From left: James Healy, Grace (Polly) Pollard, Sean Dolan, Adam Schwartz and Seth Lawson are the chefs who create meals for campus Dining Services. (Photo courtesy of Dining Services)

Tired of the sack lunch or the drive-through? Dining Services offers convenient, inexpensive and healthful alternatives for faculty and staff. With five all-you-care-to-eat dining centers, three grab-and-go stations and two convenience stores, for many of us they're right next door.

Dining Services has its fans among CU employees. William Wei, professor of history and director of the Sewall Residential Academic Program, said, "The sandwiches at Willie's Outpost (in Sewall Hall) must be eaten to be believed."

Ambiance at Dining Services locations varies from Colorado outdoors (Libby Dining Center), to food court (Alley @ Farrand), to contemporary coffeehouse (Hardrive Café).

Libby Dining Center features a contemporary take on the Colorado outdoor experience with views of the Flatirons and Front Range complemented by natural slate tiles, decorative wood, special lighting and artisan ironwork. (Photo courtesy of Dining Services)

Each dining area offers a variety of choices including vegetarian and meat entrees, along with fruit and salad bars. Menus include baked, steamed and grilled options for the health-conscious individual, and last year Dining Services introduced seasonal menus to add variety. Dining Services' own on-campus bakery creates a variety of pastries, breads and desserts every day.

Commenting on his "favorite subject," Kambiz Khalili, director of Auxiliary & Dining Services, said, "We are simply the best deal around!" Five dollars plus tax purchases one all-you-care-to-eat meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner). Five dollars also buys a grab-and-go meal that includes an entrée, a beverage and three side items.

To make paying for meals convenient, CU employees can buy Campus Cash online and put it on their Buff OneCards. Campus Cash is transferable from year to year, for as long as an employee works at the university.

More information—including online menus—is available on the newly updated Dining Services web site.