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Dining Services has been working to bring students a more accurate picture of what they are eating. Nutritional information and ingredients lists are now visible next to food items.

“We want to gear more things for healthier eating and more choices,” said Director of Dining Services Sharon Tracy.

This information will be helpful to anyone watching what they eat, but especially the growing number of vegetarians and vegans on campus, Tracy said.

Another improvement, the new Sorin Convenience Store or C-Store, allows students to stay on campus, especially at night. Attempting to compete with Super America at Englewood and Snelling, the C-Store is open until 2 a.m. and located near the new computer lab on first-floor Sorin Hall.

To fund these improvements, prices on meal plans have increased along with tuition again this year. Tracy said that every year, price hikes on meal plans go through a long process, beginning with proposals from Dining Services and ending with Student Affairs and the Board of Trustees.

According to Tracy, on and off-campus students can choose meal plans that better suit their wants. The amount of declining balance depends on the plan and acts like a credit system that expires at the end of the semester. Students can choose to spend declining balance at Klas Cafe, the HUB Snack Bar, Law Food Court, or the C-Store.

Sorin will also be getting a new welcome station to make entering the cafeteria slightly less awkward. Changes are constantly being made to the C-Store to make the most of a crowded space.

Tracy said she welcomes new suggestions for the C-Store but finding a place to put new items is difficult, as the store carries items from Hot Pockets to pleasure-tipped condoms in a space no larger than an office.

Dining Services plans to put weekly menus and nutritional information online.