Campus Life

First-years are required to have meal plans. Dining hall food is tolerable. You won't starve. You won't gain the freshman fifteen unless you really try. Get off the meal plan and enjoy the many delicious foods of Manhattan as soon as possible. Kitchens in dorms are ample. Restaurants are just fantastic.

Only freshman year and only if you live in John Jay will you have an incredible dining experience that first year. The dining hall is just downstairs and JJ's is in the basement open until 4 am with the greatest junk food ever for those Freshman 15. After that, it sucks and you're far from the dining area so you probably won't get a dining plan, and a tiny sandwich is $10 and the grocery store is far and expensive and you have to actually do stuff and make it yourself... meh.

The food is great. Anywhere you go will have better or worse amenities. Some students complain the food is not as good as what they eat at home, but the food is fine to me.
Columbia has three main places that offer food: for early morning breakfast, late brunch, pizza, salads, stir fries, and pastas head to Ferris; for late brunch and home-cooked dinners head to John Jay dining hall; and for late night/ after midnight snacks, pancakes, omelets, hamburgers, fries, etc. head to JJ's Place.
Columbia also has other cafes on campus that offer snacks and cold/hot drinks for purchase with Dining dollars, Flex dollars (both purchased from Columbia and only valid on campus and select locations, such as the 24/7 Morton Williams grocery and Chipotle), or cash/credit card.

Whether you eat healthy or not, you will find anything that pleases you. I am gluten-free and I never have to worry about finding something good. Naked juices, salads and great coffee are available in almost half of the buildings including study areas and libraries. They also provided complete nutritious and delicious meals in cafeterias but if you want more exotic foods then just walk a few steps from your room and you will find anything you want.. NYC, what can you say!