A Comprehensive Guide to Lehigh University Dining Options

Lehigh University offers a diverse array of dining options to cater to the varied needs and preferences of its students, faculty, and staff. From convenient meal plans and dining dollars to retail locations and culturally diverse cuisine, Lehigh Dining aims to provide a satisfying and nourishing experience for the entire campus community.

Meal Plans: Fueling Your Academic Journey

Lehigh University provides a range of meal plans designed to fit different eating habits and lifestyles. First-year students have several options to choose from, each offering a combination of meal swipes and dining dollars.

Meal Plan Options for First-Year Students

First-year students can select from the following meal plans, all of which include five guest meal passes per semester:

240 Block Plan: This plan, which is the default for first-year students, offers 240 swipes per semester and $525 in dining dollars, costing $3,690 per semester.
All Access 7 Plan: This plan provides unlimited swipes and $375 in dining dollars at a cost of $4,450 per semester.

Meal Plan Options for 2025-2026

The following meal plan options were available for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Meal Plan	Cost per Semester	Swipes per Semester	Dining Dollars	Meal Exchange	Guest Meals
All Access 7	$4,450	Unlimited	$375	Up to 160 per semester (max 10 per week)	5
240 Block Plan	$3,690	240 per semester	$525	Up to 48 per semester (max 3 per week)	3
200 Block Plan (new for Spring 2026)	$3,350	200 per semester (min. 40)	$650	Up to 160 per semester (max 10 per week)	0
160 Block Plan	$3,350	160 per semester	$1,200	0	0
80 Block Plan	$1,755	80 per semester	$650	Up to 16 per semester (max 1 per week)	0
40 Block Plan	$1,305	40 per semester	$750	0	0
Dining Dollar Plan	$1,000	None	$1,050	0	0

The 240 Block Plan is the default plan for First Year Students.

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Dining Dollars: A Flexible Payment Option

Dining Dollars function as a debit account linked to your Lehigh ID, allowing you to purchase food and beverages at any Lehigh Dining Services location. The balance rolls over from the fall to the spring semester, providing added convenience. To add Dining Dollars to your account, you can visit the Dining Services Office in the University Center, call (610) 758-6179, or access your Housing and Dining Portal.

Dining Dollars Rewards Program

Lehigh Dining Services offers a Dining Dollars Rewards Program, allowing meal plan members to earn a bonus when adding additional funds to their Dining Dollars account. A 20% bonus is awarded for add-ons made before the end of the 10th day of classes each semester.

Meal Exchange: Expanding Your Culinary Choices

The Meal Exchange program enhances the flexibility of your meal plan by allowing you to exchange a meal swipe for special meal combos, known as Meal Deals, at various retail locations across campus. These Meal Deals offer a diverse range of food options to cater to different tastes and preferences.

New Meal Plans for Faculty and Staff

Lehigh Dining also offers new meal plans designed specifically for faculty and staff, providing flexibility, value, and convenience for on-campus dining. These plans include:

65 Block Plan: Includes 2 meal exchanges per week for use at select retail locations.
30 Block Plan: A great option for lighter on-campus dining.

All meal plan holders receive a 20% bonus for any dining dollar add-ons throughout the semester.

Retail Dining: Convenient and Diverse Options

In addition to the resident dining halls, Lehigh University boasts a variety of retail dining locations offering diverse cuisines and convenient options for students on the go. These locations include:

The Grind at FML (EWFM Library)
Common Grounds (Rauch Business Center)
Hawk's Nest (Lamberton Hall): Features Mein Bowl, Tres Habaneros, Chick-N-Bap, Good Batter & Signature Milkshakes
Hillside Café (Hitch House)
Hideaway Café (Health, Science & Technology Building)
Market X (Mountain Top Campus Building C)
Iacocca Café & InReach Vending (Iacocca Hall)
Lucy's Café (Linderman Library)
Global Café (Williams Hall)
Food Trucks: The Purple Pita, Fud Truk & The Talon (STEPS Building & Flag Pole for Lunch)

You can use your "Resident Dining Meal Swipes" as a meal credit toward the total cost of a "Retail Dining" purchase ($5 for Breakfast and $7 for Brunch, Lunch and Dinner).

Resident Dining: All-You-Care-to-Eat Value

Lehigh University features two "All-You-Care-to-Eat" Student Restaurants: Rathbone and Brodhead, offering the best value for on-campus dining. Students can choose to dine-in or opt for a to-go box for convenience.

Rathbone: Located on the east-side of campus, Rathbone is a popular dining destination with a view of the Lehigh Valley. It is open seven days a week and features eight Culinary Stations, including the Globowl Station and Halal-friendly Simple Servings Station.
Brodhead Student Restaurant: Tucked inside Brodhead Residence Hall, it is open Monday thru Friday for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Navigating Cultural Cuisine: A World of Flavors at Lehigh

Lehigh Dining embraces cultural diversity by offering a wide range of ethnic dishes and flavors. The university provides resources and guidance to help students navigate these culinary offerings and maintain healthy eating habits.

Dietary Icons: Identifying Options for Your Needs

Lehigh Dining utilizes "Dietary Icons" to help individuals identify menu items that align with their specific dietary needs. These icons, conveniently located on lehigh.sodexomyway.com/, Retail Menu Boards, and Menu Station Labels at each Resident Dining location, indicate whether a dish is mindful, local, vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, or contains no gluten ingredients.

Acculturation: Adapting to New Culinary Experiences

Acculturation, the process of adapting to another culture, plays a significant role in the dining experience for many students. Lehigh University encourages students to be open to new culinary adventures while retaining healthy food habits from their own cultures.

Global Cuisine Options

Lehigh Dining offers a variety of global cuisines, including:

East Asian: Mein Bowl (authentic Asian fare at Hawk's Nest), Global Café (Hisso Sushi & Poke Bowls in Williams Hall), Chick-N-Bap (Korean BBQ inspired NYC Street Food at Hawk's Nest), Yo Kai Express (on-demand hot ramen noodle bowls at Iacocca Café)
Middle Eastern: The Purple Pita Food Truck (Halal meats with a modern twist on classic Middle Eastern cuisine)
Kosher/Halal: FreskoFresh Kosher/Halal Star-K Organization Tartikov and Etimad Halal certified Grab-N-Go sandwiches

Resident Dining Cycle Menu

The Resident Dining locations operate on a 5-week cycle menu, offering different menu items each day for five weeks before repeating the cycle. This menu includes a variety of ethnic dishes, such as Asian Stir-Fries, Tofu Fried Rice, Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos, Tuscan Mushroom Salad, and Chicken Vindaloo with Naan Bread.

Hacking the Menu

Students are encouraged to "hack" the menu by finding ways to create dishes that remind them of home. This can involve combining ingredients from different stations or adding herbs and spices to customize their meals.

Guide to Herbs & Spices

Lehigh Dining provides a guide to herbs and spices, encouraging students to experiment with different flavors and aromas to transform their meals. Some of the featured spices include:

Za'atar: A fragrant blend of thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac
Berbere: A potent combination of spicy, bitter, and sweet spices
Chinese Five Spice: A pungent mix of sweet, savory, bitter, and sour
Garam Masala: A warming mix of spices like cinnamon and cardamom
Herbs de Provence: A blend of herbs from southern France

Accessing Online Menus: Comprehensive Nutrition Information

Lehigh Dining provides comprehensive nutrition information online, allowing students and families to tailor meal plans to meet their dietary needs. To access the menus, follow these steps:

Go to lehigh.sodexomyway.com/ (link available on the HawkWatch App under "Support Resources - Dining Services").
On the Sodexo My Way screen, click "What's Open Now."
Select your "Dining Location" and then click "Menu."
Click on the calories next to each menu item for a complete nutrition label and list of allergens present.

Requesting Accommodations: Meeting Dietary Needs

Lehigh University is committed to accommodating students with dietary needs and religious dietary restrictions. Students can request meal plan changes or exemptions through a formal procedure involving consultation with the on-campus Registered Dietitian and review by Disability Services, Residence Life, and Lehigh Dining Services.

The procedure involves:

Step 1: Schedule a Religious Dietary Restriction Accommodations Session or Allergy/Medical Disability Accommodations Session with the on-campus Registered Dietitian to determine if dietary needs can be met.
Step 2: If the Dietitian has concerns about the ability of the student to easily meet their dietary needs on-campus, then the student may apply for a meal plan exemption and/or housing adjustment.
Step 3: Exemption/accommodations request will be reviewed jointly by Disability Services, Residence Life, and Lehigh Dining Services, and other personnel who may be able to assist in accommodating your needs.

Dietitian Services: Nourishing Your Potential

Lehigh Dining is committed to student health and wellness, offering a variety of Registered Dietitian-led nutrition services and events throughout the year. Keri Lasky, MS, RD, LDN, CLT, is the on-campus Registered Dietitian, providing guidance and support to students with their nutritional needs.

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