Galatasaray!

Dear Future Gator Parents,

            I would like to congratulate your student for being accepted into the University of Florida. This is a very exciting time that will involve a lot of adjusting. However, I would like to address an issue that concerns many parents. This issue is the meal plan. I know the preview staff have tried or will try to convince you to buy the meal plan, but please treat this experience as if you were buying a car; consider all of your options and alternatives.

The meal plans at the University of Florida have five options. These options include the unlimited meal option, three weekly options that offer 19, 14, and 10 meal options, and the block option which includes 150 meals for the semester. The prices (as provided in the meal plan brochure) are as follows:

                                                 Flex bucks (included)   Price    Tax    Total per Semester

                                 ❑ Unlimited Meals Option     $200                           $1,720   $95.00       $1,815.00

                                 ❑ 150 Block Membership       $350                           $1,395   $65.31       $1,460.31

                                 ❑ 19 Meals Per Week             $430                           $1,740   $81.88       $1,821.88

                                 ❑ 14 Meals Per Week             $280                           $1,515   $77.19       $1,592.19

                                 ❑ 10 Meals Per Week             $250                          $1,380   $70.63       $1,450.63

When you break down the numbers, this may seem like a good deal. You would receive “flex bucks” which is an allowance that be used anywhere on campus to eat. Also, you would only be paying about 3 to 7 dollars per meal (depending on which plan you buy). However, what the preview staff fails to mention is that students tend to get bored eating the same food all the time. The meal plan proponents claim that there is variety, but I can say from experience that the meals are nearly the same every week. If your student uses all of his or her flex bucks meals from the meal plan, they will only be able to eat (without spending more money) at the Gator dining centers. Simply put, a significant portion of your students meals will come from somewhere other than the dining centers; a portion more significant than the “flex bucks” can cover. Another drawback I know of from personal experience is that many students do not eat the 10, 14, or 19 meals per week during the semester. These meals do not roll over to the next semester. If the meals are not eaten, you lose your money. Yet another problem with meal plans is that, whether or not your student eats a meal at the dining center, he or she WILL be charged 3 to 7 dollars for entering; even if it is just for a few cookies. They must eat a full meal (or fill a “to go” container with food that they can eat or waste later) every time they enter the dining center in order to get your moneys worth.

            If you now feel that the meal plans are not worth purchasing, you have other options that do not involve your student going hungry. The university offers a declining balance option which lets them use their Student ID card which is linked to a declining account that gets charged when they make a food purchase on campus. If you are able to afford a meal plan, I do not recommend it. With that money, your student can eat whatever he or she wants without being restricted to only two places on campus; it only requires a bit of responsible spending on your student’s part. Also, if your student plans to live off campus, they should use cash and/or debit because they will probably spend less time on campus eating than those who are living in the residence halls. . 

            I hope that this information will help you in making a decision regarding meal plans. Many upper classmen gave me the same advice that I am passing on to you. By not purchasing the meal plan, I was able to save money and eat a lot healthier by purchasing groceries. Also, concerning health, I must mention that the gator dining centers are buffets. By avoiding the gluttonous temptations of the buffet, I successfully avoided the “freshman 15”; the 15 pounds that first year college students gain from unhealthy eating habits.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Friend