Unless your child is attending a commuter college, chances are he'll be living in the dorms and eating in the dining hall. Fortunately, these days it's an odd college whose dining hall doesn't boast salad bars, vegetarian entrees, sushi nights and similar interesting options. Even so, it's not home cooking and anything can grow monotonous over time. Here are tips on navigating and surviving dorm cuisine:
- Meal Plans: Most colleges offer a variety of meal plans ranging from 10 to 19 meals a week (three meals Monday-Friday, plus brunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays). Your teen can always buy extra meals using his "Triton Bucks," "Pacific Cash" or similar campus debit card, and we have yet to come across a college student who ate 19 dorm meals a week. Unless your teen is planning to come home every weekend, opt for a mid-range package, such as 14 meals a week. (Need more help? This quiz will help you pick an appropriate meal plan, not too big and not too skimpy.
- Rent a Mini-fridge: A dorm room mini-fridge will keep milk, juice, fruit, cheese, yogurt and other perishable snacks and breakfast items fresh. Suggest that he keep a stash of cereal, granola bars, peanut butter, etc. on hand.
- Get Creative: Some dining halls offer the mom-option - the chefs at the University of Redlands, for example, will make your teen's favorite meal, if he brings in the recipe. Some college students swear by club meetings and music department recitals. The events are often interesting, they say, and there are always hors d'oeuvres.
- And Hit the Gym: Encourage your teen to avoid the Freshman 15 by building gym time or intramural sports into his day - innertube water polo, anyone? It's a healthy, sociable, de-stressing activity, and the health club's free. Well, it's $40,000 a year, but you get the point.
