<p>Thanks for all of the posted comments, as well as the PM's. Obviously, other parents have been concerned about the issues I've outlined as well. These are not trivial, as I was told at CPW last week by a physician at MIT Medical who has treated undernourished students!</p>
<p>Yeah, I've heard some of those stories too. I don't doubt that they're true, but they're totally avoidable.</p>
<p>I remember when I was heading off to freshman year, my mom was so, SO concerned that I was just going to starve to death. I had all this money in these 2 bank accounts, plus some tech cash, and I knew where enough places to get food were (to start with, anyway), and she was still freaking out about it. I was like, "Mom, I'm going to get hungry, and then I'll eat. Chill out." And shh, don't tell her, but I totally eat more healthily now than I did at home.</p>
<p>Today I was standing in the cafeteria line of a California university, behind an undergraduate who carried a tray containing a mountain of macaroni and cheese and a side order of french fries. So never assume that having continual access to a cafeteria means that your son or daughter will eat well.</p>
<p>Callalum: What dont you understand? Personal Opinions are one thing. I appreciate expressions of personal preferences particularly those with a thoughtful basis.Personal opinions claiming to represent some type of unamimous or institutional view are something entirely different. The latter do not allow for and seek to silence different views.</p>
<p>mia: relax! We're all having a discussion here. When has anyone said "and I HATE people who want a meal plan!" I mean, really.</p>
<p>We've all just given our opinions, and maybe tossed in a reference to the fact that most people agree with us, because that's also part of our experience. I'm sure there are people who wish there were a meal plan. None of them have spoken up yet, and I can't be held responsible for that.</p>
<p>Also, I have to disagree that students and parents get equal priority in defining a campus. Parents don't go to college with their kids, that's sort of the point. Sorry to be harsh parents, but now is the time you're supposed to be letting go. ;-)</p>
<p>i have a slightly different experience.</p>
<p>i always forget to eat - in fact i guess i'm probably pretty hungry right now. why isn't there any food anywhere??</p>
<p>i'm so sickly... :(</p>
<p>One option that hasn't been mentioned much yet on this thread is eating at fraternities. I eat at my fraternity as often as I can - many of the fraternities, including mine, have their own (professional) cooks. It's a great way to bring the brotherhood together (after all, we all chose to live in that particular house) as well as enjoy a really delicious meal. Some of the sororities also have professional cooks.</p>
<p>A number of fraternities do cook for themselves, of course - usually, again, it's a community experience for the brotherhood and their friends. From my experiences talking to other fraternity men, I think that works out pretty well for those houses too.</p>
<p>For reference, I was born raised in the shadow of Notre Dame, which has been ranked as having one of the best "traditional" AYCTE dining systems in the nation. In addition to having the vast majority of my high school friends go there, I myself lived on Notre Dame's campus, and ate in their community dining hall, for two summers. So I know what a "typical" college experience is like, and my own parents have expressed their concerns to me about MIT's unique dining situation.</p>
<p>We aren't going to hide that, when it comes to dining (and housing), things are different here and sometimes may seem confusing - but the situation makes sense for MIT students and fundamentally it really does work.</p>
<p>
Do you mean other than that pad Thai you had eaten 45 minutes before making this comment?</p>
<p>
ok so I exaggerated a little... yeesh.</p>
<p>Well, I was just worried. You could have some sort of intestinal parasite or metabolic deficiency.</p>