Terminology

Dining is more than great food. It is a community experience centered on culinary expertise, fresh ingredients, healthy options, and a shared sense of environmental and social responsibility. Our team is committed to creating the best possible dining experience for everyone. We want to ensure you feel comfortable and confident navigating our dining spaces. Below are helpful explanations for common terms used through UVM Dining Locations, print documents and digital assets you will see across your campus experience.

EcoWare, our reusable takeout container program, helps minimize the use of single-use containers and increases the flexibility of meal plans by allowing meals to-go from our dining halls. UVM Dining is committed to reducing packaging waste and has had an EcoWare program since 2011. EcoWare is one of our signature sustainability programs on-campus, learn how it works.

Guest Meals are available to treat a friend or family member to a meal in our all- you-care-to-eat dining halls.

Local foods are those grown or manufactured in Vermont.

One “Meal” is a Meal Swipe that allows entry into our all-you-care-to-eat dining halls for dine-in or a meal to-go using our signature EcoWare program.

One Block Meal equals an entry into one of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining hall. Block Meals can be purchased from the “Shop” at UVMdining.sodexomyway.com in increments of: 30, 50, 75, 100, 125 or 150. Unused Block Meals roll over from the fall to spring semester. Any unused Block Meals not used by May 9, 2025, expire and are nontransferable and non-refundable.

The Meal Exchange is available to on campus-students only to use up to two Meal Swipes per week Monday - Friday in a retail location

  • Meal Exchanges are when a Meal Swipe is allowed to be used in a retail location for an entrée, side and a beverage. 
  • Refer to signage inside each location to learn about what entrees and sides are included. 
  • These can be used twice a week, Monday-Friday. 
  • Meal Exchange Swipes reset every Monday and do not roll over week to week. 
  • Use them at the following locations and times: 
    • Green Roof Deli (Lunch & Dinner)
    • The Marketplace (Breakfast & Lunch) excluding Broccoli Bar
    • University Marché (Lunch & Dinner) excluding Wild Blue

Everyday is a mobile app that allows you to order food and beverages for pick up at our retail dining locations. Plus, earn rewards and discounts when you use the app. Click here to download it today!

Sodexo Plant Based Menu Icon Plant-based = no meat or animal by-products, but can include white sugar and honey.

Regional food means, food grown, raised or harvested within the six New England states plus, a 50-mile radius.

One Retail Point is valued at one dollar. The Retail Point Plan acts as a declining balance account and can be used at any location on-campus, including our dining halls, by paying the door price.

  • Unused Retail Points: The balance of your Retail Points roll over semester to semester, year to year, as long as you are enrolled at UVM.
  • Adding Retail Points: Retail Points can be added to your account any time by clicking Shop in our website navigation

This popular station provides safe and appetizing food choices for customers with Celiac and food allergies/intolerances. The Simple Servings station offers a hot plated entrees for lunch and dinner made without the eight most common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products, sesame, and eggs. In addition, all food is made without gluten, and procedures are in place to control for cross-contact. Separate equipment, utensils, storage areas, and preparation areas minimize this risk, offering customers a safe and healthy dining option. 

Harris Millis Dining (closed 2:30PM - 3:30PM daily)
Monday - Friday 11AM - 9:30PM
Saturday - Sunday 11AM - 8PM 

Central Campus Dining (closed 3:30PM - 4:30PM daily)
Monday - Friday 11AM - 8:30PM
Saturday and Sunday 11AM - 8PM

Simple Zone is a gluten-free, peanut-free, and tree-nut free area for students reserved with food allergies and other dietary needs. In addition to pantry items, a made-to-order hot meal menu for lunch and dinner is available.  These are located at Central Campus, Harris Millis, Redstone, and Northside. These areas are equipped with a designated microwave, refrigerator, toaster, gloves, and allergen-free prep surfaces. Students are required to wash their hands and wear gloves when utilizing this space. We ask our campus community to respect these spaces for those who truly need it! 

  • To access the locked Simple Zones at Redstone and Harris Millis you will need to receive access from the Registered Dietitian. To be given access, complete the Access Form using your UVM credentials. 
  • Please note Redstone and Harris Millis Simple Zones will be unlocked the first two weeks of each semester

OuDining halls (Central Campus, Harris Millis, Northside, and Redstone Dining) are all-you-care-to-eat or you may take a meal to go using our Ecoware program

Vegan-35x35.png Vegan = no meat or animal by-products, including white sugar and honey
Vegetarian-35x35.png Vegetarian = no meat products, does include white sugar and honey