Studying can take a lot out of a student, and no one likes to work on an empty stomach. Thankfully, there are plenty of dining options for all palates on campus, and lots of payment options, too.
On-campus eating is provided by Gator Dining Services, which oversees more than 40 locations, including national brands like Subway, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Pollo Tropical, Chick-fil-A and many others.
The university’s primary eating facility is the Reitz Union, which houses 12 restaurants.
There are also two dining centers on campus: the Fresh Food Company at Broward Hall, and Gator Corner Dining Center, where students can enjoy a changing menu of home-style cooked meals and buffets.
Most dining options are closed over breaks, except for a few places at the Hub or Reitz Union. Otherwise, hours of operation for each restaurant can be found online at gatordining.com.
Students may choose to buy food conventionally, or, if they plan to eat on campus often, they can choose from various meal plans, all of which work off the magnetic strip of students’ Gator 1 Cards, according to the website.
Upon purchasing meal plans, accounts are automatically activated and ready for use, according to the website.
Students living on campus may want to purchase an Open-Access Meal Plan through the university, which could save them some money. Under the plan, students can choose either 5-day or 7-day access, and don’t need to worry about counting meals.
Gator Dining officials suggest that off-campus students purchase commuter meal plans, which offer weekly roll-over meal limits and discounted menu prices.
Students also have the option of using a Declining Balance Account, which is a pre-paid system with no minimum balance or starting fees. It is valid at all on-campus restaurants.
Vegetarians and vegans are in luck, too. UF’s dining services have been voted in the Top 10 Best Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges in the U.S. by PETA.
Nina Zagvazdina, a graduate student in geography, said she became a vegetarian when she first came to UF about three years ago. She hasn’t had any trouble finding things to eat on campus.
“When I was a freshman I had a meal plan,” she said. “Every day for lunch and dinner there was something there … whether it was amazing or not was another thing.”
Zagvazdina said she usually brings her food with her, but if she buys food on campus, she usually eats at Subway or Moe’s, which both offer vegetarian menu options.
She also frequently eats Krishna lunches, which have been served daily since 1971 on the Plaza of the Americas from around 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The vegetarian meals are served for a $4 donation, or voucher cards can be purchased, $30 for a 10-meal card and $20 for a 6-meal card, according to the Krishna website.
For more information about meal plans and on-campus eatery options, visit Gator Dining’s website or call their office at 352- 392-2491.
