Healthy Eating for your College Kid

Congratulations from Orr’s Farm Market!

You did it, Mom and Dad! Your child is now in college. This is a big life transition for everyone and it means that you will no longer get to play as much of a role in your child’s food choices. College is a unique time for students to explore some new food habits, but it can also be a minefield of late night pizza, instant ramen noodles and unlimited portions. How can you best guide your young adult as they navigate through this experience?

Most college students start out in a dorm-room setting with very few opportunities to cook or prepare meals. Savvy students will get creative with their mini-fridges and microwaves, but there aren’t a lot of chances for wholesome, home cooking. Help your college kid become familiar with healthy things that are easy to keep on hand in a dorm room. For example, carrots and hummus, apples, yogurt, and instant oatmeal are all pretty dorm-friendly. Stocking your college student’s dorm fridge with snacks like these will make it easier for them to choose healthy brain fuel and resist the urge to order carryout.

Talk with your college student about their meal plan and help to prepare them for the all-you-can-eat dining hall portions. One simple trick is to select a smaller sized plate. This can help keep portions in check. We like to shift from an all-you-CAN-eat mindset to an all-you-NEED-to-eat mindset. This helps to reframe food choices by need rather than desire.

An easy trick to ensure biodiversity in your diet is to have a colorful plate. Colorful foods are packed with nutrients that bodies need.  While the dining hall can be full of guilty indulgences like french fries and chicken wings, they will also provide a well-balanced variety of veggies and salad options. Remind your child of this and encourage them to eat a rainbow of foods.

Before your child leaves, take him or her shopping for some of their favorite healthy, dorm-friendly foods. Use this as an opportunity to talk about smart food choices and get their input about what they like. This is also a good time for you to take a few mental notes about what they prefer so you can be sure to include their faves when you send the always appreciated care package from home.

Don’t have time to put together a care package? Don’t worry! Here at Orr’s Farm Market we offer seasonal gift boxes and we’d be happy to send a box of our delicious apples or market goodies. Information can be found on our website, or stop into the market Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm. We look forward to seeing you on the farm!