Are you heading off to college for the first time, or want to give a gift to someone new to graduate school? Whatever the year, there’s something about the stress of higher education (the tests! the unknown professors! the pressure of learning!) that causes the desire to eat…and eat….and eat. And we’re not talking about celery and carrots.
Nope, it’s the comfort food, like macaroni and cheese (happy sigh) and cupcakes covered with frosting and cream hidden inside (bliss) that call to students stressed by the constant need to cram their brains. But the good news: By helping them to avoid cramming their bodies with the wrong foods, you can also help college students stay focused and energized.
The following foods are recommended for food baskets for college students — and we won’t give you a test at the end:
- Insomnia can result from studying too late and worrying too much. The ideal gift: Triple Leaf Tea Relaxing Herb Tea to promote a good night’s sleep.
- Do you know someone who loves potato chips not wisely but too well? Then provide a basket of healthy varieties, such as Good Boy Organics BOPS™ Gluten-Free Sea Salt Baked Potato Snack.
- When it comes to comfort foods, provide low-fat graham crackers, such as New Morning Honey Graham.
- Remembering to get enough protein isn’t usually high on the list of essentials for college kids. So give them unsweetened soy milk to add to their coffee or tea, such as Westsoy Organic Unsweetened Soymilk.
- A common complaint from college students: “I have to eat to get through all that reading.” Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans can satisfy that need without GMOs, refined sugar or artificial colors and flavors.
- Soup is a great option for a low-cal, filling snack or even meal. Provide a variety, such as Dr. McDougall’s Tortilla with Baked Chips Big Cup Soup.
- And for a great anytime snack, provide a pack of 100-calorie high-protein pudding cups.