When you think of what factors go into what schools you like, what comes to mind? For some, it may be the majors offered at that university, their course load and the professors teaching those classes. For others, it may be the vast amount of experiences offered outside the classroom, including the student organizations, the research and internship opportunities, and the study abroad and study away programs. However, how many of you thought about the food offered at that university? For many, the idea of considering food as a major reason to go to a certain university may seem unnecessary on the surface, but think about it: if you are going to be living on campus, you will likely be eating from a dining hall multiple times a day while you are completing your degree. It is then very important to consider the quality and variety of food at each university.
Here at the University of New Hampshire, we take pride in our food offerings. We have three dining halls on campus, all of which have buffet-style service and a variety of options. Not interested in what one dining hall has? Then you can go to another one because each dining hall offers different options for each meal, each day. In addition, if you have a dietary restriction, there are allergen-friendly, gluten-free, and vegan options at all three dining halls, as well as nutritionists available to meet with students. If you would like to find out what dining hall is offering what, you can look online at the UNH dining webpage or through the UNH mobile app.
Beyond the dining halls, we also have numerous cafes around campus. These cafes are similar to coffee shops or convenience stores. So, if you want to grab a Starbucks coffee before class, or some mozzarella sticks and waffle fries at midnight, you can do so! In addition, there is also the Union Court located at the Memorial Union Building. Here, food services are like what you’d find in a shopping mall food court, with menu options similar to those of well-known chain restaurants.
Now that you know about all of the food options available to you on campus, It is important to mention how you pay for them. If you decide to live on campus, you are required to have a meal plan. There are three different meal plans, each with the three same parts. The first part is the unlimited portion. What this means is you can go to any of the three dining halls whenever you like and get as much food as you would like. The second part is the dining dollars. These dining dollars can be used at any of the cafes around campus. Finally, there is the Meal Exchange/Meals to Go part. With the Meal Exchange, you can use one of your meal plan swipes to eat at Union Court, whereas you can use “Meal to Go”at any of the three dining halls in case you are in a rush. A bonus of the meal plan is the guest passes. If you have friends or family visiting you on campus, you can use your guest passes at any of the three dining halls. If you would like more information on the specifics of the meal plans, please check out UNH Dining.
One final point I would like to mention about dining is for students who will be commuting to campus or living in an off-campus apartment. Unlike students living on campus, you are not required to have a meal plan. However, you are welcome to order the meal plan I described above or a swipe plan. As a student currently living in an off-campus apartment for their senior year, I purchased a swipe plan because it gives me the option to dine on campus between classes and I love the food here. Instead of just taking my word though, if you get the chance to visit campus in-person, I recommend trying the food for yourself. You won’t regret it.
