If you are looking for value, and you are planning to use your TS credits for CS meals, you aren't going to get the value. If you plan on eating CS meals most of the time, you'd be better off costwise not using the dining plan.
If you are only interested in the convenience factor of having your meals prepaid, then it wouldn't matter what you're spending. But I personally have no knowledge of whether or not you can use TS credits for CS meals.