I can’t believe it! Summer break is over and college boy is back at school for his final year. He is living in an apartment this year rather than in campus housing so that brings on a whole new adventure for him. Cooking!
Here is college boy giving me an I’m only smiling because-you-asked-me-to smile.
You might remember Saturday was a really busy day for our family. We had activities going on from morning straight through till 10 at night. There was no time to help college boy get moved into his apartment. He wasn’t happy about that because he was excited to get back to his friends. Of course, there were also practical concerns. The leasing office was not open on Sunday. So, long story short…………we sent him off in his car on Saturday with as much as he could fit in his small vehicle. The next day we drove up with our much larger vehicle loaded.
We made a quick stop…………well it was supposed to be quick………at the store before heading out of town. We divided our list. I was to grab the toiletries that college boy needed and my husband was to grab some Annie’s mac and cheese. I checked out and then waited and waited. And then waited some more. Where the heck was my husband?
Oh! I forgot to tell you………….my husband loves with food. He grabbed a heck of a lot more than a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese. He said that he wanted to make sure that our boy started out with at least a few healthy items. He grabbed things like popping corn and the paper bags to pop it in, natural peanut butter, whole wheat wraps and organic salad dressing. My little guy, kept asking Daddy if items had “fructose corn syrup” in them? He didn’t want his big brother to have that. (See……they are starting to get it.) In an ideal world, my son would eat real food at least 80% of the time like the rest of our family is striving for. He does care about what he eats, but it’s going to be tough for him to juggle his courses and work………all while cooking for himself for the first time.
I was pleased when I saw his kitchen. It isn’t a huge gourmet kitchen, but it wasn’t too bad. It has lots of cupboards and some nice working space. My grandmother gave him a smaller crock so he will be able to crock up some meals while he is at school. If he can get in the habit of throwing a few items into the crock in the morning, he will have a nice hot meal when he gets back from class.
I kept snapping pictures when he wasn’t looking. Obviously, I didn’t bring my good camera. LOL!
After unpacking our first shopping trip, we decided that the boy needed more. How was he going to eat his organic cereal if he didn’t have any milk? We still had some more loving to do with food. While at the store we grabbed some fresh fruit, salad kits, chicken, and hamburgers. College boy bought himself a small grill. We also purchased a few different whole wheat pasta boxes and some ready made sauce. If you look at the labels, you can find some sauces that don’t add extra sugar or other junky ingredients. He is more likely to use this sauce than making it from scratch. At least this way, he is getting his whole grains.
College boy was making fun of me all the while. He caught me taking pictures and said, “oh boy…………mom is blogging.” He kept cracking jokes about being the only college student who had organic foods in his cupboards. Secretly, I think he was pleased. He even opened up the cupboards to make sure his roommates could see his food. Oh, and did I mention the roommates were munching on fast food while he was giving them the cupboard tour? I know it’s an uphill battle to get him to eat healthy while he is on his own. College boy eats plenty of real food while he is home as it is now the norm in our house. He has his favorites that he requests each time he is home, but school is different. The freshman 15 is a common problem among college students and convenience rules. How do I convince him that eating real food is possible not only at home, but at school as well? This may be the last time that I get to impart my motherly wisdom on him before he is grown and on his own for good.
It is important to me that he learn healthy eating habits that will stick with him for a lifetime. I love that boy and I want him to grow up to be a healthy old man. Food can be medicine and bring health or it can be poison to our bodies. I don’t have all of the answers, but I know that real food is a healthy base to a long productive life.
Have you send a child off to college? How did you eat while you were in college? What tips do you have to eating real food when everyone around you seems stuck in convenience? What meal ideas do you have for college students that are both easy on budget and time?
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Oh……..one last thing………….none of thes companies are paying me. That would be nice, but this is just my ordinary shopping for my college student.
Oh, I get the very same comments: "Is this going on the blog?" LOL!
Son #3 left just this morning for his freshman year. Thankfully, he'll live with my in-laws and MaMa will keep him well-fed. ☺️
Another big thanksgiving: he's joining ROTC and will have PT each weekday, will be on campus all day, and plans to pack his own lunch. He's already developed his own sense about eating healthy, and I'm so grateful. All those lunches I packed him for work every day this summer have him inspired for good-choice ideas.
Freshman year………that seems like just yesterday. It is amazing how quickly college years go by. My son will eat well when fed well. I just hope that translates into his own shopping and cooking. I think you are right though that being a good example by packing good lunches for your son does help them to learn to make good choices. It's kind of like knowing right from wrong. They have to at least know what is a healthy food choice and what isn't. I bet lots of kids don't even know the difference between healthy and unhealthy.
Love this post! My college boy hasn't done much cooking yet, but I would say that he eats healthy about 80% of the time.
Thanks Gaye! I know your boys have you to be a good example of healthy living for them.
I have about two more years before I have one off to college and that poor child doesn't cook a lick. She tries to eat healthy sometimes. Will see how that goes for her…
It's time to start the cooking lessons Sharon! LOL! My son was very happy to eat campus food for 3 years. It wasn't the best and it wasn't the worst. I'm happy that he can cook on his own now and really know the ingredients he is eating. Perhaps, I should start an educational weekly newsletter with meal plans just for him. Do you think that is a little over the top? Yes, I'm still laughing………..