So you have a meal plan, and that's a good first step. But how can you make the most of it? Everybody gotta eat — so you should make sure you're getting your money's worth.

1. Take advantage of the unlimited food you get with a swipe.

You're paying up to $10.25 a meal if you're eating at one of the major dining halls. This is on the pricey side, but many students forget that a swipe means you have unlimited access, AKA you're allowed to get as much food as you want. Grocery shopping in the dining halls is completely acceptable. You might feel awkward putting apples in your backpack at first, but you're saving money and it's so worth it. 

2. N2Go.

This place rocks — the people are so nice, it's usually pretty speedy, and there's even an employee who looks like Justin Bieber. They also give you so much food. A swipe goes a long way.

3. Use Meal Exchanges.

The meal exchange hours can be somewhat inconvenient depending on your schedule, but it's worth it to plan your meals around these times if you really want to make the best of your meal plan. Personally, I'm a fan of the sandwiches at the Bleecker Street Cafe in Café McLeod. Meal exchanges will also save you plus dollars, which I consider to be the most valuable of all dining currency. 

4. Plus dollars for groceries.

Hit up the convenient-esque stores like Crossroads, C3, and the Castle to get your basic food staples with plus dollars instead of going to the grocery store and using real money. The food in these stores is overpriced, but it's worth it if you need the item quickly or if you're trying to get rid of your plus dollars. Try to save this until the end of the semester though, because it's an easy way to burn through your plus dollars.

5. Share!
If you run out of meal swipes, phone a friend. Most of the time people forget about the guest swipes that come with purchasing a meal plan. Make friends with first years who have unlimited swipes. Buy a friend dumplings, because why not?

6. Plus dollars plus dollars plus dollars.

If you haven't already gotten sick of the dining halls, you will soon. And that's when plus dollars come into play. They're crucial during exam season when you're spending the majority of your time in the library. Greenberry's coffee isn't even that great, but it's convenient. In The Nood, West Range, The Fine Arts Library Cafe, and the Einstein's Bagels in the bookstore are some of my favorites that take plus dollars. Also dumplings. If you don't spend at least some of your plus dollars on dumplings, you're doing it wrong.

7. Domino's takes plus dollars.

Need I say more?

If all of these fail you, remember that you are in a city that has more restaurants per capita than any city in Virginia. Happy eating!