Meal Plan User Guide

Meal Plans

From our exclusive, comprehensive Full Access Meal Plans—perfect for Lobos living on campus—to Community Meal Plans designed for staff, faculty, upperclassmen residents and commuter students ... you’ll be fueled up for every class, every adventure with friends—and life in general. Meal plans are conveniently billed through your Bursar’s account and added to your LoboCard at the beginning of each semester.

*Freshmen who live on central campus are required to select one of our Full Access Meal Plans.


'Meal Exchange' allows you to use your meal plan to get eligible menu items at certain dining locations on campus. The number of Meal Exchanges you have depends on your selected meal plan. Each plan includes a set number of swipes for you to use while your meal plan is active. For help choosing a meal plan that fits your needs, contact our meal plan help desk.

Full Access Plans include Unlimited LaPo+ and a choice of Meal Exchanges. With Unlimited LaPo+, you can visit La Posada and La Ventana as many times as you want. Depending on your plan, you will have different amounts of Meal Exchanges to use at other eligible locations outside of La Posada and La Ventana.
*Note: Unlimited LaPo+ with Full Access Plans has a 30-minute wait between uses.

Community Plans offer different amounts of Meal Exchanges you can use at all eligible locations, including La Posada and La Ventana. Meal Exchange Locations are available across campus to help you make the most of your meal plan.

Use Meal Exchange at these locations:
  • La Posada Dining Hall: Community Plan holders can use a Meal Exchange to enter our main dining hall in the residential area.
    LaPo To-Go: Community Plan holders can use a Meal Exchange and our reusable containers to take food out from La Posada.
    La Ventana: Starting Fall 2025, Community Plan holders can use a Meal Exchange at this new location near the Mercado in the SUB.
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  • Full Access Plan holders can enter La Posada and visit La Ventana as often as they want. Full Access Plans have a 30-minute wait between uses at La Posada or La Ventana.

    Mercado and The Drop at the SRC: Located in SRC Commons, this location offers ready-to-eat and made-to-order favorites.
    Freshens: Our new location, opening Fall 2025, will let you create a customized, healthy meal on the go.
    Mercado at the SUB: You can use your Meal Exchange for select grab-and-go items in the convenience area.
    Einstein Bros. Bagels: Meal plan holders can use a Meal Exchange for selected menu items at this popular chain.

Dining Dollars are just like cash loaded onto your LoboCard for use at any food location on campus, including your national and local favorite eateries. All meal plans come with Dining Dollars and can be reloaded at any time. Dining Dollars do not expire between Fall and Spring semesters as long as you purchase a plan for both semesters; in this case, unused balances will expire at the end of Spring semester.

With great food options around every corner on campus, your Dining Dollars will be great for grabbing snacks, coffee, and meals at all of our locations on campus.

Dining Dollars are accepted at all UNM Food dining locations in person or through the Grubhub Campus Dining app.

Eating healthy, balanced meals is important to your overall health and wellness. Balanced U is your guide to finding foods that are right for you. Look for the Balanced U icons on items that take dietary needs into consideration. These icons will not only guide you in eating healthy, but they will also identify which items are compliant with dietary restrictions.

Our dining hall features stations devoted to meeting your dietary needs and preferences. Root is a plant-based station that offers comprehensive and satisfying vegetarian and vegan meals. The True Balance station features exciting dishes made without the 8 major food allergens. Visit this station for meals prepared without milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. These stations provide robust options for diners with specific dietary needs. On-the-Go options are marked with labels that assist diners in identifying products that fit their dietary needs.

At UNM Food, we know that eating well helps fuel studies and activities that make your college experience happy and memorable. You’ll find options that fit your dining style and wellness goals throughout La Posada and beyond the dining hall. Our team of chefs and staff is here to serve you and help you get the most out of your meal plan. We have many options to address dietary restrictions, preferences, and allergen avoidance. If you can’t find what you need, ask one of our team members at the location, reach out to us through social media, or email us at mealplans@unm.edu.

Freshmen living on main campus are required to hold a Full Access Meal Plan for their first academic year. Freshmen may select whichever eligible plan best suits their needs. If a plan is not selected, the default plan, Sandia Option A, will be activated for use and charged to the student's Bursar account. Changes to a different eligible plan may be made during the first 3 weeks of the Fall or Spring semester. 

*Release requests made to mealplans@unm.edu will be evaluated and are subject to denial.