Meal Plans
Questions? Check out our Meal Plan Video.
At Lafayette, there are currently two categories of meal plans.
Traditional
Traditional meal plans allow a student to access the two student restaurants a certain number of times per week. Meals must be eaten during the designated week, one meal per designated meal period can be used; meals do not carry over from meal period to meal period or from week to week. The traditional meal plan week is defined as Saturday through Friday. Generally, breakfast (between 7:00 a.m. and 10:59 a.m.), lunch (between 11:00 a.m. and 4:29 p.m.), and dinner (from 4:30 p.m. until closing) are available Monday through Saturday. Brunch (between 11:00 a.m. and 4:29 p.m.) and dinner (from 4:30 p.m. until closing) are available on Sunday.
Block
Block meal plans offer flexibility in that meals can be used anytime during the course of the semester. You are buying an allotment of meals for the entire semester, not per week. As long as the meals are eaten during the semester, a student can eat five meals one week and 15 meals the next or use one block to buy a meal for a friend, multiple meals per meal period can be used. Students on a block plan can purchase additional meals in blocks of 25 meals for $345.
Tier 1 Meal Plans
Cost $2,545/semester for 2013-14
- 20-Meal Traditional Meal Plan: This traditional meal plan allows a student to access either of the two all-you-care-to-eat Student Restaurants on campus 20 times per week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday, and brunch and dinner on Sunday. Meals much be eaten in the designated meal time period and only one meal per meal period may be used. The 20-Meal Plan comes with $50 of Pard Card dollars.
- 210 Block Meal Plan: The block meal plan format allows a student to use the 210 meals anytime during the course of the semester. The 210 Block Plan comes with $50 of Pard Card dollars.
- Carte Blanche Meal Plan: This meal plan provides unlimited access to both all-you-care-to-eat restaurants on campus. Students on the Carte Blanche meal plan can go back to the restaurant for a meal, a snack, or a beverage as many times as they like each day at any time either of the restaurants is open. Meal equivalency and Pard Card dollars are NOT included as part of this meal plan.
Tier 2 Meal Plans
Cost $2,050/semester for 2013-14
- 14 Meal Traditional: 14 meals per week
160 Block:160 meals for the semester
Tier 3 Meal Plans
Cost $1,455/semester for 2013-14
- 10 Meal Traditional: 10 meals per week
105 Block: 105 meals for the semester
Tier 4 Meal Plans
Cost $1,115/semester for 2013-14
- 7 Meal Traditional: 7 meals per week
- 80 Block: 80 meals for the semester
Tier 5 – FLEX Only
Cost $360/semester for 2013-14
- If no meal plan is selected students, including commuter students, are required to purchase $360 per semester in non-refundable Flex dollars.
What is Equivalency?
In exchange for a meal under the Traditional or Block plan, a student can (1) choose one of the designated meals available at the Food Court or (2) use a cash value credit toward the purchase of a meal in the retail dining locations on campus. This allows students an alternative to eating in the two Student Restaurants and reduces the likelihood that a meal will be missed during the semester. Meal equivalency is available for lunch and dinner at the Food Court, and dinner only at Gilbert’s and Simon’s. Equivalency is not available under the Carte Blanche meal plan.
Running Low on Flex or Pard Card Dollars?
Remember, you can add money at the Cashier’s Window of the Controller’s Office, on the 2nd floor of Markle Hall in increments of $50 anytime during the semester.
Having Trouble Selecting a Meal Plan?
Try considering your daily routine. Do you eat three meals a day? Will your class schedule, studying, extracurricular activities, and social events interfere with dining? Will you miss dinner due to employment or evening classes? Anticipating the answers to these and similar questions will help you select a meal plan that best fits your lifestyle.
Stumped on which meal plan might be best for you? For more information on any aspect of the dining services on campus, call one of our Dining Service representatives at (610) 330-5347.
Allergies and Special Dietary Needs
At Lafayette Dining, we do our best to ensure every student here has the option to eat delicious, nutritious meals every day, even if they have allergies or special diets, whether dictated by health, ethical, or medical reasons. We offer outstanding vegan and/or vegetarian options at both our student restaurants and all four of our retail units. Halal and Kosher food can also be made available.
We are well-versed and can handle severe allergies such as gluten, lactose, nuts, and shellfish. We try to label all items that contain nuts; we also offer gluten-free breads and lactose-free milk as options. If you ask to speak with a supervisor or manager about your allergies, he or she can inform you of the ingredients in the items on the menu and direct you to what is appropriate given your circumstance.
If you have special dietary needs or questions about the foods we serve, please e-mail dining@lafayette.edu or call our Executive Chef at 610-330-5760. One-on-one appointments are available.