back in the day, when I was at the U of C HSC, the various department often had lunch hour seminars where they would provide free lunch and beverages for who ever attended. It was a way of encouraging students to attend. If there was a big name invited speaker, then they would even cater in some semi-gourmet lunches.
As a student, if you wanted to sit thru all those talks, you could have free lunch almost every day, and even store up the leftovers for dinner.
Same thing in hospitals when, for example, they have their grand rounds - food is always provided for med students, residents and medical staff. If you look like a student, no one would even blink at you being there.
We often attended medical conferences at resorts or major hotels where all meals were included. Technically, all you needed was a name badge to get in, but the serving staff don't give a damn, so even when I forgot my badge in the hotel or my briefcase, no one thought to ask if i should be there.
These situations always made me wonder, If I were ever in dire need of food, I'd seek out these lectures, meetings and conferences.
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