Shipt will deliver groceries right to your student (for a fee, of course). There is also Instacart, which delivers from Publix, Whole Foods, Costco, CVS and more. And don’t forget about Seamless,  which is super easy way to order food, including groceries, and you can cash in on their Perks.

Have your students download the apps for any of the grocery stores that offer them. Publix also has digital coupons. Taking a bit of time to check off applicable coupons may save them (and possibly you) some money. Publix also sells a two-part gift card that you can load directly from your local Publix onto your student’s gift card. It’s a helpful option if your student usually shops for their groceries at Publix.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Grocery Stores appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Delivery is the way To Go!

Taking time away from studying to eat a meal sometimes feels impossible. Your student’s choice can often mean the difference between a legit dinner or a bag of chips and a soda. Sometimes it pays to turn to delivery services, especially when you consider the value of brain food. HaveUHeard is here to share some of the services we’ve found, what they deliver, and how they work.

They’re knocking at your door:

• Amazon Prime – Seriously, what can’t you get from Amazon?  When you sign up for Amazon Prime as a student, the first 6 months are free. There is then a discounted membership fee for the next 4 years until graduation. Prime membership includes free 2-day delivery, among many other perks.
• Bite Squad – Offering delivery service from many Gainesville restaurants. Their site has a chat option if you would like to review your order or ask why your order is taking so long. You can also schedule a delivery for later in the day and check the order status. Gift cards are available. Delivery fees start at $1.99 depending on the distance.
• Doorstep Delivery – Powered by Bite Squad. Order from anywhere, anytime  – even a hammock in the park. Delivery fees from $2.99.
• 352 Delivery — A Gainesville-based delivery system (hence the name) featuring many local restaurants.  The delivery fee is $1.25 per mile from the restaurant to you, with a $1.99 minimum. Depending upon the restaurant, there may be a small service fee, but there are no hidden fees. Everything will be listed on your receipt. Visit their website for a code for (capped) free first-time delivery.
• DoorDash — Delivering from your favorite restaurants. There are delivery fees.
• Eat Street – Delivery and takeout options available. Delivery fees are $2 and certain restaurants require a minimum purchase amount. Eat Street offers features that allow you to filter your restaurant results by preferences like order-ahead, restaurant-rewards, specials, fast delivery, or try something new. You’ll find it all on the website.
• GrubHub – There are often sign-up specials to get both GrubHub emails and money off your first order. Sometimes they even have those linking deals where you get monetary credit for each friend you get to sign up. When it comes time for you to order, just sign in and local restaurant suggestions are right there. Delivery fees are typically around $3.
• Instacart – For faster shopping and easier checkout, get the app and have groceries and other sundries delivered from most of the same places as Shipt. Their service also includes CVS, Whole Foods, PetCo, and ABC Liquor.
• Postmates – A large on-demand delivery and pickup platform, Postmates is able to deliver anything from anywhere. Similar to Uber, Postmates couriers receive an order for your food, groceries, or whatever you need, then deliver it to your doorstep. Need another charger? Party supplies? Postmates will get it to you within the hour.
• Publix – Sign up via a social media or email account and have your groceries delivered to you. It is basically online shopping, convenient, and easy for those who don’t have the time, energy, or transportation to go traipsing through the grocery store to go grocery shopping. Publix has been known to offer a special that features a complimentary first delivery, so check their site.
• Seamless – a Super easy way to order food for delivery or takeout, and you can cash in on their Perks. Their very likable motto: “Whatever you’re in the mood for, wherever you’re in the mood for it, you’ve got it.” Can there be a life app like that?
• Shipt – Another online shopping service for how we live today. You can get deliveries from stores like Publix, Costco, Target, and ABC Fine Wines & Spirits. Their shoppers will do what your student doesn’t have time for. Or, if your student does have some spare time and interest in spare change, they can work for Shipt and get paid to shop for others.
• UberEats – Same concept as Uber, but they deliver food. Via the app, you can track when the restaurant is preparing food, when your driver is picking it up, and when they are en route to you. The fee can sometimes be a little pricier than most delivery places.

Delivery Peace of Mind…and Sweet Tooth

Midnight Cookies – Located on SW 34th Street, this homemade, fresh-baked cookie shop serves up lots of custom cookies including traditional chocolate chip, sugar, snickerdoodles, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin. Okay, so it’s not really a dinner option, but when midnight hits and your student is still studying, then a sugar high is sometimes the only thing that keeps them going. Even your vegan foodie will find cookie options here. And if a little midnight cookie celebration is in order, there are new Cookie Decorating Kits available. Be sure to check their Specials page for featured specials, going the budget-wise route our blog here suggests. (Sometimes calorie-foolishness is the order of the day…or midnight!)

It’s good to know that food can be delivered right to your student’s dorm or apartment when they have been studying for hours on end. But when they aren’t feeling well, that ups the ante on getting something healthy and healing to their doorstep. My favorite delivery option is probably chicken soup from the Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center. This is a free service provided by Chabad UF, available to any student, Jewish or not. Donations are welcome to maintain this service. The way I see it, it’s a small price to pay for someone doing the mom-thing for your kid when your kitchen is hours and miles away.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post It’s All About the Delivery, get it now! appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.