Eating on campus
Meal plans
Sample menus
Food Services
Flexible dollars
Meal plans
We know food is important, and what you'll eat is an important thing to think about when choosing a residence! What kind of meal plan you'll have, and whether it's required or optional, will depend on the residence you choose.
| Residence | Meal plan | Required | Cost per 4-month term | Onsite cafeteria |
| Mackenzie King | No | $0 - $1,450 | No | |
| Ron Eydt | Yes | $1,660 - $2,120 | Yes | |
| UW Place | No | $0 - $1,450 | No | |
| Village 1 | Yes | $1,660 - $2,120 | Yes | |
| Conrad Grebel | 21 meals / week | Yes | Included in your residence fees | Yes |
| Renison | 19 meals / week | Yes | Included in your residence fees | Yes |
| St. Jerome's | 19 meals / week | Yes | Included in your residence fees | Yes |
| St. Paul's | 19 meals / week | Yes | Included in your residence fees | Yes |
Meal plans in the UW Residences
If you'll be living in one of the UWaterloo Residences – Mackenzie King Village, Ron Eydt Village, UW Place, or Village 1 – and you purchase a meal plan, you'll use your Watcard to access a declining-debit meal plan and purchase food at various Food Services locations.
All meal plans in the UW Residences are offered through UW's Food Services department.
- 80% of our first-year students purchase a meal plan
- Use your WatCard – student ID – to access your declining-debit meal plan
- Meal plan dollars can be spent at any of Food Services 17 on-campus eateries
- Special meals can be arranged for students with dietary restrictions, allergies, and health conditions
- Mudie's cafeteria in Village 1 offers special hours during Ramadan
- Nutrition Works! is a series of learning modules to educate students on healthy eating habits
- Parents can send their student care packaing through Food Services "a piece of home" program
- The Food Advisory Board gives students a voice to ensure that their needs are met
Meal plans in the University College residences
If you'll be living in one of the University College residences – Conrad Grebel, Rension, St. Jerome's, or St. Paul's – your meal plan is included in the cost of residence.
Each College has its own food service provider, and all of your meals are eaten in your residence cafeteria.
- Enjoy 19 to 21 meals per week in your residence cafeteria
- No need to swipe a card, just show up and grab a plate!
- Certain items are all-you-can-eat, so you can have as many "seconds" as you like
- Vegetarian food choices are available at each meal
- Request a bagged lunch on those days you won't be able to make it "home" for lunch
- Shared kitchen facilities are available in each residence
- Community suppers bring the entire residence community together
- Experience a tight-knit, small community feeling and get to know the cafeteria staff by name
Sample menus
UW Residences
Each week, UW's Food Services department posts a weekly menu for its on-campus eateries. Check out the sample menu below!
University College residences
Each of the University College residences has its own cafeteria and plans its own menu. Check out the following links for sample menus.
- Conrad Grebel – weekly menu
- Renison – weekly menu
- St. Jerome's – food services information
- St. Paul's – food services information
Food Services
uWaterloo's award-winning Food Services department is committed to taking care of your eating needs while you're a student at Waterloo.
The Food Services department has developed several student-inspired programs and initiatives to help you make the most of your dining experience at UW. Highlights include
- Weekly online menus help you decide where to eat
- Click on the menu items to see nutritional information such as calories per serving
- Extended hours during exams give you the flexibility you need
- A variety of promotions and events keep things interesting
- The "A piece of home" program may encourage your parents to send you a care package
- NutritionWorks! learning modules help you learn more about nutrition and healthy eating
- Healthy Bites labelled foods help you make healthy choices at UW's on-campus eateries
- Health Challenge and nutritional studies encourage students and staff to attain a healthier lifestyle
- Price comparison studies ensure you're receiving top value for your meal plan dollars
- Various environmental initiatives help reduce waste and negative impacts on the environment
- The Food Advisory Board gives students a voice to ensure that your needs are met
Flexible dollars
Any student, whether living in residence or not, can purchase "flexible dollars." Flexible dollars are money that you put on your WatCard for use at participating on- and off-campus locations. Flexible dollars can be used to purchase food, photocopies, textbooks, cab rides, and more.
Flexible dollars are great if you don't have a meal plan because they're convenient and you'll receive an automatic 5% discount at most Food Services locations.
If you'll be living in the Waterloo Residences and you deplete your meal plan allowance, future food purchases will be automatically deducted from your flexible dollars account.
For more information and a list of locations that accept flexible dollars, visit the WatCard website.
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