My pumpkin is now living in a dorm. She and her roommate have taken lots of pride in the room they decorated by themselves and now call their own. Just this week she agreed I could come on campus for a visit and tour. So I did what Moms all across the country do for their college kids… make a care package! Today’s post is about what I put in my care package for Sydney and Emily. Fortunately for me, campus is only 3 miles away so I can don’t have to worry about mailing perishables. I just focused on some healthy foods the girls could snack on in their room or eat on the run. Here is a picture of my basket and a brief description of what I included.
Refrigerator Pickles: If you read my blog regularly you’ll recall I just posted the recipe for these on my last Recipe Redux! They are sweet, crisp and crunchy and make a great light snack when you’re craving something sweet.
Fruit: Yea, it’s a no brainer. I have included bananas and green apples because they are both easy to store and easy to grab on the way out to class. They offer a healthy contribution of nutrients, are around 100 calories each and are a great source of antioxidants including vitamin A and C.
Protein Powder: If your college student has a a choice between sleep and breakfast what will he/she choose? Yep, unfortunately the choice of sleep leaves many skipping breakfast. A scoop of protein powder can easily be mixed into a beverage including coffee (hot or iced) and gulped up on the way to class. Spreading protein intake throughout the day (vs loading up at one meal) is important in allowing the body to effectively build muscle and other proteins. It’s also helpful to your student who is aiming to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Protein increases satiety and including about 20 grams in the morning possibly reduces caloric intake for the rest of the day. I prefer biPro whey protein because it is unflavored (you can pick the flavor) it is sugar free, carbohydrate free and lactose free. It is also NSF certified for sport. Very important for NCAA athletes.
Greek Yogurt: I wish this was around when I was in college! Back in the day, on the campus of the University of Delaware, I ate many containers of regular yogurt. Both styles of yogurt have health benefits including live bacteria cultures (good for your gut), protein, calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, phosphorous and potassium. But a container of Greek yogurt packs in twice the protein for the same size container of regular yogurt, making it a smart choice in between classes when you don’t have time for a meal. I’ve tucked two of my daughter’s favorites for snacking in this basket: Chobani bites (mint with dark chocolate chips), and the Chobani champions that don’t even require a spoon!
After you stock your kids dorm, stash a few of these healthy snacks in your own pantry and refrigerator for the busy and sleep deprived undergrad in all of us! Have a terrific week!
How do you( or your kids) stock a dorm room?
Disclosure: Chobani and biPro both sent me complimentary samples of their products. I was not expected to post a review, nor am I being compensated for doing so. Opinions are honest and my own.
Recent Comments