Flex passes; we all know and love them. Some may even call them the last true “combo” or “value” menu items in America. With a simple tap (or more recently, a swipe) of your One Card, a delicious, filling meal can be all yours.
Keep reading to see what the Life section says is the best flex pass option at the University of Connecticut.
Ayyan Tamjeed, Associate Life Editor, art24001@uconn.edu, he/him/his
The absolute best way to use a flex pass is to swipe me (or anyone) into a dining hall. Now that I live off-campus, I miss the easy access I used to have with my meal plan; I felt like I had the whole world at my fingertips — if the whole world was UConn’s eight dining halls and their array of mediocre to decent food.
As someone who had the custom plan and used half of their 75 flex passes on other people, it feels weird to be on the other side begging for swipes. There was a lady at Towers who got so used to me swiping in friends for lunch she would ask, “how many this time?” I regret telling you this, but the roles have reversed — I’m the one getting swiped in today.
Jaylyn Davis, Staff Writer, iue25001@uconn.edu, she/her/hers
There’s no better way to use a flex pass than buying chicken tenders, fries and a lemonade from The Coop. That’s what I have every Friday, and let me tell you, that meal slaps. Every time I have it, the chicken tenders’ crispiness enriches my taste buds while the fries and lemonade add extra saltiness and sweetness. Because of that, I highly recommend using some of your flex passes at The Coop. Trust me. You won’t regret it.
Another excellent way to use a flex pass is getting a sandwich and fruit for lunch at Bookworms or Crossroads. This is a wonderful way to save time, especially if you have back-to-back classes or a lot of homework. While you won’t be able to make your own custom sandwiches like at the dining halls, you’ll at least have a lovely meal to give you some energy for the rest of the day.
Eva Nyquist, Campus Correspondent, eva.nyquist@uconn.edu, she/her/hers
By far, my favorite way to use a flex pass is for a meal at Bookworms. I like feeling like I’m getting more out of using a flex pass than I would by using points, so the fact that I get three items for just one swipe instantly sells me. I usually grab some sort of wrap; the lemon basil chicken wrap is my favorite, even though its shade of green looks dubious. My chip of choice is Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and I top it all off with a cold regular Coke.
Honestly, though, my true favorite way to use a flex pass is to swipe my family and friends into the dining hall. As hit-or-miss as the dining hall can be sometimes, I enjoy taking visitors to give them a literal taste of what my daily life looks like here, and it’s always a good time.
Hope Melk, Campus Correspondent, hope.melk@uconn.edu , she/her/hers
A flex pass is never wasted when used for a small pink drink smoothie at Mango.
The pink drink, a perfect blend of strawberries, coconut milk and Greek yogurt, easily takes the trophy for Mango’s best smoothie. Though I respect those who defend tropical mango and mango peach, no flavor will ever dethrone the pink drink.
Side note: do not be fooled by chocolate peanut butter protein; that is a waste, and I’m convinced the only people who like it are gym bros trying to increase their protein intake.
The pink drink is best had after a morning workout to accompany breakfast or following an afternoon gym sesh to hold you over until dinner. Though I have to say, in the grand scheme of all things food, a flex pass is virtually useless; but the pink drink remains one of my favorite post-workout delicacies.
Sean Aitken, Campus Correspondent, sean.aitken@uconn.edu, he/him/his
It’s a competition for second place since swiping Ayyan into a dining hall is number one.
In all seriousness, The Coop is the best bang for your buck using a flex pass. It is very filling and can be too much sometimes. With that said, I’m announcing my retirement from The Coop Fan Club. If I wanted to have the life sucked out of me, I’d eat at The Coop.
The best use of a flex pass is SAMBAZON. Getting an acai bowl from there is the most comforting thing on campus. I could probably use all 75 swipes in one week if I wanted to. While it sounds like robbery, the flex pass bowl with strawberries and no granola is a heart condition staple.
Sophie Shugrue, Campus Correspondent, hdc24004@uconn.edu, she/her/hers
I used to think that a meal at The Coop was the best way to use a flex pass, but lately I have been spending all of mine at the various cafes on campus.
At The Beanery, I like to spend a flex pass on chips, a Diet Coke and a Cali Chicken Sandwich, a sumptuous blend of chicken, bacon, cheese and tomatoes on a toasted baguette. The sandwich is surprisingly sophisticated for being from a campus cafe, and I enjoy this combination for lunch.
I am also a big fan of the white mac and cheese from Bookworms, which I get with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a soda. I like to put the Hot Cheetos in the mac and cheese to add a slight kick to the meal. I also like their breakfast sandwiches, enjoying them with a hot hazelnut-blend coffee and saving the chips for later.