Vibe Check: What Incoming First-Years are Thinking About
Last month, we asked incoming First Year students what was on their mind, dining-wise. We loved reading all the responses and spotted a few clear trends. From dreaming about special events and dining hall traditions to figuring out meal plans and healthy habits, here's what incoming first-years students are most excited for and what they’re wondering about.
We love the excitement for…
You Said
- “The actual food itself, it looks so GOOD! My twin sister is actually jealous that I am going to a college with a better dining hall than hers!”
- “The diverse dishes that are freshly made everyday.”
We Hear You
Food is what we do all day, every day! That’s why we cook from scratch whenever possible: every dish is made with love, and we can’t wait for you to try it.
You Said
- “Hopefully, I can learn about different cuisines and cultures through dining.”
- “I am looking forward to trying out so many different foods at my doorstep”
We Hear You
One thing is clear: the Class of 2030 has some curious and adventurous eaters! A variety of culturally and ethnically diverse cuisine is clearly important to you. Don’t worry, it’s important to us, too! We rotate menus to make sure our selection is always delicious, never boring. Across our dining halls and trucks, you can expect ramen, bao buns, tacos, jollof, curries, banh mis, burritos, poke, soul food, and so much more!
We also love menu suggestions! Family recipes are welcome here.
You Said
- “I'm looking forward to dining traditions like surf n' turf!”
- “battle of the dining halls seems like my type of activity to get excited for.”
We Hear You
Good food and good fun – that’s our motto. We host more than 100 special events every year! Fan favorites include Surf & Turf, Battle of the Dining Halls, and Friendsgiving.
You Said
- “I am looking forward to those dinner nights when I am able to learn from the people around me”
- “I am so excited bond with new friends over meals from the many dining halls!”
- “I'm most looking forward to the late night dinner conversations I'll be able to have with friends and peers”
We Hear You
Food is just better with friends, ya know? We understand the importance of breaking bread, and we’re honored to be a part of that at Columbia.
You Said
- “Trying out all the different dining halls and deciding on a favorite.”
- “I’m looking forward to eating at Ferris Booth Commons!! I have omelettes almost every day for breakfast so I’m excited to continue that tradition with Columbia.”
- “I am looking forward to trying comfort food at JJ's Place!”
- “I'm most looking forward to all the amazing dishes at the Columbia dining halls, especially the salmon & mac and cheese from Faculty House or the late night food at JJ's!”
- “I am so so so looking forward to late night bites at JJ's place!”
We Hear You
We can’t play favorites with our dining halls… but you can! Make sure you take advantage of the New Student Passport Program on your quest to discover your #1 dining hall.
We know you’re wondering about…
You Said
- “My main concern is whether I'll be able to maintain the eating habits that have helped me feel my best… In particular, I hope there are freshly prepared eggs available for breakfast and enough high-protein options throughout the day so I can continue eating in a way that supports my routine while enjoying campus dining.”
We Hear You
We get it: maintaining healthy eating habits can help make a new environment feel more familiar, and helps you feel your best!
Here are some tips for navigating our program with a focus on healthy options:
- Lean proteins:
- Made-to-order omelets at Ferris and John Jay (until 11 a.m.) or at JJ’s (all day)
- Yogurt bar at Ferris and John Jay (all day)
- In-house roasted halal chicken at John Jay and Ferris salad bars, plus Ferris pasta station and JJ’s grill
- Salmon served at Faculty House lunch on Thursdays
- Fruits & Vegetables: available at all dining locations
- Ferris and John Jay typically offer cut fruit or berries.
- Salad bars available through lunch and dinner at John Jay, Ferris, JJ’s Place, Grace Dodge, and Faculty House 4th floor, or pre-made bowl at Fac Shack.
- Build a balanced meal: Mainline stations at John Jay, Ferris, and Faculty House stations always serve a protein, starch, and vegetable, making it easy to create a meal that fits your dietary needs.
- Mix and match options: Customize your meal by choosing from different stations, such as fish from the grill paired with a whole grain from the mainline and vegetables from the salad bar.
You Said
- “Learning how it works and using dining dollars for the first time.”
- “I'm worried that I may not have enough meal swipes with my plan...”
- “overusing my swipes during the school year and not having enough when I actually need it”
We Hear You
You’ll become a Dining pro in no time, we promise! In the next few weeks, we’ll share a detailed “How to Use Your Plan” article that will cover where and how you can use meal swipes, Dining Dollars, and Flex, as well other plan FAQs.
As a reminder, the meal swipe balance on first-year plans resets weekly, so you only have to plan for a few days of swipes at a time.
You Said
- “Just curious if there will be labels for dairy, gluten, etc?”
- “I have allergy. I hope I will be able to find good dining options at Columbia.”
We Hear You
Here’s what you should know if you have concerns about navigating the dining halls:
- We have a registered dietitian on staff, Kate, who advises our team on allergens and restrictions. Contact her if you have specific questions or concerns.
- Our menus are labeled to reflect common allergens. Labeling is managed by our registered dietitian and is consistent across the Columbia Dining portfolio.
- We don’t cook with nuts or nut oils to minimize cross contact.
- Every location always offers a vegan and a gluten-free option. Always. Some locations even have dedicated vegan stations!
- The bone-in chicken we use across our dining halls (except for the wings at JJs) is halal. We also offer halal deli meats at Chef Mike’s, and a dedicated halal station in John Jay.
Learn more about dietary considerations at Columbia.
You Said
- “I am a little concerned about the freshness of dining hall food. It is definitely hard to prepare food for so many students, and I wonder how much of the dining hall food will be frozen.”
We Hear You
Preparing thousands of meals every day is hard work, but that doesn't mean the food was frozen. Here at Columbia Dining, only the ice cream is frozen! Led by chefs educated at top culinary institutions, our team brings expertise and passion to every meal.
To ensure that food is always fresh, we use batch cooking to prepare food in smaller batches and receive food deliveries six days per week. See a day in the life of fan favorite chickpea tagine to learn more about our process.
We understand that sometimes your food may not come out quite the way you like it. For the fastest response when you’re in a dining hall, speak to a manager.
You Said
- “Missing breakfast or dinner because of a conflict.”
- “long lines taking up a lot of time.”
We Hear You
Dining offers 24/7 service across nine locations during academic periods – with late nights at JJ’s and Chef Mike’s – because we need to fit into your schedule, not the other way around.
We also offer several quick service options for when you’re on-the-go:
- Take-4 at JJ’s and Chef Mike’s
- Mobile ordering at Chef Mike’s Sub Shop (order ahead and skip the line)
- Chef Mike’s Express for pre-made, ready to go sub specials
- Two food trucks: Johnny’s and The Fac Shack
- Taking meals to-go with the Columbia Dining eco-container or a compostable to-go container
Service can take longer when you customize your meal, like at an omelet station or build-your-own sub station.
Thank you to all students who submitted responses, and congratulations to Mommin, Aliaksandra, and Eric for winning our random drawing for Flex!