Tips & Tricks from a Resident
Struggling to stay nourished or to spend your Base Dollars? Here are some tips and tricks from a Resident that could help you make the most of your Dining Plan!
Cater to when you鈥檙e hungry while still making sure you eat regularly and watch your eating habits so that you鈥檙e always feeling your best
- There will be days when you eat more than others, and days when you eat less than others. That is okay. Appetite fluctuates; it's normal.
- It only becomes a problem if you鈥檙e constantly binge eating or skipping meals.
Ate a late breakfast and don鈥檛 feel like having a full lunch at noon?
- Take a granola bar from Urban Market for when you鈥檙e snackish later
Studying and don鈥檛 want to go back and forth between reading and taking a bite from a messy sandwich?
- Grab a piece of fruit or a small bag of chips
Find yourself skipping meals, either due to lack of energy or forgetfulness?
- Set a timer and add meals to your daily schedule. You need something in your belly to do well in school and keep sick days to a minimum
Find that you鈥檙e always snacking or looking for something to occupy your boredom by eating throughout the day?
- It wrecks your appetite at meal times, and you鈥檒l never be fully satisfied
- Try gum, it helps a lot
- Try not to keep snacks in your room; it's easy access
Plan everything? Put 鈥渓unch鈥 or 鈥渨ater break鈥 into your schedule. Block off time to take care of yourself. It improves your mood, and it鈥檚 just self-respect
- Even if you don鈥檛 plan everything, do your best to set time aside to eat
The dining plan is there so that you can eat and don鈥檛 have to stress about preparing meals whenever you鈥檙e hungry. You鈥檙e still paying for it, so don鈥檛 swipe your card without thought
- Ask for a receipt from the cashier (balance is near the bottom, but above the total from your purchase)
- Boost has your balance in the profile tab
- Your Bridge profile shows your balance in the finance section
- Still don鈥檛 know? Contact Housing, they will be happy to help
Download the Boost app and use it all the time! It is incredibly helpful for staying well-fed
- Order near the end of class and then pick up your order on the way to your next destination
- Skip long lines at the cashier
Get up, order, get dressed and ready, pick up food without a whole lot of interaction if you aren鈥檛 a morning person
Vending machines
- Not the go-to
- Hard to track spending, and you don鈥檛 realize how much you use it. Small purchases accumulate when you鈥檙e not paying attention
Energy drinks and coffee are appetite suppressants. Keep them to a minimum
- Try to include a meal when buying a drink, so it comes from your base dollars
Healthier alternatives are juice, chocolate milk, protein drinks, or, best of all, water
Keep a small snack (or two) in your backpack if you know you鈥檒l be hungry during class but don鈥檛 have enough time between lectures to get a full meal
- Helps you focus, and you鈥檒l feel responsible, which makes you feel good
Find the closest food place to you and build it into your daily routine!
Example of a Balanced Weekly Menu on Campus:
Day of the week | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
Sunday | Yogurt Parfait and a Protein Bar or apple (Urban Market) | Meat Stick and Triscuits with Cheese (Costco) | Pizza and a Protein Drink (Urban Market) |
Monday | Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Mac & Cheese with Pulled Pork, Side Salad and Garlic Bread (Urban market) |
Tuesday | Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Chicken Noodle Soup with Bun (Tims) |
Wednesday | Blueberry Muffin and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap (Tims) | Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (Subway |
Thursday | Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Tater Tots and a Smoothie (Urban Market) | Crispy BBQ chicken loaded wrap or bowl (Tims) |
Friday | Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Poutine and a Drink (Urban Market) | Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Bowl (Burrito Loco) |
Saturday | Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Medium Coffee (Tims) | Salad and a Bag of Chips (Urban Market) | Ramen Cup (Urban Market) |
Thank you to Dakota for sharing your knowledge and insights!