In the afternoon, masses of Ball State students swarm into the Atrium. The line for Papa John’s intersects with Boar’s Head Deli and snagging some fries at Chick-Fil-A becomes a challenge.
Senior social work major Alexis Austin knows that’s not the time to be at the Atrium, although she often is. She works there. Austin and former Noyer Centre employee, a junior advertising major, Anyea Gooch share a few dining hall tips for students who are in a rush and stretching their dining plus.
Save time
When time is scarce, avoid visiting the dining halls at certain hours. Austin recommends staying away from the Atrium between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Gooch said the same for the Student Center from noon to 2 p.m. It’s best to go to Lafollette Square, Tom John Food Shop or Elliot Dining Halls during the day.
Austin also suggested getting coffee from the Patisserie in Woodworth or stopping by the Bookmark Café instead of Jamba Juice for smoothies for students who need a pick me up and have no time to spare.
Best kept secrets
Exploring Ball State’s dining halls can pay off, according to Gooch and Austin.
Take advantage of the salads and subs at Quizno’s in the Recreational Center. Discover Lafollette’s chicken wings.
“If you’re looking for fresh fruit, Noyer has the best,” Gooch said.
If coffee is a no-no, get lively with a smoothie energy booster from Jamba Juice.
Spice up a Chick-Fil-A sandwich with pepper jack cheese or find a healthier alternative in grilled chicken.
Satisfy a love of queso by putting it on top of a quesadilla. There’s no charge if it’s on food, but it is extra on the side.
Help dining help you
Students can avoid dining “rushes,” but the cashiers deal with them all day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Gooch, a Noyer cashier, suggests students have their IDs at the ready during checkout – meal plan or not. This makes lines move faster and saves students from paying taxes on purchased items.
If having a meal plan doesn’t apply, have money ready to go when approaching the cashier. It takes less time.
And most importantly, said Gooch, be polite to cashiers, even if it’s before the first coffee of the day.
Make the most of a meal plan
Stretch dining plus throughout the semester and get the most out of a meal plan by using all meals during the day even if hunger isn’t a factor.
“Stock your fridge with Gatorade and water if you have to because if you’re not using [your meals] you’re wasting your money. If you don’t use them, you lose them,” said Austin.
Austin suggests Woodworth Common’s “spinning salads” for the thrifty vegetarian and lettuce lover. Woodworth Commons charges by the size of the salad instead of the weight.
Austin’s second dining hall cheat involves Boar’s Head Deli. If a student wants a two meat sandwich with less meat, they can ask for two meats equal to the weight of one and pay less than a regular two meat sandwich.
Water has less calories than soda and it costs less. In the dining halls, water cups are free with a food purchase, said Austin.
Gooch recommends not using up dining plus in the first month of the semester.
“The rest of the semester can be pretty disappointing when you can’t get that tall mocha frappuccino from Starbucks anymore,” Gooch said.
Make the most of an off-campus meal plan
Living off-campus doesn’t mean subsisting off of spaghetti and macaroni. Ball State actually offers a few meal plans for students who commute to campus.
These plans give students meals that can be used at any time during the semester. The meals range in amounts from 25-100 or allow students to use five meals every week.
Austin added to her off-campus meal plan by using Supplemental Dining Plus, which can be purchased in any amount and doesn’t expire until graduation.
“Mine rolled over from last semester, so once you have them they’re yours until they are gone, and you can always buy more,” Austin stated.
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