Hello everyone, I have 2 kids that go to UIUC. We are not that well-off to make trips down to champaign to visit them from chicago every weekend to drop-off food. Recently, my sophomore told me of this company, homefoodtoday.com. He said they pickup our home-made food from chicago and drop it off to UIUC dorms same day. He said his friends have used the service and its good and safe. They said the delivery van come right by the dorm front door.
Has anyone else had experience with them or heard of them?? I am concerned about the safety and food being fresh.
They are but my freshman is homesick. And she always asks me to make her favorite food. As a mom I rather my kids eat food I make. We are not thinking of everyweek, just once a while sending their favorite food. Sophomore is getting used to dorm food. But he too once a while misses the meatloaf and pasta from home.
I listed the website to see if anyone else has used this specific service. Don’t know how to prove it’s not an ad or how it came off like that. Sorry if it did. But I thought I’d ask for advise if anyone has used a service like this. Just a concern if these is an option or not.
Mom- you need to let go. No matter how good a cook you are there is a lot more out there for your kids to experience. Consider sending non refrigerated food via the post office once in a while. I discovered they were faster and cheaper using their boxes for a birthday gift package to son. However, when he was in college instate I also used UPS. Got a frozen sheet cake which I then cushioned and sent- dropped off late afternoon and delivered the next day with regular delivery.
Make them wait until they visit home for the meals. You’re not going to be mothering them like children the rest of their lives, or even the next decade. Time they discover what’s out there. Plus learn to cook their favorites their next at home vacation.
Make their favorites when they come home - keeps them coming home! My 58 year old brother lives about 3 hours from home, and to this day when we see American Chop Suey and chocolate milk in my mother’s refrigerator, we know he’s coming to visit.
Send cookies, or brownies. Whole meals…no. The kids can look forward to having them at home! I mean really…they would need a place to store them, and cook them.
Make coming home special…get a couple of meals each wants when they are home…and make those.
And also teach them how to cook these on their own.
That site sounds “interesting” but very excessive in terms of need.
yeah, you’ve got to let go. They don’t like the food. Lots of college kids don’t like the food. They’ll get over it, or cook for themselves, or earn some money to buy food out. Or maybe come home, as others have suggested. It’s hard to not feel “necessary” any more, but it’s part of the separation process. You can sympathize with their “plight”, but don’t make a big deal out of it.
thanks for all the replies and advise. I agree with most but like “dadoftwingirls” said my kids are the ones who wanted the food. definitely not wanting to hover but they are getting sick of dorm food. We can’t afford full meal plans and their dorms do not have kitchen to cook. If anything I just will use it for finals.
I can’t imagine sending (or having delivered) “real” food to my kids. I have sent boxes of cookies, brownies, trail mix and other treats - but not a casserole! Besides, if your kids’ dorm doesn’t have kitchen facilities to cook - how will they heat up the meatloaf? If your kids want food other than dorm food, there are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores in Champaign. Send them $20 and tell them to fend for themselves. And then cook all their favorites when they come home for breaks!!!
You can’t afford full meal plans? What does that mean? Are your kids on a meal plan…or not? Where are they currently eating when their meal plan doesn’t cover it?
You can eat a lot of small meals with a microfridge.
$10 to ship the food PLUS all the ingredients to make it.
I like your compromise of sending ONE home cooked package for finals. You could also make this their birthday presents. But if they don’t have a kitchen, remember to factor in how this will be warmed up…and make something that will taste good as a leftover…because that is what they will be getting!
If anybody has Amazon prime they’ll ship a 40 pd box of food (guess volume counts too) for 6 bucks flat rate. Amazon Prime Pantry. They have a college box with a ton of snacks etc but you can pick and choose. Looked interesting.