Meal Plan FAQs

Have a question?

Check out answers to frequently asked dining questions.

What is an All-You-Care-to-Eat Meal?

An All-You-Care-to-Eat-Meal is just that! Utilize The Table at Irvine Commons just as you would your personal kitchen. Stop in to enjoy a meal with your friends or grab a hot meal to-go using one of our sustainable OZZI boxes. Once you swipe your card you can enjoy an All-You-Care-to-Eat-Meal without having to worry about budgeting for individual dishes.

What are Weekly Plans?

Weekly Plans come with a set number of weekly meals swipes that can be used in two different ways. They can be used at The Table at Irvine Commons as an All-You-Care-to-Eat Meal. Seven meals per week out of your meal plan can be used as a Meal Exchange at our on-campus retail dining locations. Weekly meals swipes refresh on Sunday before breakfast, but do not rollover week to week. What’s a Meal Exchange? Don’t worry, we’ll explain!

What are Meal Exchanges?

Select on-campus retail dining locations offer Meal Exchange. A Meal Exchange is a set combo that can be used at any on-campus retail dining locations. You can typically get an entrée, side, and drink. Each location has different offerings for your Meal Exchange meal. So variety abounds!

What are Dining Dollars?

Dining Dollars are included in your meal plan to purchase a snack or a cup of coffee at one of our on-campus retail dining locations. Dining Dollars are perfect for this type of purchase, allowing you to save your meal swipes for full meals at our on-campus retail dining locations. Dining Dollars roll over from the Fall to Spring semester, but expire on the last serving day of the Spring semester. These dollars are built into the price of your plan.

How can I add more dining funds directly to my student ID? What are Add On Dollars?

Dining Dollars are included with each meal plan and cannot be added to. However, a separate tender known as Add-on Dollars (cash value), can be added at any time of the year and they never expire. You can add funds right here on the dining.redlands.edu website, or you can visit the dining office located in The Table. Whenever you add more than $100 to your card, you also will receive a 10% bonus in Add-on’s! These funds can be used at any of our on-campus dining locations.

Why is my receipt showing I have fewer swipes than I should?

Our system breaks swipes into regular meal swipes and Meal Exchanges. Each weekly plan has 7 Meal Exchanges. If you have the 14 Meals per Week plan, at the beginning of the week you will have a total of 7 meal swipes and 7 meal exchanges. If you ever would like confirmation of your remaining swipes or balance for Dining Dollars and/or DCB, you can stop by the dining office in The Table!

What are Block Plans?

Block Plans have a set number of meals that can be used throughout the semester. They do not have a daily or weekly limit. You can use your Block Plan as an All-You-Care-to-Eat-Meal at The Table in the Irvine Commons or as a Meal Exchange at any on-campus retail dining locations. You can also use your Block Plan to purchase a meal for a guest at any on-campus dining location. Instead of being distributed weekly, these meals are distributed at the beginning of each semester.  Meals in a Block Plan roll over from the Fall to Spring semester, but expire on the last serving day of the Spring semester.

What About May Term Plans?

Don’t worry about missing your Meal Plan during May Term! All students enrolled in a May Term course are automatically enrolled in the May Term Plan as noted above: 50 Block Meals and $75 in Dining Dollars.

If I’m in a hurry, can I get carry out at The Table at Irvine Commons?

Yes, you can purchase an Ozzi reusable to-go box for $5 instead of dining on-site at The Table. Ozzi boxes can be purchased with the cashier. You can use your Dining Dollars or DCBs!

What food venues will be available on-campus when students arrive in the Fall?
  • The Table at Irvine Commons features fresh and inspired cuisine carefully crafted by our culinary team using only the finest local and responsibly sourced ingredients. This is an all-you-care-to-eat location, so once you swipe your card, you can enjoy a meal without having to budget for individual dishes.
  • Launch | A Test and Guest Kitchen is a full kitchen designed to bring downtown to campus. We offer grilled sandwiches, burgers, wraps, chicken tenders, and new rotating restaurant concepts.
  • The Den is a coffee bar/bistro. Beverages from local Redlands Wild Goose Coffee Roasters and Summit Teas, local pastries, freshly made sandwiches and salads. You can grab a light lunch or a sit-down meal.
Are students required to purchase a meal plan?

Students living in residence halls are required to purchase no less than a 14 meals per week plan.

Students Living in University owned Houses or Apartments are required to purchase no less than the 100 block plan

The May Term Plan are required for all students living on-campus enrolled in a full four-week May Term course.

What are some important dates to keep in mind for the 2024-2025 school year?

Fall Semester

  • Fall semester meal plans begin with brunch on Sunday, September 1, 2024.  This means if you have permission to return to campus prior to Sunday, September 1st and you are not part of a sponsored Early Arrival group (new first-year students, NCAA student athletes, orientation leaders, etc.), you should be prepared to pay cash or credit when dining on-campus until the official meal plan period begins.
  • Last day to make any changes to your meal plan is Friday, September 6, 2024.
  • Brunch on Sunday, December 15 is the last meal served as part of fall semester meal plans.

Spring Semester

  • Spring semester meal plans will begin on Sunday, January 5, 2025. This means if you have permission to return to campus prior to the brunch hours on Sunday, January 5th, and you are not a member of a sponsored Early Arrival group, you will need to pay cash or credit when dining on-campus until the meal plan starts.
  • Brunch on Sunday, April 26, 2025 is the last meal served as part of spring term meal plans.

What is the plan for Spring Break?

  • Limited service will be available the week of Spring Break.  However, meal plan swipes will not be accepted over the break. Add-ons, cash and credit will still be accepted.
  • Dining Dollars remaining at the end of the spring semester will expire at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2025. 

May Term

  • May Term plans will begin with on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The final meal at The Table will be brunch on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
How long do I have to adjust my meal plan for the semester?
  • Final meal plan selections must be made by the first Friday after classes begin each semester.  No changes will be permitted after that date.
Can I switch meal plans between semesters?

Yes, there will be a period in the late fall when you will be able to change your plan for the spring semester on your MyRedlands Housing Portal. This period ends the first Friday after classes begin.

Are guests allowed to eat in The Table at Irvine Commons? Can I host guests using meal swipes or Dining Dollars?

Guests are certainly welcomed to eat at all dining venues, including The Table at Irvine Commons. Meal swipes cannot be used for guests to gain entry to The Table at Irvine Commons; however, Block Plans, Dining Dollars, cash, and credit are accepted.

What are door rates for The Table at Irvine Commons?

Walk-up prices for guests at The Table are:

  • Breakfast: $14.30 plus tax
  • Lunch and Dinner: $16.85 plus tax
Will food options address the needs of those who have allergies, special dietary preferences, and/or dietary restrictions?

Harvest Table Culinary Group at Redlands is committed to the unique dietary needs of our guests. Made without gluten, vegan, and vegetarian options will always be available, there will be interactive technology to guide healthy choices, and food options will be labeled. We have a Health and Wellbeing Manager on staff that works closely with our chefs and directors to ensure all guests dietary needs are met.

What if I need to be on campus outside these dates as part of my Bulldog varsity athletic activities during the 2022-2023 school year?

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will manage meal plans for student-athletes required to be on campus outside of the meal plan dates noted above—Early Arrival fall student-athletes on campus prior to September 1, 2025; winter sport student-athletes remaining on campus during the winter holiday break; and spring sport student-athletes remaining on campus after April 26, 2025. Specific information will be provided to team members at the appropriate time.

What food service will be available over school breaks for students staying on campus?

There is limited service available during all breaks, including Study Days, Thanksgiving, Spring Break and May Break. While Thanksgiving Break has some days when all venues will be closed, during Winter Break nearly all days will be closed. Please be aware the Meals per Week meal plans are not active during Spring Break and expire on the last serving day of the Spring semester. This means there is also no active meal plan over May Break, the week between the end of Spring semester and the beginning of May Term.