Of course, all of the varied responses basically say that the answer to the OP’s question is “it depends on the pricing of the various meal plan options, the alternative food options available, and the student’s eating habits”.
So if the price difference between the maximum and smaller meal plans is small, the alternative food options are poor, and the student is a hungry athlete, that may suggest that the maximum meal plan is a good option. But if the smaller or no meal plan costs substantially less, the student likes cooking, lives where there is a kitchen and near a convenient grocery store, and eats relatively little, then a smaller or no meal plan may be a better choice.