Written by Chris Kirschner
There are two kinds of on-campus food: the kind that uses up a meal block (Gator Corner and Fresh Food Company/Broward Dining) and the kind that uses up declining balance (everything else). The meal-block variety is pretty cheap, very filling, and easy to get to, and it’ll prevent you from lying to your mom when you tell her you’ve been eating your veggies. They do try to have a good variety, with hot meals, pizza, pasta, salads, cereal, desserts, sandwich fixin’s, and other stuff available at every meal. However, after a couple of semesters, you’ll probably get tired of it, and it’s not really anything to write home about to start with.
The best meal plan option is the declining balance route. You can put as much money as you want on the card, and you can have the option for an automatic reload when your balance gets down to $50. This money never expires, unlike the regular meal plan's "Flex Bucks" option. Flex Bucks give you the option to eat anywhere at the on-campus fast food places (Moe's, Burger King, etc.). At the end of the semester, if your Flex Bucks are not all used up, they go to waste. If you want more food for your money, the declining balance is the way to go. Plus, you will get tired of the dining hall food very quickly.