All you need to know about Student Meal Plans 

2023-2024
Student Meal Plans

Options

We understand not all students are the same, that is why we have a variety of Student Meal Plans available for you to choose from based on your lifestyle & needs.

Simple

You've got a lot on the go, that is why we take the complexity out of using your Student Meal Plan. Simply tap your TCard at cash when you're ready to pay.

Support

Diets & allergies vary, that is why we have options for all types of special dietary needs. Visit the Special Dietary Needs page and contact us to set up a plan.

• Are you a first year student living in residence? Yes, you do need a Student Meal Plan.
• Are you an upper year student living in residence? Yes, you do need a Student Meal Plan.
• Do you live off-campus? No, you do not need a Student Meal Plan, but you can still buy one if you would like.

• Are you a first year student living in residence? Then no, you cannot opt out of a Student Meal Plan.
• Are you an upper year student living in residence? Then no, you cannot opt out of a Student Meal Plan.

A Student Meal Plan is a Declining Balance, À La Carte style meal plan. This means that you pay for what you want, when you want. 

Whenever you make a food or beverage purchase, the purchase value comes off of your Student Meal Plan balance (Declining Balance). If you want to purchase an entire breakfast meal, or if you just want a coffee and a muffin in the morning, or even if you don't want to eat anything until late afternoon, then you are free to do so. You can skip breakfast or eat 3 burgers for dinner - your Student Meal Plan does not dictate your eating habits, you do.  This is because you can purchase as much or as little as you want any time during the day (à la carte).

• We have a meal plan type called a “Declining Balance” meal plan
• This means that you start with a total amount of money in your account, and as you spend it, it declines from your account
  • It does not matter if you only eat two meals a day, or if you eat five meals a day, because it only removes money from your account when you purchase food
  • You do not lose money for not eating breakfast; you only spend money when you purchase food
• You can buy food anywhere on campus, and at our off campus partners
  • See where you can eat on campus
  • See our off campus partners
• Student Meal Plans also “include” up to a 13% savings on all “Basic” purchases (save the tax)

• "Basic" dollar purchases allow you a tax savings of up to 13% off of qualifying purchases
• You can use the online Budget Planner to see how your spending compares in order to adjust your spending. Once you see how you are spending, you may move to a smaller plan (within one month after first-year move-in; see Important Dates and Deadlines for details) or you may add more money to your account as required
• The funds are deposited directly on your TCard and can be used whenever you need to make a food or beverage purchase, just tap and go!
• You can use your student meal plan funds at all food service locations on campus, as well as with our off campus partners

• Each Student Meal Plan has a different monetary value so that you are able to purchase a plan that reflects how often you will be eating on campus and the size of your appetite
  • As a guide, consider the below:
    • If you will be on campus through the week, and on weekends, you will want a larger plan
    • If you plan to leave campus on the weekends, you will need a smaller plan
    • If you have a large appetite, you will need a larger plan
    • If you have a smaller appetite, you will need a smaller plan

The "Minimum Commitment" is the minimum level of Basic Dollar spending required.

Basic Dollars remaining at the end of the school year over this minimum level of spending are eligible for carryover into the following year.

If you choose a plan then change your mind, you can change your plan. Please note the deadline for changing your plan is September 30, 2023.

As a general guide, consider the below:

• Will you be staying on campus on the weekends? Do you have a large appetite?
  • Consider the Plus 500 plan
• Will you be staying on campus on the weekends? Do you have a smaller appetite?
  • Consider the Plus 250 plan
• Will you be leaving campus on the weekend? Do you have a large appetite?
  • Consider the Full 500 plan

*Activate and utilize your Utoronto email account*

Your UTORid is required to activate and access your University of Toronto email account. All university communication will be sent to this email address, so it is essential that you get into the practice of checking it regularly. Your email account will be activated at the same time that you activate your UTORid.

You are responsible for setting up an official university email address and for correspondence sent to you by the University at that account.

Only university-sponsored email addresses (those ending in mail.utoronto.ca, utoronto.ca or toronto.edu) can be updated through ACORN. Please make certain you update your U of T email address as soon as possible and before classes begin.

• Snack items
• Beverages
• Convenience items
• Confectionary
• Grocery items
• Our off campus partners

•  Vending machines with card readers
• The Blind Duck (in the Student Centre)
• Chatime (in the Student Centre)
• The Duck Stop (in the Student Centre)
• Participating food trucks on campus

“Basic” funds are the tax-exempt portion of your Student Meal Plan.  Any purchase of a meal on campus (with the exception of meals from the Blind Duck, Chatime, Duck Stop, food trucks, and most vending machines) qualifies as a Basic purchase

For more information on "Basic" vs. "Flex" visit the Understanding Basic vs. Flex webpage. 

“Flex” funds can be used to purchase all items that don't qualify as a Basic-eligible meal.

You can use your Flex funds for:

• Snack items
• Beverages
• Convenience items
• Confectionary
• Grocery items
•  Vending machines with card readers
• The Blind Duck (in the Student Centre)
• Chatime (in the Student Centre)
• The Duck Stop (in the Student Centre)
• Participating food trucks on campus

For more information on "Basic" vs. "Flex" visit the Understanding Basic vs. Flex webpage. 

You save money

• You do not pay tax on "Basic" dollar purchases (a savings of up to 13%)

Use your Student Meal Plan on and off campus

• You can use your student meal plan funds across campus, as well as with our off campus partners 

 Spend money on food, smarter

• We provide a Budget Planner so you can understand the rate at which you are spending your money – will you run out of money too soon? Will you have too much money left over at the end of the year?
• Based on your spending habits you may choose to change your plan, that is easy to do (as long as it is before the deadline)

 Once card for contactless purchases

• Don’t worry about carrying multiple cards around campus, your TCard can be used at all food service locations
• Don’t worry about PINs or inserting cards – TCards are enabled with tap technology

Resident Students

A Student Meal Plan is required

A student meal plan ensures that your dining requirements are covered for the academic year, allowing you to focus on other activities that will help you succeed at UTM.

Non-Resident Students

A Student Meal Plan is not required

You can choose to purchase a student meal plan as a way to budget your food purchases throughout the year.  If you know that you will be spending time on campus outside of just going to classes, then you may want to consider a Student Meal Plan