Michigan Dining offers students with meal plans the ability to carry out an entree from any of our stations. The service can be used seven days a week during every meal. M|Dining To Go is available at all of our public dining halls.
Michigan Dining is committed to sustainability through the use of our reusable to-go containers. Each student meal plan holder can experience a sustainable carry-out service by temporarily “checking out” an environmentally-friendly container, which can then be returned to any dining hall after enjoying their meal.
- Upon entering the dining hall, student meal plan holders will let the greeter know that they are getting their meal to-go prior to swiping in for entry. A reusable container will then be electronically registered to their account and the student will receive a ticket to turn in at the station of their choosing.
- Students will go to the station of their choice and turn in the ticket to receive their reusable container filled with their favorite foods. Students can then visit any additional stations to finish filling their container before leaving to enjoy their meal outside of the dining hall.
- The used container can then be returned, with uneaten food and trash disposed of, to any dining hall to be checked in. Upon the return of their previously checked-out container, the student is eligible to carry out again for a future meal.
Michigan Dining is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and supporting U-M’s sustainability goal of reducing waste sent to landfills by 40% by 2025. By providing student meal plan holders with reusable, environmentally safe, sustainable to-go containers we are able to decrease preventable waste volume from single-use containers, while still offering the flexibility of carry-out meals to our students.
Our reusable containers are microwave, dishwasher, and food safe. They are 100% BPA-free and made of polypropylene. Each container undergoes industry-leading washing practices in accordance with all local, state, and federal agency guidelines to ensure cleanliness for the next student’s use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student meal plan holders will let the dining hall greeter know that they intend to take their meal to-go prior to swiping into the dining hall. The greeter can then electronically register a to-go container to their account.
Students with Residential & Optional Unlimited meal plans can enjoy to-go meals as often as they would like permitting that their previously checked-out container has been returned. Students with Block meal plans can enjoy to-go meals with any of their meal swipes permitting that their previously checked-out container has been returned. Students with extenuating circumstances who may need additional carry-out meals should contact [email protected].
Yes, all dining halls will have to-go containers available at all stations.
If a student already has a container checked out and wants to participate in M|Dining To Go they must return their container or purchase a replacement for $10 before they are able to carry out again. Additional containers can be purchased with Dining Dollars or Blue Bucks.
No. Our reusable containers can be returned to any dining hall participating in M|Dining To Go during open hours. Uneaten food and trash should be disposed of before returning the container.
Please dispose of all waste in the appropriate waste bin, including all food waste in a compost container and all plastic wrappers in a landfill container. Please DO NOT rinse out containers in a sink. The containers will be sanitized when they are returned to the dining facility.
Students can only get one to-go container at a time. A single container can hold up to 2 main entrees and 2 sides. The container must be able to close. Hand-held fruit and portable desserts do not need to be included in the container.
Yes! M|Dining To Go is available during every meal period.
M|Dining To Go is available seven days a week at all of our dining halls and at every meal.
No. Students may not utilize M|Dining To Go and consume a meal inside the dining hall on the same card swipe.
We recommend returning your box no later than 48 hours after you use it, to prevent unwanted pests in your room and to ensure the box doesn’t have time to grow harmful mold and bacteria. MDining will send reminders occasionally if boxes aren’t making their way back to us in a timely manner, to ensure we have enough clean boxes ready for you the next time you need one. At the end of each semester, we will also communicate a deadline for your box to be returned to coincide the end of the meal plan term – boxes not returned by this date will be charged to your student account in the amount of a $10, non-refundable fee.
We have compostable forks, knives, and spoons available if you need utensils to enjoy your meal.
No. Our M|Dining To Go containers are not transferable to another meal plan holder or guest.
At the end of each semester, we will communicate a deadline for your box to be returned to coincide the end of the meal plan term – boxes not returned by this date will be charged to your student account in the amount of a $10, non-refundable fee.
