Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Take-out options are available for groups of students (recommended for groups of 12 or more - for less than 12 people, considering ordering individual bag meals) in need of a meal replacement for both on- and off-campus events. In order to request a packout, you MUST submit an online request in keeping with the below criteria.

Request must be submitted using the Harvard College Student Packout Request Form.
Available only during the Academic year. Special meal periods such as Winter Break and Spring Break are excluded.
Harvard-sponsored events (see Harvard College Dean of Students Office for a list) may request food for multiple meal periods. All other student clubs and groups may request food for one meal period only. You must submit a form request for each meal period.
Requests must be made 7 business day in advance for events with more than 50 people, and 5 business days in advance for all other group sizes.
If you require ingredients for a special dietary need or religious affiliation, please provide specific information on the request form.
Food is provided only for the number of valid ID numbers (with undergraduate meal plans) supplied. HUIDS (no names) must be submitted at the time of your request. All ID numbers will be locked out of the corresponding meal periods, and cannot be reactivated once blocked.
Food provided is for consumption by Harvard students on the meal plan only. Additional food may be purchased as a catered event.
Only nutritionally balanced meals may be provided. Catering style foods such as cheeseboards, dessert platters, tea service and similar items are handled as catered event items and will be priced according to the House Function menu.
Due to Health Code Regulations, HUDS cannot supply hot foods to be consumed off premise. It is up to the host group to ensure all perishable food will be held under proper temperature guidelines (below 40°) during transportation and storage and that all basic safe food handling procedures are followed including: hand washing & sanitizing, sanitized preparation surfaces and proper storage, and cooking food to proper temperatures.
Food for a group or club that is outside the meal plan may be purchased as a catered event and can be paid with a University Billing Code, Voucher, Crimson Cash, Cash or Check made out to HUDS.
Borrowed dining service equipment must be secured by deposit check. Please check with your house regarding the availability of BBQ grills and other equipment.

Adams	Berg	Cabot
Currier	Dunster	Eliot
FlyBy	Hillel	Kirkland
Leverett	Lowell	Mather
Pfoho	Quincy	Winthrop

Individuals who live in College housing who need to isolate in place will access meals at their normal home dining halls. You will have permission to leave isolation with due care and consideration for others, including:

Masking: You must wear a well-fitted face covering or mask any time you are leaving your room or suite during isolation. Mask must remain on at all times. Avoid unnecessary interaction with others when leaving isolation for essential needs and maintain physical distancing to the extent possible. Use high-quality disposable masks. If you need some, they are available from your building manager. Individuals who are isolating may not dine or consume food or beverage outside of their isolation space, and must immediately return to isolation after retrieving meal.
Hand-washing: You should wash your hands prior to leaving your residence. Wet your hands using running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, apply soap and lather your hands for a full 20 seconds (front, back and nails). Turn the water back on and rinse with clean, running water.

Meal Pick-Up Procedure

The individual looks at the online menu to determine what they are interested in for a meal to expedite pick-up
The individual should then come in fully masked and distanced (i.e. not with a group of other students), swipe their ID, and then request to-go containers.
At the entrance, the individual should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (available at the checker's desk) to re-sanitize hands before proceeding into the servery.
The individual will go through the serving area expeditiously to pick their own food and depart the dining hall.
Isolation guests are asked to come in at the beginning or end of meal periods when there is the least amount of traffic - for breakfast at 7:30am or 10am, lunch at 11:30am or 1:30pm, dinner at 5pm. (If your isolation begins too late for the early dinner pick-up, you may come at the end of the meal period (7-7:30pm), though we ask you to avoid that for the remainder of your isolation as much as possible.)
Please take care with perishables: please eat or dispose of food items within 90 minutes unless you have a refrigerator.

If you have an approved dietary accommodation and need alternate meals or provisions, please email ds_isosdn@calists.harvard.edu. A HUDS team member will work with you to supply appropriate items during the course of your isolation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What else, besides meals in the dining hall, is included with my meal plan? expand_more

What is BoardPlus? expand_more

How do I host a professor for a meal? expand_more

How do I host a non-faculty guest for a meal? expand_more

How do I order a bagged meal? expand_more

How do I order a packout or group to-go option? expand_more

How can I text my feedback? expand_more

Do you accept recipe ideas? expand_more

How do I access food if I need to isolate in place due to illness? expand_more

How can I advertise on the dining hall table tents? expand_more

How can I table in the dining hall? expand_more

Can I get a meal plan if I don’t live on campus? expand_more