Meal Plan

U of A dining halls are open daily during Fall and Winter semesters. They are closed overnight and may have modified hours during University closures. The dining halls are closed during the Spring and Summer semesters.

Peter Lougheed Dining Hall
Lister Market Woman eating fries
Peter Lougheed Dining man at buffet

Lister Residence and Peter Lougheed Hall (PLH) have an all-access meal plan that provides students unlimited entries to their corresponding residence dining hall throughout the school year.

The residence dining halls offer residents a variety of nutritious options and comfort foods. You can access the dining hall as many times as you want each day and eat as much or as little as you choose during operating hours. Residents can focus on studying and adjusting to university life instead of grocery shopping, meal planning and washing dishes.

If you're not living in Lister Residence or PLH, check out the voluntary meal plan options!

2024-2025 Meal Plans

7-DAY ACCESS PLAN (Lister and PLH)
8-month contract: $5,855
If you are on the 7-day all-access plan, you can enter the dining hall every day of the week from the day you move in until the day you move out. This plan is intended for students who will be remaining in residence on weekends.

5-DAY ACCESS PLAN (Lister only)
8-month contract: $5,110
If you choose a 5-day plan, you can only enter the dining hall from Monday to Friday. This plan is intended for students planning on going home on weekends. Access on weekends will still be available by paying the walk-in rates.

How does my Meal Plan Work?

Simply tap your ONEcard at the entrance to gain access to the dining hall in your building and help yourself to a variety of choices. You can eat as much or as little as you choose and come back as often as you wish during operating hours. Fresh food and snacks are available throughout the day with plenty of choices no matter when you visit. During meal periods, you can choose from a range of made-to-order hot meals. The dining halls are open for dine in only, students cannot leave the dining hall with food or drinks.

Dining Hall Hours + Walk-in Pricing

Residents can access the dining hall as often as they wish during opening hours. Non-residents and guests may purchase access to the dining facilities at the walk-in rates.

U of A dining halls are open daily during Fall and Winter semesters. They are closed overnight and may have modified hours during University closures. The dining halls are closed during the Spring and Summer semesters.

Lister Dining Hall

Walk-in pricing
Breakfast: $14.79
Lunch: $18.49
Dinner: $19.99

Regular hours
Weekdays: 7 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m.–10:30 p.m.

Modified hours (winter break)
Dec 23–31: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Dec 25–26, Jan 1: 12 (noon)–5 p.m.
Jan 2: Back to regular hours

Peter Lougheed Hall Dining Hall

Walk-in pricing
Breakfast: $13.79
Lunch: $16.49
Dinner: $18.49

Regular hours
Weekdays: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

Modified hours (winter break)
Dec 23–31: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Dec 25–26, Jan 1: 12 (noon)–5 p.m.
Jan 2: Back to regular hours

What If I Can’t Go Back To The Dining Hall For Lunch?

Students who are unable to dine in person at the dining hall can pre-order a bagged lunch from Monday to Friday. Bagged lunches need to be ordered in advance and will be available for pickup in the dining hall the next day.

Pre-order a bagged lunch

What If I Have Allergies Or Dietary Restrictions?

We've got you covered. Digital screens in Lister Residence and Peter Lougheed Hall display interactive menus complete with information about nutrition and allergens. Our menu labeling program makes it easy to find options with these attributes.

Dining Halls Dietary Labeling Program

Halal
Locally Grown
No Dairy
No Gluten
Plant Forward
Sustainable Seafood
Vegan
Vegetarian
Eat Well Logo
What do these menu labels mean?

Vegetarian
Menu items that fit a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet

  • Excludes: all meat, fish, and poultry
  • Includes: eggs, milk, dairy, honey

Vegan
Foods made from plant-based food items only

  • Excludes: Eggs, Honey, Milk & Dairy, and any other animal-derived ingredients

Sustainable Seafood
Seafood ingredients third-party certified as sustainably sourced Wild Seafood: Marine Stewardship Council, Ocean Wise Farmed Seafood: Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP 1,2,3, or 4 stars)

Locally Grown
Major ingredients that are grown, raised or produced in Alberta

No Gluten
Menu items that are made without gluten ingredients

Halal
Single ingredients or recipes

  • Halal certified proteins
  • Halal permitted foods
  • Excludes all Haram products
  • Third party certification available

No Dairy
Identifies menu items that are made without milk ingredients

Plant Forward
Identifies menu items that contain 60 grams or less of animal-based ingredients per serving. Recipes may or may not be vegetarian/vegan.

Eat Well
Identifies healthier menu choices that meet specific nutrition standards.

In addition, we have a registered dietitian on our team that can help you with your special dietary needs. Email dining@ualberta.ca with the subject "Ask a Dietitian" with your questions or book a one on one consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of having a meal plan integrated into residence?

Lister Residence and Peter Lougheed Hall offer meal plans to ensure students receive well-rounded and nutritious meals. Save time and don’t worry about cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping!

As a key piece of residence programming, the meal plan facilitates community building and engagement opportunities and allows students to take a break from their studies and connect with their peers.

How does the residence meal plan work?

Your university ID lets you gain access to the dining halls and help yourself to a variety of choices. Your meal plan is valid at both the Lister and PLH dining halls. We will feed you from the day you move in until the day you move out.

How do I upgrade my plan?

To upgrade to the 7-day Meal Plan, log onto your Residence Account and complete the Lister Meal Plan Upgrade Request form, located under the 2024-2025 Online Forms section. Please note that the fee for the meal plan upgrade will be included with the rest of your Residence fees and will be posted to your Bear Tracks account.

How many times can I access the dining hall?

You can access the dining hall as many times as you want. Your meal plan includes unlimited access to the dining hall. You can eat as much or as little as you choose and come back as often as you wish during opening hours.

What are the dining hall hours of operation?

Throughout the academic year, the dining halls are open on long weekends, reading weeks and the winter break.

Lister Dining Hall Regular hours of operation
Weekdays, 7 am–10:30 pm
Weekends, 8 am–10:30 pm

PLH Dining Hall Regular hours of operation
Weekdays, 7 am–10:00 pm
Weekends, 8 am–10:00 pm

Visit the Dining Services webpage for the modified hours of operation during the winter break.

The dining halls are closed overnight and may have modified hours during university closures. The dining halls are closed during the Spring and Summer semesters.

What type of food can I find in the dining hall?

Fresh food and snacks are available throughout the day, with plenty of choices no matter when you visit. During meal periods, you can choose from a range of made-to-order hot meals.

From healthy options to comfort food, our dining halls have a dedicated station to satisfy all your cravings. Our stations always feature a meat and vegetarian daily special. In addition, you can always customize your plate by selecting options from our various stations.

Wondering what delicious dishes we are serving up? Check out our daily menus in advance on CampusDish.

Can I see the menus in advance?

Yes, we have a 4 week menu rotation. All our menus are posted on Campus Dish.

Our social media accounts @UAlbertaDining also feature all the upcoming promotions and daily features such as pop up stations, themed nights and special events.

What if I have allergies or dietary restrictions?

We've got you covered. Digital screens in Lister Residence and Peter Lougheed Hall display interactive menus complete with information about nutrition and allergens. Our menu labeling program makes it easy to find options with these attributes.

Is the dining hall a peanut free facility?

No, our dining halls are not peanut free. There is risk of cross contamination between menu items so please be sure to book an appointment with our dietitian to discuss if you would be able to be accommodated.

Do you offer gluten free food?

Yes, our dining hall is equipped with a Gluten Free pantry where access is restricted to students who are celiac or have a gluten dietary restriction to ensure there is no cross contamination in that room. All items in the pantry are gluten free. We also serve menu items without gluten ingredients throughout our servery. However, those menu items are not free from cross contamination.

How do I pay for my meal plan?

Please review our payment information page for details.

Can I opt out of the meal plan?

No. Given it is a room and board program, it is not possible to opt out of the meal plan if you live in Lister Residence or Peter Lougheed Hall.

Can I invite friends and family to the dining hall? Can I share my ONEcard to give them access?

Residence meal plans can’t be shared and can only be used by the card holder. Meal plan holders cannot share their ONEcards.

Your friends and family can join you in the dining hall by paying the walk-in rates.

Can I cook meals in Lister Residence?

Lister Residence contains some access to kitchen facilities for students to prepare the odd meal or snack but they are not equipped for full-time cooking.

My friends outside of residence packed their own food. Can they join me in the dining hall for a meal?

No, external food is not allowed inside the dining hall. The dining halls are a controlled environment. All food items offered in the dining hall have a chain of custody that we are able to track. This is critical when it comes to tracing the source of a food borne illness or cross contamination.

If your friends or visiting family would like to join you for a meal, they will have to purchase entry to the dining hall.

Can I take food out of the dining hall?

No, take-out food is not available and full meals cannot be taken out of the dining hall aside from your bagged lunch. All meals must be consumed in the dining room.

Some small food items, like a piece of fresh fruit, coffee and a cookie will be allowed out.

How do I order a bagged lunch? Will the bagged lunch always be the same?

Students who are unable to dine in person at the dining hall can pre-order a bagged lunch during weekdays. Bagged lunches need to be ordered in advance and will be available for pickup in the dining hall the next day. You need to fill out a form to specify your dietary needs and can choose a variety of options.

What are your health and safety measures?

We want you and our campus community to stay safe, so we've implemented strict safety protocols for people eating and working in our dining hall. We are closely monitoring guidance from Alberta Health Services and have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols to keep you safe.

Will there be a quiet study space in the dining hall?

Residents are welcome to study in the dining hall as often as they wish throughout the day, but we are asking students to only stay the necessary time to dine in during peak meal times (between 5–7 pm).

What happens to my meal plan balance at the end of the year?

There are no refunds or balances available at the end of the year. The meal plan provides unlimited access to the dining hall during the academic year. There is no balance attached to the plans at the end of the year regardless of usage.

I’m returning to Lister as a student leader. Why do I need to have a meal plan?

There’s a significant upper-year population in Lister Residence who serve as mentors and student leaders. We want to implement a meal plan that will help first-year students adjust to university life and support the entire community. This means that everyone who lives in these residences must participate in the meal plan.

I have feedback about the meal plan!

Dining Services has a commitment to developing real-time feedback mechanisms in the dining halls through various communication channels.

TXTnTell (only available in Lister)

Submit your feedback via text ualberta-dining-txtntell.png

  1. Create a single text message to 55744
  2. Answer questions in the order shown
    1. Dining hall code: lister
    2. Rate the food
      1-2-3-4-5 (very poor - excellent)
    3. Rate the services
      1-2-3-4-5 (very poor - excellent)
    4. Rate cleanliness
      1-2-3-4-5 (very poor - excellent)
    5. Rate menu variety
      1-2-3-4-5 (very poor - excellent)
    6. Add any comments or suggestions
  3. Send your text

Example: lister 5555 great food and service today!

Submit your feedback online

Napkin Talk

This is a space where students and visitors can grab a napkin, give us feedback and post it on our wall anonymously. Our staff will even write a response to your feedback and post it back.

This is a great opportunity to tell us about something that you loved or maybe didn't like too much about your dining experience. We are very open to feedback and look forward to hearing from you!

Share your feedback

Contact Dining Services

  • Email
    Email us at dining@ualberta.ca with any questions or concerns. If you know who you are sending it to, include that in the subject line
  • Social Media
    Follow us @ualbertadining on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Eats from Home

Craving a "taste" of home and want to see your favourite meal featured in our menus? Students can submit a recipe to be featured in our dining halls.

Submit a recipe


Please email us at dining@ualberta.ca with any questions or concerns about the meal plan. We remain open to suggestions on how to improve our communications.

Winter Break FAQ

Can I access the dining halls during winter break?

Yes. Lister and Peter Lougheed Hall are open to all residence meal plan holders. Please ensure you have your physical ONEcard ready to access the dining halls.

What happens if I lose my ONEcard or it is not working and I can’t get a replacement right away?
Bring a personal ID along with your student number and provide it to the cashier. If a meal plan is active on your account you will be able to access the dining hall.
Can I purchase a voluntary meal plan to access the dining hall during winter break?

Yes, voluntary meal plans with access to both Lister and PLH are available online and can be purchased anytime.

Will I have access to Lister and Peter Lougheed Hall if I have a voluntary meal plan during winter break?

Yes, please ensure you have an active meal plan on your account to access the dining hall. If your current voluntary meal plan is coming to an end, please purchase a new meal plan by December 20, 2024 to have access to the dining halls during winter break.

What happens if I purchase a voluntary meal plan after December 20?

Your meal plan will be active on your account, but access to the building will not be activated until January 6, 2024. Both buildings require card access during the break, so you will not be able to access the dining halls. If you plan to use your voluntary meal plan during the winter break, please ensure you purchase it by December 20.