"Please send Nutella"

[Nicole M]

So how is the food where your children are going to college? My son has lost about five pounds, and the joke where he goes to school is that the "freshman fifteen" is, in fact, not how much weight you gain, but how much you lose. On top of just the limited options and fair-to-not-quite-middling quality of the food on campus, my son is also allergic to eggs, which further reduces his choices. Yesterday he asked me to send (our homemade not-tella) Nutella. That ought to keep him going until Thanksgiving. :D

[Jane in NC]

Nutella is an important food group.

 

My son sent an email of apology. He knows that I am not keen on a certain large national chain store. When the college ran a shuttle there, he and his roommate went shopping for supplies, namely Nutella for my son.

 

He is not complaining about the food. Today's lunch menu includes green coconut curry with asparagus and tofu. My colleges never served anything like this! But I suspect that he'll go for the stromboli. I guess I should ask him if he is experiencing a tightening of the trousers!

 

P.S. I enjoy looking at the online menus. His college offers some interesting international food selections, some of which I have to look up because I don't know what the dishes are.

[In The Great White North]

Today's lunch menu includes green coconut curry with asparagus and tofu

 

I would have lost weight too!

[Chris in VA]

The food at VCU is excellent--they have this dining hall that is like a food court. On any given day, you can have pizza, pasta, Chinese/American (stir fry kinda stuff), "home cooking" (meatloaf, beef tips, that sort of thing), sandwiches/subs/deli stuff, salad bar, and the daily "special," which might be tacos or an international dish. It's really amazing. There is soft serve ice cream, cake and pie every day.

 

Ds only has a meal plan with 7 meals a week since he's in an apt. I loaded him up with juice, frozen dinners (for lunch), canned soup (so he'd get some sort of veggie), frozen breakfast items, and that sort of thing. I know it's high in salt and preservatives, but I just want him to EAT! He'd live on Ramen noodles if we let him.

[Nicole M]

It's interesting how much food varies from one campus to another. I thought maybe the problem with his campus was that (forgive me!) it was (a-hem) a... regional thing. But Jane, your son's college is in the same geographical region, even if hundreds of miles away. (I did a google map search, in the hopes of one day meeting up with you on a parent's weekend. ;)) So I guess it's not a regional thing.

 

Nutella: important food group. Awesome. :D

[Leanna Tomlinson]

The food at VCU is excellent--they have this dining hall that is like a food court. On any given day, you can have pizza, pasta, Chinese/American (stir fry kinda stuff), "home cooking" (meatloaf, beef tips, that sort of thing), sandwiches/subs/deli stuff, salad bar, and the daily "special," which might be tacos or an international dish. It's really amazing. There is soft serve ice cream, cake and pie every day.

 

 

 

My dds' college has the same kind of selections, but both of my dds have lost 8-10 lbs. I think it's because they are doing so much walking! When you have to walk 10 minutes before your meal, and ten minutes back to your room, you burn off some of it! Add to that having to PAY for your own snacks, and it's easier to refrain. :)

 

Of course, they do clean us out when they come home.....much to my 16yo's chagrin!

[fischerl]

The food at Cal Baptist is much like VCU—several food court choices and a large salad bar, as well as a soft-serve machine and other desserts. It's pretty good (we all ate there when we dropped DD off), but she has mentioned several times that she really misses home cooking!

[Kathy in Richmond]

Well, my daughter has only been at Stanford for a couple of weeks, so it's too early to tell if she'll gain or lose weight. The cafeteria near her dorm is small but has fabulous food - lots of yummy choices. It even maintains its own organic garden next to her dorm. When the cafeteria manager learned that dd is allergic to dairy, she started volunteering to bring her alternative desserts some nights. Dd says that the only thing saving her from those brownies and pound cakes is the fact that she has to walk or bike everywhere. Thank goodness her dorm is far away from everything!

 

She's on a 14-meal per week plan, so she's also preparing one meal a day in her dorm room. One of the girls on her hall likes Trader Joe's as much as dd does, and they've already made a bike trip there to stock up on necessities (like dark chocolate :D).

 

The only request I've had is to please send out some of her specialty teas from home. She missed having that while she studied.

 

~Kathy

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

Yesterday he asked me to send (our homemade not-tella) Nutella. :D

 

Ok, how can you post something like that and not post the recipe???

 

With my kids allergic to nuts, Nutella is not welcome in the house. But I'd be happy with a chocolate no hazelnut spread of decent quality!

[Kareni]

My daughter's college has two different cafeterias with numerous food choices. Much of it seems to be yummy; however, none of the bread we were told can compare to my husband's homemade bread! My daughter came home last year ten pounds lighter than when she set out. Much of that was due to the fact that she'd rather sleep an extra twenty minutes than get up and get to the cafeteria to have breakfast before her first class.

 

My sister and I sent her with a goodly amount of Trader Joes snacks. She has introduced several of her friends to the delights of honey sesame sticks; they are now addicted. I suspect she is keeping the peanut butter cups for herself!

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Nicole M]

Ok, how can you post something like that and not post the recipe???

 

With my kids allergic to nuts, Nutella is not welcome in the house. But I'd be happy with a chocolate no hazelnut spread of decent quality!

 

Gasp! I broke the WTM rule! I'm sorry, but the alternative version does have hazelnuts. :( I found the recipe in the book Veganomicon.

 

In Seattle, there is a grocery store that sells a chocolate hazelnut spread that comes fresh out of a machine, just like the ones that grind your peanut butter fresh! We've been planning a field trip into the big city, just to visit that machine.

[Nicole M]

It's been fun reading everyone's replies. Jane, I checked the online menu -- I didn't even realize that was an option -- and, um, gross. Today's breakfast choices were french toast or quiche. No wonder he's losing weight. And yes, walking long distances plays a part; though his campus is small, all his activities and classes are at opposite ends. It's definitely time to get a care package together.

 

Kareni -- Trader Joe's! I'll find some goodies the next time I go.

[Kareni]

Nutella is an important food group.

 

I totally agree!

 

Today's lunch menu includes green coconut curry with asparagus and tofu.

 

This sounds yummy to me, but so does that stromboli!

 

My daughter's work study job has her working in the kitchen and cafeteria. I think that seeing what goes on behind the scenes can also work to reduce one's appetite. It does have the side benefit, however, of seeing where they keep the chocolate mousse and taking a 'healthy' serving of it back to ones room!

 

Regards,

Kareni

Edited October 1, 2010 by Kareni

[Nan in Mass]

My oldest went to school from feeding himself and plumbing. Even though he couldn't make all the meals, he was still eating way more than he had previously. He immediately began to gain weight and we were grateful for the school rule that dress uniforms not be bought for freshman. They said that by the second year, most students had stablized their diet and stopped growing quite so fast. The food isn't great, but it beat ramen noodles and chips. He lost the weight over the summer (nothing like being a high strung boy for losing weight) and was more careful the next year. He was living off campus but we still bought him 10 meals a week. This year, he is much happier. He is sharing a house with his roommate (they couldn't find a place together last year) and they are sharing meals. Both of them are doing much better. The deal is that the roommate will do the cleaning if my son feeds him. My son does a nice job of feeding himself if he has someone to eat them with. Meanwhile, second son, who is an athlete, was careful not to puff up like his brother. I don't think he found it a problem. He is still in the dorms and consequently still having trouble getting to meals. He eats a lot of ramen noodles and pop tarts and granola bars. Peanut butter is popular, too. He eats it straight out of the jar. I send jars of peanut butter with them when they go peacewalking, so eating it this way is pretty normal. The youngest was introduced to nutella in Switzerland and couldn't believe we had never gotten it before. Definately one of the food groups from his point of view GRIN. Replace it with the vegetables. I haven't heard any complaints aobut the food other than that it is hard to get to mess. They certainly did us well when they served us lunch at the family weekends. This is a fun thread!

-Nan

[Nicole M]

My daughter's work study job has her working in the kitchen and cafeteria. I think that seeing what goes on behind the scenes can also work to reduce one's appetite. It does have the side benefit, however, of seeing where they keep the chocolate mousse and taking a 'healthy' serving of it back to ones room!

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

My son is also working in the kitchen. (He applied for "all the crummiest jobs on campus" because he knew the upperclassmen and work-study students would scoop up the better jobs.) Apparently Helmut, who is from Budapest and rules the kitchen with an iron fist, does not allow any transportation of food, and even forbids the kids from bringing water bottles to work, for fear that they will try to sneak out pop. I guess. Helmut also does not tolerate any criticism of the food. So your daughter is lucky, Kareni!

 

I told my son that it's all about collecting great stories that he will be able to tell for the rest of his life. :D

[creekland]

My guy is typical guy... "send BBQ chips!" We live in the land of potato chips and apparently, nothing compares to Herrs down in Georgia.

 

He complained about the food at first, but now says he's adjusted. We thought the food was just fine when we visited (NOT always on special days), so I think it's more of a "thing to do" than reality. But then again, large group food is seldom as good as home cooked.

 

I know he's probably lost weight. Every time we call he's hiking somewhere or doing something active - and having a blast! Once in a while he even mentions his classes... :tongue_smilie:

[mcconnellboys]

I'm sorry! I actually thought it was the freshmen 30, LOL (or it was when I was in school). We had terrific food all around our campus. The last few times I've been there they don't seem to have the same quality of food now.

 

My poor son is at school in a small town. There is only one campus dining facility and it's not even open enough hours so that he can eat a full lunch and dinner. He has to eat the snacky sandwich sorts of things that are available after "regular" hours because his classes aren't over in time for him to get lunch and his swimming isn't over in time for him to get dinner. He seems to me to be losing weight, too....

[Nan in Mass]

My oldest snagged a job in the grill in the basement of the dorm. His kitchen is run by a crazy (his description) Guatemalan lady who has frightened other workers off and keeps the tv tuned to those grim shows that show giant snakes chasing down rabbits and lions chasing down baby gazelles. She makes him do his homework when things are slow and he is expected to eat at work. He's had the job since the first month of school when they took the freshman who weren't playing a sport and set them to work parking cars and doing kitchen prep. At the end of the day, they asked who wanted to stay and help clean up, and since they were paying them, my son said yes. He was the only one who volunteered. At the end of the evening, they offered him this plum of a job GRIN. For someone who had gone from supporting himself to being a dependent student and was only in school at all as a means to an end, it was super to be making some money and have something to suck up some of his weekends. We are all still astounded that it hadn't gone to a workstudy student. Perhaps being over 21 and being able to serve beer helped. But you'd think a senior would have snagged it. I'll have to tell him about Helmet!

-Nan

[Nicole M]

I'm sorry! I actually thought it was the freshmen 30, LOL (or it was when I was in school). We had terrific food all around our campus. The last few times I've been there they don't seem to have the same quality of food now.

 

My poor son is at school in a small town. There is only one campus dining facility and it's not even open enough hours so that he can eat a full lunch and dinner. He has to eat the snacky sandwich sorts of things that are available after "regular" hours because his classes aren't over in time for him to get lunch and his swimming isn't over in time for him to get dinner. He seems to me to be losing weight, too....

 

:D I remembered freshmen thirty, too, but nowadays I hear freshman fifteen, perhaps because of the pleasing alliteration.

 

My son's college also has very limited options. There is a little shop on campus that is open after hours, but they sell mainly pre-packaged items that are not only unhealthy, but manufactured by companies my son is loathe to support. There is a wee tiny health food store, the size of a closet, a few blocks away, and I think he runs over there for the occasional fruit smoothie. I think the biggest shock is simply not having many choices.

 

This is only week three of classes, but I think by now his stash of protein bars and other treats I sent with him should be running low, if they're not entirely gone. Better get on that care package.

[Nicole M]

My oldest snagged a job in the grill in the basement of the dorm. His kitchen is run by a crazy (his description) Guatemalan lady who has frightened other workers off and keeps the tv tuned to those grim shows that show giant snakes chasing down rabbits and lions chasing down baby gazelles. She makes him do his homework when things are slow and he is expected to eat at work. He's had the job since the first month of school when they took the freshman who weren't playing a sport and set them to work parking cars and doing kitchen prep. At the end of the day, they asked who wanted to stay and help clean up, and since they were paying them, my son said yes. He was the only one who volunteered. At the end of the evening, they offered him this plum of a job GRIN. For someone who had gone from supporting himself to being a dependent student and was only in school at all as a means to an end, it was super to be making some money and have something to suck up some of his weekends. We are all still astounded that it hadn't gone to a workstudy student. Perhaps being over 21 and being able to serve beer helped. But you'd think a senior would have snagged it. I'll have to tell him about Helmet!

-Nan

 

And I'll pass along this story, too!

[Nicole M]

 

I know he's probably lost weight. Every time we call he's hiking somewhere or doing something active - and having a blast! Once in a while he even mentions his classes... :tongue_smilie:

 

:D

 

My son has been on campus for only not-quite-a month, and is involved with more extra-curricular activities than I was in during my whole four years. And occasionally he mentions classes, too!

[creekland]

:D

 

My son has been on campus for only not-quite-a month, and is involved with more extra-curricular activities than I was in during my whole four years. And occasionally he mentions classes, too!

 

 

It's nice to know we're not alone. ;) I have to say my "mom" moment has come through at times to remind him that he's not majoring in extra curriculars and needs to keep his grades up to keep his scholarships. I'm really glad he's enjoying these years, but... He assures me all is fine. Time will tell, right?

[choirfarm]

. Yesterday he asked me to send (our homemade not-tella) Nutella. That ought to keep him going until Thanksgiving. :D

 

What in the world is Nutella??? I've never heard of that. My oldest is allergic to peanuts, so I'm guessing he couldn't eat it.

[8filltheheart]

On a completely different note, my ds was excused from the living on campus requirement b/c of his food allergies. (The dorms where he goes to school are awful) He was thrilled that he could live off-campus.

[TravelingChris]

Choirfarm= Nutella does not contain peanuts. That is why my allergic to peanuts kid started eating it. Of course, my non=allergic kids quickly joined in. It has hazelnuts and chocolate. Now you do have to read the label because for a short while, Nutella did have peanut oil. I guess they got scores of letters from parents who had substituted Nutella for peanut butter with their allergic kids and anyway they switched back to only hazelnuts.

[choirfarm]

Ok, thanks. My son is weird, but we've never gone to an allergist either. When he was a baby, he broke out in hives when milk hit his skin ( knocked over my cereal on himself). He also broke out in hives with peanut butter. So we just avoided those. But he can eat anything fried with peanut oil and he ate yogurt a ton, but never drank milk. I don't know... strange.

 

Christine

[Blue Hen]

I'm happy to hear that my ds is not alone in his weight loss. He reported two nights ago that he is down 12#. He is daily running 4 to 5 miles with kids from his floor, something that I know he is really loving. His morning run means he has just enough time to shower before class and doesn't have time to make it to the commons for breakfast. He grabs a granola bar instead. His classes run from 10 to 2 so he misses lunch. Yes, he's been living on one meal a day and enjoying it too. This kid never has been a big eater and if he so much as looks at a cookie will gain 5# like his mom. He's delighted that he is not gaining the freshman 15 although he does not have room to lose anymore.

 

Oh, he doesn't eat Nutella.

 

Carole

[FloridaLisa]

Lol, that was a must in the care package I sent a couple of weeks ago. Ds is coming home for the first time this weekend and I'm letting my bread rise as we speak. Looking forward to a weekend of family favorites and baking! He said he pretty much exists on spinach salad at school, so that's off the menu this weekend. ;)

 

Lisa

[Granny_Weatherwax]

Nicole - Bethel Baptist Church has a college program where students from your DS's school can go have lunch with other college students; it's one Sunday a month. They also have a Home Away from Home program where college students are 'given' local families to help them out - meals, laundry, family time, etc.

 

This might be an option for your DS. I know Bethel had more families agree to 'foster' a college student than college students who signed up.

 

Don't forget I am here if he needs anything - like an emergency supply of rations. If you let me know his favorites I can try to find them locally.

Edited October 7, 2010 by The Dragon Academy

[Nicole M]

Nicole - Bethel Baptist Church has a college program where students from your DS's school can go have lunch with other college students; it's one Sunday a month. They also have a Home Away from Home program where college students are 'given' local families to help them out - meals, laundry, family time, etc.

 

This might be an option for your DS. I know Bethel had more families agree to 'foster' a college student than college students who signed up.

 

Don't forget I am here if he needs anything - like an emergency supply of rations. If you let me know his favorites I can try to find them locally.

 

You are a dear. Thank you. I did just get a letter from the ladies of Mary Immaculate Heart Church offering to send over birthday cake or fudge, so I knew there were programs, but did not remember about Bethel's 'foster' care.

 

In totally unrelated news, did you happen to make it to the Chanticleer performance this week? My son said it was amazing!

 

Oh, and one other thing. Apparently the college now has a bike sharing program, so he's all set up with wheels.

 

Thank you again for your kind offer.

[Krista in LA]

My guy is typical guy... "send BBQ chips!" We live in the land of potato chips and apparently, nothing compares to Herrs down in Georgia.

 

:iagree:

 

Nothing compares to Herr's here either. I miss them and always have to get a bag of sour cream and onion when I go back to PA to visit my db. You'll have to start sending multiple bags because once they try them, all of the other guys will want them too...

[creekland]

:iagree:

 

Nothing compares to Herr's here either. I miss them and always have to get a bag of sour cream and onion when I go back to PA to visit my db. You'll have to start sending multiple bags because once they try them, all of the other guys will want them too...

 

You're probably right. We already ALWAYS have to bring chips whenever we attend a family get together on either my or hubby's side (since both live out of state for us). We've also learned to throw in a couple extra bags for "gifts." The majority of the gifts are Sour Cream and Onion. It's a very popular flavor even among those that otherwise don't eat chips.

 

I swear, we must look like junk food junkies when we go to the store prior to these travels... buying 10 - 12 bags of chips and a snack or two for the road!