Dorm/food gift basket

[Medako]

My sister recently started college and has a class schedule that doesn't always allow her to get to the cafeteria for lunch some days. She's wanting some food that she can eat as a meal and not just snacky stuff ~ but I don't have many ideas (it's obviously been too long since I was in college myself).

She has a small fridge and a microwave, so that adds to the options. I'm just looking for more ideas on what to send back with her when she comes home for Labor day weekend.

Any ideas would be super helpful!! Thanks so much! :)

[Sherb]

On days like you're describing, I found Ramen Noodles or Soup (NOT condensed soup) to be a good bet. Usually I had some crackers or something with it.

I considered microwave popcorn or crackers and cheese to be an acceptable lunch some days. Depended on how much time I had and how hungry I was.

My college had a good dining hall, so I ate there most days and just grabbed everything I listed above on the days I didn't have time/feel like going to the dining hall. HTH.

[BethIrish]

How about:

Mac n Cheese - either the EasyMac stuff or just a regular box
Ramen
Cans of Soup/cup o soups
Already cooked chicken strips (good for wraps, throwing in salads or just eating)
Lipton Noodles and sauce
Those pre-packaged soups/rice/potato "cups"
Crackers
Peanut Butter/jelly
Those packages of rice that are already cooked and heat up in 90 seconds.
Those spaghetti bowl things.
Bagels

Does she have one of those combo microwave/freezer/fridges? If she has freezer there are tons of easy to heat pizzas etc :) I tried mostly to think of things above that have a good 'shelf life' :)

[laura]

I agree with what's already been posted. Also if she has or can get a hotpot, that opens up a lot of pasta options since you can boil water, and pasta is pretty cheap. Also regular stuff you would eat at home, like sandwich fixings, salads, etc. If she has access to a toaster oven (these were 'illegal' in my dorm, but tons of people had them anyway) she could do toasted things including bagels, bagel/english muffin pizzas, quesadillas, etc.

I mostly ate in the caf or ordered chinese food when I lived in the dorms - or sometimes both. :p

[jnettie]

The single serve microwave mac-n-cheese things are awesome! Annie's Natural brand also makes those.

Goobers - PB&J in one jar!
Granola bars are always awesome snacks.
Spaghetti O's!
Tuna pouches
I found that mini pitas worked for a range of sandwiches and didn't get soggy.
Parm. cheese - doesn't need refridgaration until you open it.

All the other suggestions are really great.
I ate like this for YEARS! Now I have a husband who cooks!

[Chimichanga]

Those Soup at Hands are the BEST for college students. I loved them - it was so handy.

Maybe those cereal bars - special K, rice krispies, etc. They are pretty good.

Don't overlook a gift card to a local grocery store. i loved taking yogurts to class (some have spoons in the lid). Obviously something you can't ship and very good for you.

And don't forget homemade goodies. Cookies are the best - and nice to share with people on the floor or the cute guy down the way. :D

[twinnyme]

Some ideas are at:

http://wellbaskets.com/costbacapa.html

and

http://healthybaskets.com/

I saw these in the Dec. 2005 Better Homes & Garden issue. There's a one-page article called "College Care Packages" - with healthy alternatives. Ideas include:

* nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts)
* chewable vitamins and calcium supplements
* non-food items: DVDs, CDs, restaurant gift certificates, roll of quarters for laundry
* non-spoilables - peanut butter, fruit preserves, whole grain crackers
* fiber: granola bars, small cans of applesauce, sunflower seeds
* compact snacks: single-serving cereal boxes, small cans of V-8, Veggie Booty, pouches of tuna
* sweets - oatmeal cookies, animal crackers, small pieces of dark chocolate

[PinkGirl]

A favorite discovery that my best friend and I made is using ramen instead of pasta (it cooks so much faster). Cook ramen, don't put the flavor packet it, add spaghetti sauce = yum! I also add Morningstar Farm Veggie Crumbles (fake ground beef) for protein.