Your Student Life: Know Your Meal Plan
August 5, 2025
Get to know your meal plan!
As you settle into campus for this academic year, one of the essential elements of daily life will be your meal plan. Navigating the variety of dining options can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but with this guide, you'll be a pro at fueling your Buckeye spirit in no time.
Maximizing Your Meal Plan: Key Tips and Tricks
- Visit Exchanges: For the Gray 10 and Scarlet 14 plans, your "visits" aren't just for Traditions Dining halls. You can exchange a visit for a set dollar value at other retail dining locations ($8 value) or C-Stores ($5 value). This is a great way to grab a quick coffee, a sandwich or snacks when you don't have time for a full sit-down meal at Traditions.
- To-Go Visits: select the Traditions to-go option in Grubhub to collect a green reusable container when you need a meal on the fly! Traditions meal plan holders can have up to 5 to-go visits per week for Scott and Kennedy.
- Don't Let Swipes Expire! Since weekly visits don't roll over, plan to use them before Saturdays at 3 a.m.! If you find yourself with extra visits towards the end of the week, consider using a Visit Exchange at a marketplace to stock up on snacks or drinks for your room.
- Track Your Spending: You can easily monitor your meal plan balances and review your transaction history online through the BuckID website, Ohio State mobile app and Grubhub. This helps you budget and avoid running out of funds unexpectedly.
- Dining Dollar Discounts: Remember that 35% discount at retail locations and 10% at C-Stores when using Dining Dollars. This makes them a highly economical choice for on-campus purchases.
- Adding Funds: You can add additional Dining Dollars (if you have an active meal plan) or BuckID Cash to your account online via the BuckID website.
- Grubhub for Campus Dining: Many on-campus dining locations, including Traditions "to-go" options, allow you to pre-order food using the Grubhub app. All locations listed on dining.osu.edu allow you to use your visit exchanges, Dining Dollars and/or BuckID cash!
Your meal plan is designed to make dining convenient and accessible during your time at Ohio State. So, taste all that we have to offer. Go Bucks!
Dining Services
Office of Student Life