Student Insights: Dining Tips from the NSOP Chair

As a rising junior at Columbia, I have already enrolled in a dining plan that works best for me. Dining halls and cafes throughout campus are not only convenient throughout busy days of classes, clubs, and studying, but also provide great opportunities to socialize with friends and classmates.

Through offering a wide variety of food catered to various dietary restrictions and constantly working upon student feedback, Columbia Dining works to provide the best service for all students.

COLUMBIA 101 Online

If your schedule did not align with a COLUMBIA 101 event, consider joining one of the four webinars being hosted by the Center for Student Advising this July and August. Dining will not be covered, but there will be food for thought as you discuss your academic planning. Stay tuned for the schedule!

Healthy Eating and Nutritional Resources

Did you know that Columbia Dining has a Registered Dietitian on staff? Kristie Koerner is available both on campus and online to address questions and concerns regarding your nutrition and dietary needs, including food allergies and intolerances, weight management, modified diets, and more.

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Food Allergies

Registered Dietitian Kristie Koerner consults one-on-one with students who have food allergies and the culinary team to develop a personalized meal plan. Our culinary and kitchen teams are educated on various food allergies and sensitivities and are trained to prevent cross-contamination.

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Changes to Your Dining Plan

Changes to your 2014/2015 Dining plan are permitted August 27-September 10, 2014. You may access the online form at that time. There is a $25 fee to change plans. Note that we are unable to accept cancellations or offer refunds.

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Flex Dollars

Flex is a dollar-for-dollar declining balance account accessed through your Columbia University ID card that can be used at 12 on-campus dining locations, the University bookstore, copy machines, laundry facilities, vending machines, and purchases at many off-campus locations.

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Special Diets

We work to accommodate as many special diets as possible, including a large population of vegetarian and vegan diners. Kosher and Halal meal plans are also available to students.

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Sustainable Purchasing

Approximately 52% of all food served is purchased from vendors within 250 miles of the Morningside campus. A New York City Greenmarket and area farms work with Columbia Dining to bring area vegetables, milk, honey, baked goods, and more to our students.

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Community Outreach

Columbia Dining donates food and equipment to surrounding churches, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens. Dining Services also makes a contribution to a local community organization for each response received in the annual Dining Customer Service Satisfaction Survey.

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Reuse & Recycling

Dining services recycles more than one million bottles and cans as well as more than 150,000 cardboard boxes each year. We also practice a number of other environmentally sound procedures, including composting, recycling cooking oil into biodiesel fuel, and have abandoned the use of trays in our facilities.

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Stay Connected

Like Columbia Dining on Facebook to stay in the know on the latest Dining news, special events, contests, and behind the scenes access. And download our Dine@CU iPhone app for on-the-go menus, nutrition calculator, and more.

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Summer Reading

If you didn't have the chance to pick up your summer reading at a COLUMBIA 101, check with your local library for availability or Columbia College students may access an electronic version of the Iliad of Homer: books 1-7.

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