Hello, to preface this discussion I have been unbelievably spoiled by my mother’s drive to get me all natural, non-gmo, FDA approved, basically the whole shabang for quality, all natural food. How is the food quality in college? Is it freshly prepared everyday? Are there usually markets like whole foods, trader joes, and farmer’s markets that are around campuses? This may seem like a small factor for some but when deciding where I will be eating my food for the next 4+ years of my life it’s a HUGE factor for me. I will be playing D1 rugby and therefore want to fuel my body properly and maintain my strict diet.
The food is probably not going to be high-quality, but everything they actually cook is freshly prepared every day. For food stores, just check each college that you are considering. Also just so you know, anything that you can buy at the store is FDA approved
Oh sorry, I meant to say FDA organic. Thank you for the response!
My daughter is not loving the food, but managing. I doubt it is FDA approved organic, but my daughter does like food in her food (she too was raised on healthy foods, not processed) and she has managed to find things she can eat. Next year she will live in an apartment style dorm so can prepare some or all of her own food if she wants to, though we will still buy her a small “commuter” meal plan so that she can eat at the different dining facilities if she gets busy. I don’t think there are any Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s near her campus, but she feels confident she can eat healthy out of the small store near her school.
Instant ramen and Red Bull. Every day.
It depends. It’s not like prison where you can only eat the institutional food or starve. If you’re an athlete, you might have a meal plan or something, but they can’t force-feed you. You can always go to the store and buy food.
Can’t speak for all colleges, but the one who’s lunch hall I currently work in offers organic/vegan/whatever options for some extra cash. Not sure of the number though
Obviously, none of us knows every college, but I think that it is safe to say that you will be able to feed yourself at pretty much any school. What will vary hugely is how much work you have to put into it to make it happen.
When you are looking at colleges, look at both the meal options and the housing options- many colleges have housing for people who want to feed themselves (cook their own meals to their own tastes, etc). Look at dorm rules also- some (many) have very strict rules about what electrics you can bring into the dorms, while others have great options with kitchens.
Accessibility to markets such as Farmer’s Markets, Whole Foods & Trader Joes will obviously vary hugely by college and region- both where those shops are (more limited than you might think) and how handy to campus they are. Seasonality also matters- there is a great farmer’s market near one of my D’s colleges- but b/c its a true local farmer’s market in a cold region the pickings are pretty thin from (say) Nov-Mar!
Some schools make this a priority, so if it’s that important to you I’d look into it at the beginning stages. For example, we visited Bard in NY, and I recall that fresh local organic food was a big thing there. Finding a place that has both organic food and D1 rugby? That may be a trick.
How about going to Cal and living in a co-op? Berkeley is a great place for food! And the Rugby, as I’m sure you know, is top of the heap.
Yes spirit manager, UC schools are at the top of my list for that reason. Most of them have stellar rugby programs and the lifestyle I’m looking for is there.
Thanks to all for responses.
I was raised on a lot of home-cooked, natural food, so I think I know where you’re coming from. I’m at the end of my first year and living off the dining plan can be really difficult. My college isn’t known for having the best food (nor the worst), and you can tell that the quality isn’t always top-notch. There are a lot of greasy options. My biggest complaint is that a lot of the food is filling in the short-term, but if I eat a normal dinner at a normal time, I’m often times hungry again by around 11:00 PM, which I never experience when I’m eating home-cooked food.
At my college, there are some dorms (even for freshmen!) which are apartment-style with kitchens. This makes it a lot easier to cook than if you’re just relying on a communal kitchen in a traditional dorm. If I were you, I’d try to get one of these if they’re offered at your college of choice.
I’m not sure how extensively you know how to cook, but I would definitely suggest learning how to make some fairly simple, wholesome meals before you go to college. Compile a book of recipes you like and can manage. I learned to cook from helping and watching my parents, and I’m eternally grateful for it.