Written by Haley Bryant
Most students find the on-campus dining to be pretty standard, as far as cafeteria food goes. Some say that they love the dining halls, but these students are few and far between. The salad, wrap, cereal, and ethnic/alternative food stations are normally pretty reliable in that everyone can probably find something to eat there. The biggest complaint seems to be that the food is always the same, and it is sometimes difficult for vegetarians and vegans to find something that suits their needs. New initiatives on campus have been launched to help students both broaden their nutritional horizons and balance their meals. The dining halls try to give appropriate serving sizes and variety and offer the services of nutritionists to all students who have a meal plan.
After you tire of the dining hall, you can use Plus Dollars, CAV advantage, or cash in the PAV, bakery, the Castle, or any other on-campus food facility. Though the food in these places is much better than the dining hall routine and predictability, it is not always the healthiest. You won’t go hungry at UVA, even if you won’t be eating as well as you did at home. Many students enjoy Sunday brunches, with a make-your-own omelet station and all sorts of other fatty foods to soak up the alcohol from the night before. The PAV and the bakery, located on the ground floor of Newcomb Hall, are always pleasant breaks from the cafeteria, offering Pizza Hut, Chik-Fil-A, sushi, a smoothie station, and a delicatessan. Despite the standard repetition, the dining hall does offer a good number of options, as well as the opportunity to chat with friends and have lively group meals.