Auburn, Alabama, offers a variety of healthy food choices for students and residents alike. Whether you're a student navigating campus dining or a local looking for nutritious meals, this guide will help you discover some of the best options available.
Healthy Dining on Auburn's Campus
For students at Auburn University, Tiger Dining is committed to providing welcoming spaces where you can enjoy fresh, healthy, and delicious foods with superior service. Diverse dining venues are located throughout campus, making it easy to grab a quick bite between classes or relax and enjoy some downtime. Convenience, flexibility, quality, value, and healthy options are prioritized.
Auburn University Meal Plans
All students enrolled in at least one class on Auburn’s main campus are assigned a default meal plan each semester, based on their student type. All meal plans include dining dollars, which can be used at any on-campus dining location, including athletics concessions, food trucks, snack and drink vending machines, and the Hey Day Market.
Weekly Meals: Weekly meal plans offer a reduced-price entry into the three dining halls: the Village Tiger Zone, The Edge at Central Dining, and the Wellness Kitchen, as well as Foy on The Fly. These plans include either 5 or 10 meals per week. The buffet-style dining halls offer a variety of foods, allowing you to create a plate according to your cravings. Meals are loaded to your account early each Sunday morning and expire after the dining halls close Saturday night.
Block Meals: Block meal plans grant you entry to the three dining halls: Village Tiger Zone, The Edge at Central Dining, and the Wellness Kitchen, as well as Foy on The Fly, at a lower cost per meal. These plans include either 25, 50, or 75 block meals, each including $425 dining dollars.
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Dining Dollars: Dining Dollars work like a debit card, accessible via your Tiger ID, and are accepted at all campus dining locations. Additional funds can be added to an Optional Dining account anytime during the semester. Unused dining dollars roll from the fall to the spring semester and expire at the end of the summer term.
Default Meal Plan Options
Default Orange Plan: This plan is for first-time, first-year Auburn students for their first two semesters.
- Weekly 5 with $450 Dining Dollars: Provides 5 meals per week at Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen, or The Edge at Central dining halls, and $450 Dining Dollars to spend at campus retail locations.
- Weekly 10 with $500 Dining Dollars: Provides 10 meals per week at Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen, or The Edge at Central dining halls, and $500 Dining Dollars to spend at campus retail locations.
All Access Plans:
- All Access with $150 Dining Dollars: Provides unlimited access to Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen, or The Edge at Central dining halls seven days/week and $150 Dining Dollars to spend at campus retail locations.
- All Access with $425 Dining Dollars: Provides unlimited access to Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen or The Edge at Central dining halls seven days/week and $425 Dining Dollars to spend at campus retail locations.
Default Blue Plan:
- 50 Meals with $425 Dining Dollars: Provides 50 meals per semester at Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen, or The Edge at Central dining halls and $425 Dining Dollars to spend at any on-campus dining location.
- 75 Meals with $425 Dining Dollars: Provides 75 meals per semester at Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen, or The Edge at Central dining halls and $425 Dining Dollars to spend at any on-campus dining location.
Default White Plan:
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- $425 Dining Dollars: Provides $425 Dining Dollars to spend at any on-campus dining location.
- 25 Meals with $425 Dining Dollars: Provides 25 meals per semester at Village Tiger Zone, Wellness Kitchen or The Edge at Central dining halls and $425 Dining Dollars to spend at any on-campus dining location.
- $650 Dining Dollars: Provides $650 Dining Dollars to spend at any on-campus dining location.
Quick and Healthy Bites On and Around Campus
Finding healthy alternatives in Auburn, especially quick eats, doesn't have to be a struggle. Here are some options for those on the go:
Chick-fil-A: A convenient option with grilled nuggets as a healthy and gluten-free entree. Sauces can be added for variety. The kale crunch salad is also a good choice.
Chicken Salad Chick: Tubs of chicken salads are available with up to four scoops.
Jimmy Johns: Offers an "unwich" option, where sandwiches are wrapped in lettuce instead of bread.
Chipotle: Bowls are gluten-free and can be customized with various protein options.
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Loud Roots (Heyday Market): Offers quick service and a variety of healthy food options.
Starbucks: Provides gluten-free egg bites and the turkey, bacon, and egg white wrap for lighter options.
Restaurants Dedicated to Healthy Eating
- Clean Eatz (1800 Samford Trace Ct #230): Offers a variety of delicious and affordable options. The dine-in cafe menu includes burgers, wraps, flatbreads, meltz, build your own bowls, and smoothies. Meals can be ordered online for pick-up, making it easy to heat and eat at home. Most meals are under 500 calories. In addition to the café menu and meal plans, Clean Eatz in Auburn include Grab ‘N’ Go meals, protein smoothies, healthy snacks, and catering for all occasions.
Wei-Li: A Local Favorite
Wei-Li is a popular choice for Chinese food in Auburn, known for exceptionally fresh-tasting food and great service. The restaurant uses quality ingredients and provides excellent customer service, making customers feel valued. It's a go-to place for many, with favorites like nutty rice, chicken rice noodle, and Mongolian beef with fried rice. Wei Li always leaves me more than satisfied, best Chinese food around.
You can even purchase Wei-Li Gift Cards which make a perfect gift for any occasion whether it's a holiday, birthday, special event or if you just want to show your appreciation to someone.