What else can I do on campus before/ after my Enrolment Appointment?

There's LOTS you can do
while on campus this summer

Having to come all the way to Keele campus in the middle of your summer vacation in order to spend 3+ hours at an enrolment appointment means that a lot of time students want to make sure that they can
get AS MUCH DONE while on campus as possible. With that in mind I decided to create a short list of things that you might want to do while you're on campus for your enrolment appointment.

I really LOVE Top 10 lists, what can I say I'm a major David Letterman fan! So following Letterman's example here's my Top 10 List of things you can do on campus on the day of your enrolment appointment. 

**If you're doing an online appointment you can totally still do all these things if you don't mind giving up a day to head over to campus!**

My Top 10 Things to Do on Campus:

10. Visit The RED Zone
--Come by Vari Hall and visit us before OR after your enrolment appointment to learn about all the
awesome things you can do with your life here at York!

9. Pick up your YU Card
--You'll need a piece of government ID in order to get it and it only take 2mins and you get it right on
the spot! REMEMBER you can SMILE in your picture so have fun with it!

8. Take a campus tour/ residence tour
--Why not take a campus tour while you're here? They happen everyday at 10:30am from the Bennett Centre!! Also if you're thinking of living in residence/ have already applied to live in residence and you want to get a feel for what it'll be like there are residence tours everyday at 2:30pm from 108 McLaughlin (stop by the RED Zone for directions!!).  

7. Check out your college (or at least make sure you know where it is)
-- Take a walk through your college, check out your lounge, look for your council office or just make sure that you know where it is.

6. Take a tour of the gym
--Our gym is a HUGE facility and the folks at Tait McKenzie are super friendly and are more than happy to take you on a full tour of all the facilities.

5. Check out some of our campus food options
--We have so many food locations on campus why not sit down and have lunch on campus so you can get a feel for the campus and the energy of our student population!

4. Stop by the YFS office and ask them about their services
-- The YFS or York Federation of Students is the student council that represents our entire student body. They have TONS of student services and they give lots of stuff to the York population.

3. Check out our transportation office/ familiarize yourself with the bus loop
--If you're think of driving you might want to stop by our transportation office to ask any questions you might have about parking at York. We also have a Smart Commute office that can also help you figure
out what carpooling options they have for you. If you're not planning to drive then take a tour of the bus loop to familiarize yourself with where your bus picks up and drops off.

2. Visit the bookstore and pick up some York gear :P
--We're happy to welcome you into the York community and we want you to feel proud of where you go to school, so be sure to stop by the Bookstore and pick up some York Gear. They have some FANTASTIC York clothing that is major specific so pick up a $12 shirt with your program on it and represent York wherever you go!!

1. WALK from one end to the other and EXPLORE outside areas of campus while the weather is still nice!!

--Let's be honest, the weather in Toronto can be unpredictable, so while the weather is nice be sure to check out the beauty of our campus while the weather is still nice. It's really worth it to take a look around now so you can get a feel for the campus while it's a little calmer, before classes begin.

I hope that you enjoyed my list. If there's anything here that you have questions about or comments feel free to comment below!

Until next time, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

Looking for Lunch for $5? Yep it's possible!!

This semester seems to be flying by!! February has come and gone...but that doesn't mean that my $5.00 quest is finished. This week I'm profiling LUNCHES on campus!


So just to remind you I have the following rules regarding what counts as options here at Keele.
Here are the rules:
1. Meals MUST be as close to $5.00 as possible INCLUDING TAXES
2. Each Meal should include a drink
3. I'll have to give you at least 3 options per meal
4. I have to provide you with at least 1 healthy option
5. I must let you know where you can get each option on campus.

Now that you've been reminded of the rules... Let's Talk about $5.00 Lunches on Campus.

Option 1: Central Square Cafeteria Freshii

Asian Chop Salad
$5.65

-- Unfortunately there aren't really any options at the Cafeteria that fit within my budget, so in trying to give Aramark a chance to offer suggestions I tweeted them and they suggested that I try Freshii, one of the food services locations they operate. Freshii is located in the lobby of the Lassonde Building, in case you've never seen it. Here are your options at Freshii

---Buffalo Chicken Wrap = $5.65
---Warrior Chicken Bowl = $5.65
---Asian Chop Salad = $5.65

How did we do on the rules?? Well all of the Freshii options are a little over the budget and they don't come with a drink HOWEVERRRR it is worth noting that the value for money (at least in the case of the Asian Chop Salad the meal in the picture), is VERY HIGH! This was a HUGE salad, and it was very substantial therefore worth the money. This could also be considered as one of your healthier options.

Option 2: York Lanes / Tastes

Tastes Sandwich Combo
With Pop

--Before I give you this option I think it is worth mentioning my blog last week on snacks. The reason I bring this up is because I think that Berries and Blooms and Falfael Hut are GREAT options for lunch! Click here so see last weeks post.

--- Tastes has a GREAT Lunch system in place. They have different sandwich specials for each day of the week that range in price from $3.44-3.60 with this sandwich you can add a side soup, salad or pop for $1.00 extra. That being said the meal in the image came to $4.90.

What do the rules say? Well you can get a filling sandwich and a drink or if you're not that thirsty you can sub the pop for additional food. Also you come in UNDER BUDGET with this option so that saves you money. Also the value for money with this option is high.

Option 3 AUDIENCE SUGGESTION: The Islands
--This option was suggested by a reader. The Islands in The Student Centre has a lunch special that has become fairly popular lately.

Barbecue Chicken
White Rice and Coleslaw

---Daily Lunch Special: Jerk or Barbecue Chicken, Rice, and Coleslaw or Salad = $5.50
--- Potato Roti: = $5.50
--- Sides = $? It all depends on what you decide to purchase so it could be more or less than $5.00 dollars.

This option does come in under budget and the value for money is good since you get a fair amount of food for the price. The only flaw with this option is that it does not come with a drink, so although it is under budget, if that Jerk has you dying of thirst you'll have to find some extra cash for a drink!

Every week I award one of the options as having the "Biggest Bang for your Buck" or the greatest value for money. This week it was tough...but I'm going to have to give that title to Freshii this week. I can't get over how much food you can get from Freshii at around the $5.00 mark.

So what are you having?

Well those are my options for a reasonably priced lunch on campus. If you want to suggest some other places please feel free to comment below I know I'd LOVE to try some other places on campus!

Be sure to check back next week for my profile about $5.00 Dinners on campus. I think that this might be the BIGGEST challenge for me yet!

LEGGO!!!

Remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

$5 in your pocket...looking for a quick Snack?

In case you haven't noticed, February is my month of $5.00 meals. I have taken on the challenge to find meals on York's Keele Campus that are within $5 including a tax, the meal must also include a drink. Last week I covered Breakfasts and this week I'm tackling SNACKS!

Have you ever found yourself Running around campus, RAVENOUS? Looking for a quick snack that you can grab between classes?? Well I've got you covered!

Sooo....Let's Talk about where you can go to get a $5 snack on York's Keele Campus!!

Option 1: Central Square Cafeteria

Small Coffee and
Butter Croissant

--There are many snack options at the Cafeteria however trying to find an option that fits into my strict $5.00 budget that also includes a drink is not an easy task to accomplish. So remembering the rules, I came up with the following option:

---Small Coffee and Butter Croissant = $4.05
I am sad to say that the fact that the rules required a drink to be included in the budget kept sending my snack costs over $5. However this option did come with a drink and it came in under budget so this option fulfills the requirements of the rules. However when it comes to value for money this option suffers. I guess since this is a snack and not a full meal this option is alright, but I'll leave that judgement up to you.



Option 2: Falafel Hut
--Falfel Hut HAS LOTS OF OPTIONS for each meal option! Several people recommended their breakfast to me, and since I was unable to make it there for breakfast I decided to include it in my snack list. So here are your options for SNACKS:

Falafel In a Pita
and Can of Pop

---Falfel in a Pita with a Can of Pop = $4.50
***This is the SPECIAL on TUESDAY'S = $3.91.
--- Top Ten Value Menu with a Can of POP = $4.51
This menu includes: Middle East Potatoes, Rice in Pita, T.L.C in Pits, Cheese in Pita, B.L.T. in a Pita, Hummus in Pita, Tzatziri in Pita and Tuna in Pita. That's 8 different option!! Talk about Choice!!

When it comes to the rules, Falafel Hut gets a lot of points since all the options mention include food and a drink Also when it comes to value for money Falafel Hut does very well again since you actually get a fair amount of food for the price. Additionally it comes in UNDER budget. Also hidden benefit their service is very quick!!


Option 3: Berries and Blooms
--I am using Berries an Blooms as my HEALTHY OPTION for this round of the challenge. Berries and Bloom has a VERY interesting pricing structure when it comes to their menu options, so with that in mind here are your options:

Fresh Fruit
Smoothie

---Fresh Fruit Salad: You can pick and choose from a selection of fresh fruits = $??
---Salad Bar: You can make, mix and match different ingredients and prepared salads: $??
---Fresh Fruit Smoothie (with up to 3 fruits): $3.66
**Since Berries and Blooms sells the first two items by weight the price of your snack will vary from $1.00-8.00 depending on how much or how little you pick up.

So how did we do on the rules? Well if your fruit / salad bar options come in under $5 then you can get a beverage with your fruit or salad. However if your total comes to around the $5 mark then you won't be able to afford it so be sure to keep that in mind. Also if you're not really that hungry but you want a quick snack then the smoothie is a GREAT option. However since it is not actual food you might be hungry again quickly? Technically it does meet the requirement of the rules so be sure to check it out!

UNOFFICIAL Option 4: Cigar Shoppe:
--Since you cannot use your meal plan money at this location I decided to class it as an unofficial option. However it must be mentioned that this option has the GREATEST VALUE FOR MONEY!! They have MANY different "combo" options here and they are all within the $5 budget. So here are your options:

Can of Pop, Chips,
2 Granola Bars &
2 Fruit Snacks

---Can of pop and Bag of Chip: $1.75
---Various snacks (Granola Bars, Chocolate Bars, Fruit Snacks, Cookies and Protein bars) = $1.45-3.75
---Various Beverages (Pop, Water, Energy Drinks, Coffee drinks and Gatorade)= $1.00-3.75
---BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Bag of Chips, Can of Pop, 2 granola bars, 2 fruit to go snacks $4.50

Honestly this location has the BEST VALUE FOR MONEY when it comes to snacks. It has the cheapest beverages, cheapest snack foods and super friendly staff members. When I was in my first year an upper year who lived on my floor in res recommended that I check it out since it had some "student priced items" I went their in my first year and now 6 years later I tell EVERYONE I know to check them out!

If you have NO IDEA where it is let me give you some directions: If you're walking from The Student Center toward York Lanes... it's the small connivence looking shop right next to the Student Centre, before you get to York Lanes. If you're on the fence about checking them out take it from me you won't be disappointed!

Well those are the snack options that I put forward for you to try. Feel free to ADD any additional snack options that you have come across that fit within our $5.00 budget. I'd love to hear what other places on campus that you folks like to eat at. So please add any options by commenting below!

Be on the LOOK OUT for my LUNCH Blog coming NEXT Week!!

Remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

Cheap Eats on Campus: Challenge Accepted!

I don't know about you guys but I am constantly finding myself on campus between classes broke and hungry. (I totally didn't mean for that to sound as pathetic as it did!) Knowing that I can't be the only one on campus that experiences this I thought I would dedicate the month of February to finding Cheap meals on campus!

I know that might sound impossible, but for you guys I'll take the challenge!

How am I going to do it?
-I will cover the following meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks and Dinner

-Budget for each meal will be $5 (or as close to $5 as I can get!)

-I'll present you with at least 3 options for each meal
--I'll try to make sure that at least 1 meal is a "Healthy Option"

-Each meal MUST include a beverage

-I'll tell you where you can go to get each option

I know you might be thinking...that doesn't sound hard! Finding places to eat won't be difficult, finding meals for $5 will be a bit more challenging. I'll give it my best shot and hope not to let you guys down.

If you know of a GREAT place that fits the parameters mentioned above let me know about it in the comments section, I'd be more than happy to check it out and add it to the list of places to eat on campus!

Look out for my Breakfast and Snack blog next week!

As always, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole