Off Campus Meal Plans

Chef Denise making a meal, students sitting at a table and two students customizing their pho bowl

Our optional Value Plus Meal plans are here for you! They offer flexibility, tons of variety and great savings!

Classic salmon poke bowl from Rolltation located in DC Bytes What’s in it for me?

We aim to make selecting a meal plan as easy as finding a great place to eat on campus, especially for students away from home for the first time. UW Food Services is here with exciting, nourishing lunches, dinners, snacks and desserts at locations scattered all over our campus, so our students are able to study hard and stay healthy without spending hours shopping for groceries and worrying about meal prep. Remember: You can buy a meal plan at any time during the term, but the earlier you purchase one, the sooner you save!

Value Plus Meal Plans are purchased through the Watcard Office – watcard@uwaterloo.ca

The Super Saver meal plan is tax exempt, offering up to 13% savings at ALL of our locations!

Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Fees

Value Plus Meal Plan Allowance per term
What it's called?	What do you pay	Meal plan portion	Flex dollar portion	Capital Improvement Allotment	Savings
Super Saver	$2,645	$2,395	$200	$50	13%
Saver	$2,165	$1,915	$200	$50	5%
Casual	$1,580	$1,330	$200	$50	5%

Note: Meal plan savings are only applicable during the term which the meal plan was purchased.

Which plan is right for me?
SUPER SAVER PLAN - Recommended for those who would like to eat at residence dining halls and on-campus regularly. This plan will help you save time and build community as you eat with your peers at one of our 25 locations, including Residence eateries and all our cafes and eateries across campus. This meal plan is tax-exempt, saving you up to 13% in HST. This plan equals about 15 meals a week and some light snacks. SAVER PLAN – Recommended for those who are looking for a few meals a week on campus and at residence dining halls. Whether you’re craving a hot lunch at South Side Marketplace or a hearty dinner at V1, this plan will help you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying campus! This plan is not HST exempt, therefore applicable taxes are added to meal costs when purchased but Food Services offers a 5% discount on these meal plans. This plan equals about 10 meals a week and a few light snacks. CASUAL PLAN – Recommended for those who would like a lunch or two on campus and light snacks and beverages. This plan is not HST exempt, therefore applicable taxes are added to meal costs when purchased but Food Services offers a 5% discount on these meal plans. Capital Improvement: This is a non-refundable amount used for capital expenditures that directly enhance residence dining environments, facilities and equipment. It is deducted from the meal plan cost and cannot be used to make food purchases. Note: Some junk food, bulk items and non-food items may still require paying HST. Flex Dollars are not tax discountable or HST exempt.

Which plan is right for me?

SUPER SAVER PLAN - Recommended for those who would like to eat at residence dining halls and on-campus regularly. This plan will help you save time and build community as you eat with your peers at one of our 25 locations, including Residence eateries and all our cafes and eateries across campus. This meal plan is tax-exempt, saving you up to 13% in HST. This plan equals about 15 meals a week and some light snacks.

SAVER PLAN – Recommended for those who are looking for a few meals a week on campus and at residence dining halls. Whether you’re craving a hot lunch at South Side Marketplace or a hearty dinner at V1, this plan will help you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying campus! This plan is not HST exempt, therefore applicable taxes are added to meal costs when purchased but Food Services offers a 5% discount on these meal plans. This plan equals about 10 meals a week and a few light snacks.

CASUAL PLAN – Recommended for those who would like a lunch or two on campus and light snacks and beverages. This plan is not HST exempt, therefore applicable taxes are added to meal costs when purchased but Food Services offers a 5% discount on these meal plans.

Capital Improvement: This is a non-refundable amount used for capital expenditures that directly enhance residence dining environments, facilities and equipment. It is deducted from the meal plan cost and cannot be used to make food purchases.

Note:
Some junk food, bulk items and non-food items may still require paying HST. Flex Dollars are not tax discountable or HST exempt.

Check out our FAQ to find answers to common meal plan questions or contact us for more information!

How do I purchase a Value Plus Meal Plan?

Add funds to your Watcard through the online portal for the amount needed for your chosen optional meal plan.
Email watcard@uwaterloo.ca with your full name and Watcard number and indicate which type of meal plan you would like to purchase. If you do not contact them, your funds will be allocated to flex dollars and will not recieve the corresponding savings.
Enjoy your meal plan and the discounts it offers!

The fine print

The fine print: Federal and Provincial tax legislation prohibits the use of tax-exempt meal plan funds by individuals who are not qualified to receive these benefits. Only the WatCard holder may purchase meals. WatCard holders purchasing more than one meal at a time will be charged appropriate taxes on the meal with the lower value. All applicable discounts will be applied before taxes. Each transaction the cashier will examine the photo on the WatCard to ensure that the person making the purchase is the WatCard holder. In all cases where the cashier suspects that somebody is using a WatCard other than the cardholder, the cashier must keep the card and prevent its use. The WatCard will be forwarded to the WatCard Office within four hours where it can be picked up by the proper cardholder at that time, or the next business day. Fraudulent use of WatCard funds to purchase food for other people may result in loss of all discount and tax exemption privileges. The security of a WatCard remains the cardholder’s responsibility. WatCards should be treated like a credit or debit card. If a WatCard is lost or stolen the cardholder is responsible for all charges made to that card until the card is reported lost or stolen. A WatCard can be reported lost or stolen at any WatCard cash register on campus, at the WatCard Office, or online at the WatCard homepage. All WatCards are the property of the University of Waterloo.