Meal Exchanges

Students pass items across the shelf in Herbie's Market at Village

Dining Services is pleased to offer meal exchanges (sometimes referred to as a meal plan cash equivalency) in all Husker Heroes and Herbie's Markets. This offering is just one of many great ways to use your meal plan and customize it to fit your needs.

Meal Exchange FAQs
How many meal exchanges do I get?

You get two (2) meal exchanges per meal period, up to a $9 value per swipe, for food items. Only one meal exchange can be used in Herbie's Market per meal period.

Are there lockout periods?

Yes. Only one (1) meal exchange can be used in a Herbie's Market per meal period.

How does a meal exchange differ from an NCard charge?

A student's meal plan information is connected to their NCard, meaning if a student wishes to use a meal exchange in Herbie's Market, they must present their NCard to receive the $9 value.

This differs from an NCard charge as a student can also use their NCard to charge for items in Herbie's Market which then appears on the student's centralized bill.

How much is a meal exchange worth?

Each meal exchange has an $9 value towards food items in the Herbie's Markets and Husker Heroes.

Can I use a meal exchange for something more than $9?

Yes. Any amount over $9 can be paid for by using either Dining Dollars, another meal exchange (if applicable), NCard charge, credit card, and/or cash.

For example, if the total amount due for food items is $10, you have the following options.

  1. Pay the entire amount using Dining Dollars, NCard charge, credit card, and/or cash.
  2. Use one meal exchange and pay the remaining $1 balance with either Dining Dollars, NCard charge, credit card, and/or cash.
What are the meal periods?

Meal periods are location based and are listed below. A meal exchange cannot be used after 8:30 p.m.

Dining Centers & Husker Heroes


Meal periods align with serving/meal times.

Serving times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in all dining centers and Husker Heroes locations can be found on the Dining Services website.


Herbie's Markets


Breakfast meal period: 6:45–10:30 a.m.

Lunch meal period: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dinner meal period: 4:30–8:30 p.m.

Can I combine my meal exchange with a friend's to purchase more items?

Only one NCard can be used per sale, meaning multiple students cannot combine their meal plan swipes to complete one sale/purchase.

For example, if two students go to Herbie's Market to purchase $18 in food items, each student COULD NOT provide one meal exchange (each meal exchange being $9 in value) to cover the cost of the one sale/purchase. Only one student would be able to use their meal exchange(s) for the sale/purchase, by either using one (1) meal exchange and paying the difference out-of-pocket, or by using two (2) meal exchanges (if applicable).

WHERE TO USE MEAL EXCHANGES

ABEL DINING CENTER

CATHER DINING CENTER*

EAST CAMPUS DINING CENTER**

HARPER DINING CENTER***

SELLECK FOOD COURT^

HUSKER HEREOS^

HERBIE'S MARKET

*Meal exchanges can be used during late-night hours via the mobile ordering app.

**Meal exchanges can be used on the weekends.

***Meal exchanges can be used during late-night hours and on the weekends via the mobile ordering app.

^Via the mobile ordering app.