Dining Service Features

Want to learn about the dining services? Interested in a heart-healthy diet? Want to see what the Uppercrust is all about? Bringing a guest to dinner? Want to learn about the meal plans? Are you a vegetarian? Wondering how Calvin Dining supports Sustainability efforts at Cavin? Then you have come to the right place! If you have any further questions, please contact a manager.

Sick Tray Information

 

Uppercrust - During the School year, The Uppercrust is open daily from 7:15am - 8:00pm. (On Fridays, The Uppercrust closes at 1:00pm) Featuring speciality salads and sandwiches, our popular panini grills and homemade soups, you can dine at any time with the swipe of your card. Sack lunch orders will still be accepted - go to our Sack Lunch page to order your lunch or click here.

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Dining Services Conduct - Food items and dishes may not be taken from the dining rooms. Each student is allowed to take one piece of hand fruit, or two cookies, or one ice cream treat. Students who behave inappropriately or do not follow the conduct giudelines in the dining halls (i.e. fraudulent use of ID cards; theft of dishes, silverware, decorations, or any property of Calvin Dining Services; throwing food; inappropriate behavior; etc.) will be referred to the residence life staff for disciplinary action.

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Theme Meals - Once a month, at the evening meal, the menu will center on a theme of either an ethnic food or a holiday season. There is also a specialty food bar once per week. Past specials include: Fifty's Night, Pepsi Hoops, Strawberry Shortcake Bar, Quesidilla Bar, Chocolate Lovers Dream Bar, Smoothie Bar, Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet, Christmas Dinner Buffet, Siblings Weekend, Breakfast in Bed, Spring Break Escape, Chaos Day, Homecoming and much more!

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Floor Dinners - Each residence hall floor may have one special dinner per semester—reservations must be made two weeks in advance through the Catering Department, ext. 6383. Please read the guidelines before ordering.

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Meal Card Procedures - Your meal card is not transferable. Only you can use your meal card to obtain a meal at the dining halls. You must present your meal card to the checker in order to gain entrance to the dining hall.

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Guest Meals - Your guests are encouraged to use the college dining facilities. Prices for meals are as follows:

Calvin Student Rate:

Breakfast: $5.50; Continental: $3.50; Lunch: $6.80; Dinner: $8.25 Sunday Brunch: $8.00

Guest Meals:

Breakfast: $5.75; Continental: $4.75; Lunch: $7.25, Dinner: $8.75, Sunday Brunch: $8.75

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Food Committees - Students who are concerned and interested about Calvin Dining Services can voice their opinion to the Dining Services Committee, which meets once a semester. Information regarding these meetings will be posted in the residence halls. We need your comments so we can respond to your needs.

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Nutrition & Allergy Information - If you are on a meal plan and are placed on a special diet by your physician, you may make arrangement with the dining hall manager to plan a menu which fits your needs. Our dietitian is on campus frequently each semester to review upcoming nutrition trends and to talk about special diet concerns. Please visit our special diets page for more information.

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Sick Trays - With the H1N1 flu (swine flu) pandemic being so prevalent in the media, you're probably wondering: "If I am too sick to come to the dining hall, how do I get food?"

If you require a sick tray, follow these steps:

  • Ask your Resident Director or Resident Assistant to fill out a sick try request forn for you.
  • Have a roommate, floor mate or friend bring the filled out sick tray request form AND YOUR student ID card with them to their next meal.
  • They will be given a to-go container that they can fill with food for you.

Some recommended "Get Well Soon Menu" items:

  • Apple Sauce
  • White Rice
  • Whole Fresh Fruits
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Popsicles
  • Broth Soup
  • Clear Beverages (Sierra Mist, Apple Juice)
  • Jell-O

For more information on the H1Nh flu and what Calvin and you can do to prevent it, visit http://www.calvin.edu/admin/health/news/h1n1.htm

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Healthy Eating - Seasonal fruits, colorful vegetables, a variety of break options, vegetarian and vegan options, and more, offered at both dining halls.

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Sack Lunches - If class or work keeps you away from a food venue during the day, order a sack lunch on-line.

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Deli Bar - Design your own sandwiches in either dining hall, choose from a selection of premium meats, natural cheeses, and fresh vegetables. Hot sandwiches and grilled panini specials offered throughout the week.

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Calvin Dining Services commitment to the Environment

Calvin Dining Services strives to help its customers (students, faculty and staff) to understand, practice and promote sound environmental policies concerning the reduction of food waste and the promotion of recycling. As a result, CFS works to stay abreast of environmental issues and to implement environmentally responsible policies whenever fiscally and practically possible. To date, CFS has implemented intensive recycling programs for packaging materials to reduce waste. In partnership with the student Environmental Stewardship Coalition, CFS has supported the “CUPPS” (Cannot Use Paper Plastic Styrofoam) mug program to reduce consumption of disposable beverage cups. Examples and suggestions that could be studied and analyzed for education and action include:

  • Buy regional produce in season.
  • Support local organic farms.
  • Promote eating “low on the food chain” for health and environmental reasons.
  • Minimize the use of disposable dinnerware.
  • Work more closely with food suppliers to reduce packaging waste.
  • Implement a reusable mug program with discounted drinks at dining halls.
  • Participate more actively in programs to contribute excess food to the homeless and needy.
  • Investigate composting projects.

To read the entire Calvin College Statement on Sustainability, click here.