What are your opinions on Dorm Feeds? Do most boarding schools treat kids to Dorm Feeds on a weekly basis, nightly, a few times a week, or only during special occasions? In addition to the bi-weekly feeds, one school we know has nightly sugar-carb feasts during exam weeks…marshmallow fudge, mac n’ cheese, Captain Crunch, and make your own sundaes. Before you call me a spoil sport, it’s just a bit difficult for kids to have a dish of hot fudge over marshmallow fluff at 10:00 PM then settle into lights out! Ok…any ideas of fun and healthier dorm feeds may be inspiring. Thanks :O)
Never heard of Dorm Feeds, but if they are a way of promoting community gathering and engagement around HEALTHY food and/or reasonably HEALTHY treats, I’m in favor. The “nightly sugar-carb feasts during exam weeks” is the opposite of what anyone (kids and adults) should be doing. Unfortunately, so many adults believe that they must break from healthy eating, drinking and sleeping habits during (and after) times of stress. It’s more disheartening to hear that they have official gatherings to promote such habits. How about festivities that communicate the importance of eating well and exercising during such stressful times and getting the rest (even if its not sleep) needed to think and perform well on tests and assignments? What’s next? Having keg parties afterward to promote binge drinking, drug use and other activities that may be excused in the post-stressful event period.
Rant complete. Yes, I know I sound like my grandfather.
As a means of fostering engagement or building community? Sounds great.
Having spent 2 years as a prefect, I will tell you that you have just described the cache of food that every student had in his room.
If the kid wants “nightly sugar-carb feasts,” s/he will have it regardless of if it’s sponsored
I don’t know about Dorm Feeds, but food and snacks were always available at Choate either in the form of house-sponsored mug nights, the ubiquitous birthday cakes, Tuck Shop treats, or the food trucks that parked in Mem Circle every night during study hours. I have no idea what ChoatieKid ate or when and didn’t care. Kids will fuel themselves as needed or desired. I don’t think he slept much during his BS years for a variety of reasons, but I’m pretty sure sugar wasn’t the main deterrent.
Ooohhh@ChoatieMom! Food trucks are great! I am jealous…and hungry at that vision of the food trucks parked in the Circle. ~O)
" What’s next? Having keg parties afterward to promote binge drinking, drug use and other activities that may be excused in the post-stressful event period."
That’s saved for college. 
I recall feeds being mentioned on nearly every school tour. Of course…the student led variety.
When I was a dorm parent, whomever was on weekend dorm duty provided a big Saturday evening feed. Ours was a dorm of 49 boys, so I usually got about 5 towering platters of sandwiches from Subway and supplemented with cookies or brownies (the boys were often helpers during our bakefests). Those sandwiches were always a big hit. At first, I was kind of shocked to see just how much those teenage boys can consume. LOL
My student hasn’t mentioned this. I don’t think it’s common at his school except for the occasional “ice cream party” on the weekend.
I do know some kids don’t like the dorm food and order pizza almost every night! 
Yes @Sunnyschool, we hear the same about dorm food and preference for pizza…would order Chipotle instead of school food but there is none within sight…I’m adding some information that people have shared…some dorms have kitchens or kitchenette set ups with fridge, microwave, stove…students are able to make their own snacks and/or healthy meals on their own. I was also reminded by an athlete that dining hall meals are often early - like 5:30 -and students get hungry later. Just curious if any students out there are doing communal meal gatherings in the dorm or cooking in the dorm?
My son and the other kids on his floor often use UberEats to order delivery food from local restaurants. The service was news to me. They can get all kinds of food (fast food, sushi, etc). Plus, the kid who puts the order on his/her UberEats account can collect cash from the other kids to use for buying candy at the school store! :))
From what I know, it varies not just between schools but also between dorms within a school, and even in a dorm depending on who the head of dorm is. GK’s dorm used to have feeds hosted by the dorm parents, with the girls helping prepare the food. They loved it! The food seemed good, too - GK still raves about the Buffalo chicken dip. New head of dorm this year, fewer dorm feeds. The dorm has a fully equipped kitchen, though, and I know that kids use it to bake brownies, cookies, even birthday cakes, and prep some simple foods. (GK uses the kitchen to study… :-? )
@Altras, the first time my DD used UberEats last year, it showed as just Uber on my credit card, and I had to call and ask her where did she go that cost that much, did she travel to Canada??
My kids went to the same BS as @GoatMama’s daughter. Feeds aren’t a regular occurrence, at least they weren’t when my kids went there. The dorms do have kitchens and the school did supply milk (hello cereal!). Dining hall hours are fairly early at most schools (5:30-6pm - we never ate that early at home) and the students are an active bunch between sports (required for most) and running around large campuses and up and down stairs all day. They get hungry at night! Not to generalize but especially boys who are often still in active growth periods. I always wished the school would provide more food - a light 4th meal in the dorms at night. What happens instead is many students do order delivery. In addition to not always being the healthiest options, it leads to a pretty obvious divide between socioeconomic classes. Many families, including some full pay families who are pinching pennies to meet tuition payments, can’t afford to shell out an extra $50-100 every week for food deliveries. Sure, one can do the mac and cheese cups, cereal, make one’s own food in the kitchen but there is a social aspect to ordering out as well. I think feeds are a great idea because they provide that 4th meal and they provide a social break that builds community.
DS hasn’t mentioned this, though they frequently have special food events in the dining hall or faculty homes. Last year he mentioned one of the freshman dorm moms making popcorn for the boys at night but that was about it other than food parents had sent for a birthday or something.
@doschicos I believe that the section of the dining hall with the cereal bins, juice machines, and soft-serve ice cream and ice cream freezer is open 24/7. Not that having cereal or ice cream at night is healthy…
@goatmama But once you are locked away in your houses at night, going on a pilgrimage for a post-check snack will come with some expensive/harsh consequences. 
“Expelled for ice cream” 8-X The very reason GK will never change dorms (she is in the dining hall building).
But even in the dining hall building, you can’t get to that part of it past check. Technically.
This being the keyword.