Despite the fact that most students' rooms have mini fridges, very few store healthier fare like dairy or fruit and vegetables.
Surprisingly, the foods supplied by the students' parents were typically less healthy than those the students purchased themselves.
One way you can help your child eat smarter is to gear care packages toward better eating habits: Pack in herbal teas, dried fruit (a smart swap for candy that provides filling fiber), nuts and reduced-fat popcorn.
Another way to help your college age kid snack smarter is to take a supply-shopping trip together during your next visit. Talk about healthier choices and pick up a stash of healthy staples that will last a week or two.
Smart dorm-friendly snacks include:
- Animal crackers
- Fruit (fresh and/or canned)
- Graham crackers
- Granola bars (lower sugar varieties)
- Nuts
- Oatmeal (instant)
- Popcorn (low fat or with no added oil)
- Pudding cups (sugar-free)
- Shelf-stable milk (e.g. Parmalat) or soymilk
- Soup pots
- Tuna packets
- Whole-grain bread or pita pockets
- Whole-grain cereal
- Whole-grain crackers
If there is a mini fridge in the dorm room, you can also purchase and store fresh produce and healthy, low-fat dairy products such as:
- Baby carrots
- Celery
- Hummus
- Milk (2%, 1% or fat-free)
- Smoothies (bottled in yogurt section)
- String cheese
- Yogurt
There is great advice here at About.com on many aspects of college life. You may wish to direct your college-age child these excellent articles about healthy eating in their dorms:
- Resist Dorm Room Snacking
- Dorm Room Recipes
- Dorm Room Must-Haves
- 12 Easy Meal Ideas for College Students
Source
Nelson MC, Story M. Examining the food environment in university student dormitories: Twenty thousand calories per dorm room and counting. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2009 Jun; 36(6):523-6.
