Dining Services at the University of Connecticut recently announced three new “value meals” that students can purchase using flex passes from dining meal plans. The flex meals complement the points and Husky Bucks system students have access to.
SAMBAZON, the Coop and Mango will be providing new menu options, each for the first time, according to Dining Services’ fall announcement. With these additions, “value meals” are now being offered at twelve on-campus eateries.
“All participating flex pass locations have information and signage that let you know their flex pass options,” Dining Services said on Instagram.
The flex meal options at the five cafés and the Grab & Go’s inside Gelfenbien and Putnam dining halls are still in place, plus the addition of a yogurt parfait choice in lieu of the established sandwich, bagel, salad and mac and cheese choices. However, this eligibility does not extend to the build-your-own yogurt option at Crossroads Café.
Café flex meals include one of the “entrée” choices, a bag of chips or fruit and a bottled beverage or small coffee.
SAMBAZON’s new meal deal consists of a small acai bowl with granola, banana topping, and one additional topping. A variety of fruits, nuts and seeds are offered as toppings.
“You can choose not to have the granola or banana, but they cannot be substituted for additional toppings,” Dining Services said.
Usually, this bowl would cost $8 as a “build-your-own” option — $7 for the granola and banana bowl plus $1 for the choice topping. SAMBAZON, which opened in the Student Union food court last spring, markets itself as an organic and fair-trade concept.
“The excitement from students has been incredible, and we’re confident [SAMBAZON] will quickly become a campus favorite,” said Scott Hauver, the assistant director of retail operations for Dining Services in February.
Before the acai stall opened, Hauver revealed to the Daily Campus that a flex pass option for the location had been in the works since the concept’s arrival at UConn.
The Coop, specializing in chicken, occupies the former Dairy Bar Too space on the ground floor of the Student Union. The Coop is the newest eatery at UConn. For a flex pass, you get three chicken tenders, a side of French fries and either a fountain drink or bottled water. At a retail price between $9.95 and $10.25 (depending on drink choice), the Coop’s flex meal has the most value.
The deal is a revival of a popular former flex meal offering at One Plate Two Plates, a “fast food made fresh” concept which lasted from 2014 to 2024 in the Student Union food court. Bear’s Smokehouse currently occupies their space but does not participate in Dining Services’ meal plan programs. However, the tenders were briefly offered in the Union Street Market as a limited-time option last year.
Students can now also purchase a single small smoothie from Mango, located in the Recreation Center, for a flex pass. Mango offers seven smoothie choices, plus certain seasonal and special event-themed options. A small size smoothie, at 12 ounces, usually costs $6.75.
Value meal options which continue to be offered also include one slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni), plus a bag of chips or fruit and a bottled water or fountain drink from Union Street Market and three choices from Earth, Wok, and Fire, including the ever-popular General Tso Chicken and white rice combo.
Flex passes were originally designed to allow students to bring guests into dining halls. In fact, you can still use them for this purpose, at the cost of one flex pass per guest. Visitors and those without a meal plan would otherwise have to pay between $9.25 and $18.40 depending on the service, with the Dining Services webpage noting that pricing may be adjusted for UConn Bound events. Later, the “value meals” were introduced and have since expanded.
As a component of students’ meal plans, flex passes complement points, which each represent a dollar. Students can also convert points into flex passes at a rate of 7 points — but flex passes cannot be converted into points, Dining Services’ webpage states. The system also works alongside Husky Bucks, a debit-type account students can load money into for use at on- and off-campus establishments.
For more information about flex passes and Dining Services policies and offerings, visit dining.uconn.edu/flex-pass-and-points.