<p>How does the meal plan system work at UCI?</p>
<p>[UC</a> Irvine Student Housing - Housing Rates](<a href=“http://housing.uci.edu/rates.asp]UC”>http://housing.uci.edu/rates.asp)
If you are living in the dorms, then meal plans are mandatory. There meal plans range from 100, 120, and 165. This also goes hand in hand with what size room you have. So if you were to have a 100 meal plan and also live in a triple/quad, you’d be paying the least amount of money. Along with the number of meals you receive, you also get Zot Bucks. Zot bucks are just like debit cards that you can only use in certain school eateries (Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Wendy’s, Panda Express, a lot more). For both meal plans and Zot Bucks, your student ID card is your ticket in (given to you at SPOP). </p>
<p>Generally, if you live pretty close it UCI, like me, and will probably be going home a few more times than usual, opt for the 100 meal plan. However it does have it’s downside. If you usually eat at least twice a day, everyday, then it’s going to be hard rationing till the end of finals week.</p>
<p>Whether you decide to live in Mesa Court of Middle Earth, you will have the opportunity to eat at both dining halls. You’ve probably already heard that Middle Earth has the better food, but luckily it isn’t limited to those oh-so-lucky residents. So need to worry about that. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>so I plan on getting the 165 meal plan + 50 zot buck, which means I get 15 meals a week… how exactly does that work? Does that mean I get 15 meals every week and are the meals all you can eat or is there a specific serving… what do they normally serve?</p>
<p>there is no rationing of meals per week, only what you want to. if you eat 20 times one week, and 5 times the next, the school doesnt care. you hvae 165 till the end of the quarter- that.</p>
<p>note: 15 meals a week is basically every meal in the commons. theres a few problems with that: 1) you never go out and 2) you never skip a meal (breakfast) 3. you never stash real food in your room (ramen? one friend had a rice cooker… so asian)</p>
<p>and the meals in the commons are all you can eat. at places were you use zot-bucks, you pay just like everyone else, only you would swipe the id card (and lose some credits) instead of paying cash or whatever.</p>
<p>I would recommend the 165 only if you eat a lot and like to eat breakfast. My boyfriend likes the 165 plan, but he tries to go to breakfast all the time. He had some unused meals last quarter because we had a phase during a part of the quarter where we went out to eat a lot.</p>
<p>With me, I have to ration my meals because I always end up with extra meals at the end of the quarter, so I have to go to the commons more often.</p>
<p>As far as menu, you should check out the UCI dining website. Each commons vary in menu but typically there’s always pizza, grilled items, salad, dessert, soup, and sandwiches. And yes, it’s all-you-can-eat.</p>
<p>I would rather get the 120 meals + $75 flexdine, vs the 150 meals + $50 flexdine, even if you are here in the weekends</p>
<p>wow i didnt know i HAD to buy it… sucks. do you think anyone would by mine off of me for a little discount?</p>
<p>Errr I don’t think its possible, because it is saved onto your ID card. Unless you want to let them use your ID card, and that point, it becomes a hassle.</p>