Why are meal plans so expensive?

I’m transferring to UIUC this upcoming spring semester and I’m genuinely confused why my meal plan is so expensive. I got the 10 meal plans + 45 dollars one and it’s $3,440 a semester ($6312 a year). At my old college, it was only $1000 a year. Is there a better/cheaper meal plan I could get or is that my best option? For context, I’m living in an apartment this year and eat around 2 meals a day.