Let Them Eat Cake! Not really though!

Cake? Not Really…Here’s How to Eat Healthy At College

Under normal circumstances, many of us have seen firsthand how often our kids were getting sick once they were at college. We chalked it up to many factors including lack of sleep, being around other people who are sick, lack of exercise, late-night hours… and not eating healthy.

As students head back to campus, there has never been a more important time for students to try to make good decisions so they stay healthy, so no cake, okay? This includes their meal choices. If they are on the Meal Plan, there will be some noticeable differences from social distancing seating to the elimination of self-service platforms. There will be plenty of increased sanitation and disinfecting no doubt but students will be dining differently.

Whether you have decided to not commit to the full meal plan and go with buying a specific quantity of meal dollars or have not made your decision, there are plenty of options when it comes to food including, getting food from the many on-campus choices of fast-service restaurants and cafes. We would not suggest that students rely on that for all the meals, but when they are on campus or in a hurry, this is a good option to choose. And guess what it can include cake!

Before you leave though, we’ve got a great suggestion… a great parting gift that you can leave in their room or send as a package is this package of Open When College Pack envelopes. We suggest filling them with either a message, picture, or gift cards purchased in advance but we love the messages… when you take your first big test when you’re sick when you’re tired of dorm food, and more.

Home Cooking?

For students who will be doing a lot of the cooking themselves, they can either shop at their local grocery store or they can have groceries and toiletries delivered sans masks from Instacart or Shipt. Get familiar with the grocery stores at each college. And yes, you can even use these services to have a cake delivered. Our interns also share some great recipe ideas for brunching with their friends in the blog Cooking at School.

Take Out

Most restaurants have limited in-dining tables but one thing that can be said is there are a lot of restaurants to choose from for all meals. Students can take-out or have them delivered. And because they will likely start off with little socializing at restaurants, they still may want to eat with some of their friends and bring in meals from the many restaurants in town. We’ve got restaurant recommendations for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, and cake! We also have recommendations for Eating Healthy and for Vegetarians/Vegans.

Click on your school for more info:

Meal Delivery Service

For students living in apartments… we turned to our interns to sample various meal kits as an alternative to meal plans or cooking from scratch. There are many new meal delivery companies to choose from including ones that all you do is microwave the meal to ones that you have to do some meal prepping. This could be a great option for a few days a week.

We like a lot of the choices but unfortunately, we have yet to find a meal kit company that lets you order one meal. You can skip a meal or cancel your subscription if you do not want the long term commitment. The ready to eat meals work easier for students living in the dorm although prepping and cooking in the dorm kitchen is doable. For students living in apartments, a meal kit delivery can save them money from having to buy a lot of staples that they will not use much of (they will need to have their own oil, spices like salt and pepper, and some other pantry items of their own with most of these meal kit services). Learn what they thought of each one in our blog on Meal Services.

No Student Hungry

Finally, students should never have to put their nourishment behind paying for college and all of the expenses that go along with college: tuition, books, rent, utilities, to name a few. Many students feel uncomfortable asking for assistance but the colleges do a good job of addressing the problem. So whether your student needs assistance or you are able to donate to help other students, familiarize yourself with your students’ Food Pantries.

Check out some of our other food blogs including suggestions for sending your student something for their birthday, something if they are sick, and something because … well just because.

Birthdays, Pick Me Up, Exams… Sweet!

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