Freshman meal plan

[dracarys]

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I think for most males this will not be enough food. Plus in most dorms there is no way to store frozen food and may not be a way to cook it. And no time or inclination to shop for it.

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<p>Really. It was fine for a lot of guys I went to school with. For storage, my parents just bought me a mini fridge with enough freezer space for a couple frozen meals. Sometimes I bought 2-3 pot pies. Other times a couple french bread pizzas. There was an IGA within walking distance from where I lived. I loved it. But I digress. College is a transitional period into full adulthood. There’s nothing wrong with making your child fend for himself for 5 meals a week, while you cover the rest of his meals for him.</p>

<p>ETA: I also had a microwave in my room for cooking. Most students did. They cost maybe $80 back then (I went to college from 1990-1994.) They’re even cheaper today.</p>

[blueiguana]

<p>Take heart, this really may only be for one year. Depending on your school once your student is in an apartment, on campus or off, they often want to drop the meal plan. My son kept a very small meal plan third semester and transitioned into cooking for himself. I was surprised when he didn’t want a meal plan fourth semester. He’s not really a big cook but prefers things he and his rm’s make (as well as the many meal’s the girls across the hall invite him to ). He still eats on campus for lunch sometimes, he just uses something similar to dining dollars that comes from a common pot for laundry, copiers, vending, bookstore, etc. He thinks oatmeal, yogurt & granola, as well as PB&J are the food of the god’s so that covers a lot of inexpensive breakfasts & lunches. They have a George Forman grill and make chicken, burgers, etc. for dinner. They don’t order out often at all. We give him what we would have paid for a meal plan towards food for the semester. He’s already told us he doesn’t need as much next semester. I knew that from his account but was wondering if he’d say anything. ;)</p>

[notrichenough]

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Sometimes I bought 2-3 pot pies. Other times a couple french bread pizzas.

Most dining halls these days offer much better food than when I went to school, and I would rather have my kid eating there, even if it takes a little planning on his part, than eating processed microwave food for half of his meals. At least in the dining hall there was a chance he might eat something healthy.</p>

<p>I was eating way more than 15 meals a week when I was living in a dorm, and snacking at night as well. So for me it would have been a huge inconvenience to have to round up half of my food. IIRC we were not allowed any cooking devices in the dorms.</p>

<p>But if it works for your kid, great!</p>