Save money, calories by eschewing trays at the cafeteria

All-you--can-eat dining halls at colleges and universities are doing it, and consumers might as well too: Don't use trays when choosing your food.

By going trayless, diners take less food and therefore waste less, saving money and the environment, according to research by the National Association of College and University Food Services. Not having to clean trays also results in saving water and energy.

Schools saw a 25% to 30% drop in food waste per person when food trays were removed, the group called Aramark Higher Education found in a study last summer.