<p>My son will be staying in his dorm and taking a course for 3 weeks over winter break. Food services will be closed over the break, but my son has a tiny fridge and a tiny microwave. I’m driving him back to school on Sunday, and will be stocking his “kitchen” (ha!!). I’m looking for ideas. We’re trying to keep the menu on the healthy side.</p>
<p>Here’s my list so far, which is sorely lacking in decent proteins. Please offer suggestions!</p>
<p>fruits that don’t need to be kept cold (apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi, grapes)
cans of soup
tuna
mayo (if it will fit in the fridge)
peanut butter
juice
crackers
bread
cashews (he loves them)
hot chocolate powder
tea</p>
<p>Maybe not the most healthy, but microwave mac & cheese would be convenient. Also microwave popcorn. Healthier varieties of both are available at health food stores.</p>
<p>And a cell phone – for calling for takeout food to be delivered. </p>
<p>This would work out best if there are several students to split an order of Chinese food, pizza, or whatever. It is hard for one person – especially with limited refrigerator space – to order enough to meet the delivery minimum without wasting food.</p>
<p>There are cup of soup type things that come in some more unusual flavors like Pad Thai, Asian noodles and bean dishes. At my store I can find them in the natural and international foods sections. I would scour those areas of the grocery store to see what looks appealing. Don’t forget foil or ziplocs so he can store leftovers from restaurant meals.</p>
<p>Get him an electric kettle so he could have tea or coffee sometimes. I would caution in eating too much of those dry noodles because of preservative.</p>
<p>Oldfort, at my D’s school, food service never starts until the day that classes begin! After every break, and at the beginning of the year, she’s there for a day or two without a meal plan - she usually coordinates with friends/roomies to bring something so they can make a meal without running out of fridge space (they’re only allowed the smallest refrigerators in their rooms). Don’t know why they do this, but suspect it may be because all of their student workers are gone too! That’s one of the reasons she won’t consider dorming this summer during an 8-week class session…one of the dining halls will be open but only when freshman orientation sessions are being conducted. They aren’t allowed microwaves or any cooking appliances other than coffeemakers equipped with auto shut-off in their rooms…everything else is confiscated as a fire hazard (and yes, the RAs do check!).</p>
<p>I don’t mind food service being closed during winter break, but if they are offering classes I don’t understand why they don’t have a small dining hall open. Be that as it may…</p>
<p>You can do a lot in a microwave - having lived through a kitchen renovation. You can make omelette -like scrambled eggs for example. (Just don’t try eggs in a shell!) For more protein you could throw tofu, beans or deli meat into the soup. If he likes hummous that’s pretty healthy. I think you could take out Chinese (or other cuisine) and leave it in the fridge for a few days. We do all the time. Maybe you could cook up something like meatloaf and freeze some slices and let them thaw in the fridge.</p>
<p>It’s pretty simple. He’ll need to experiment with the timing if his MW is less powerful. </p>
<p>MICROWAVE OMELET</p>
<p>3 eggs
2 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. butter
Choice of filling (cheese, onions, green peppers, olives, bacon, ham etc.)
Salt and pepper</p>
<p>Whisk 3 eggs and 2 tablespoons water together. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 9-inch glass pie dish in the microwave for 45 seconds. Pour eggs in dish, cover, then microwave 1 1/2 minutes. Then turn over by flipping into the other pie plate. Place filling of your choice on half of omelet; fold and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.</p>
<p>If you want to approximate scrambled eggs you pull the eggs out periodically and give them a stir. These won’t be as brown as a real omelet, but they are definitely edible.</p>
<p>Baked potatoes–get a few nice baking potatoes. If he has butter and/or plain yogurt, it makes a nice side with canned soup or a sandwich. Add some cheese…or, get some canned chili to serve with it. </p>
<ol>
<li>Scrub the potato, and prick several time with the tines of a fork. Place on a plate.</li>
<li>Cook on full power in the microwave for 5 minutes. Turn over, and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. When the potato is soft, remove from the microwave, and cut in half lengthwise. Season with salt and pepper, and mash up the inside a little using a fork. Top the open sides with butter and 2 tablespoons of cheese. Return to the microwave, and cook for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.</li>
<li>Top with remaining cheese and sour cream, and serve.</li>
</ol>
<p>for mayo, you could also get those packets like they have in restaurants, so it doesn’t use up his fridge space…not sure if they sell them in regular groceries or not…</p>
<p>Is there a regular size fridge anywhere in the dorm that is accessible to these kids? Maybe you could freeze some single serving meals for him…</p>
<p>My S likes the bag rice–“Success”, I think–makes it using a 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup. Boil water with the bagged rice in it for 10 minutes. Baked potatoes can also be a good filler for growing boys and are easily done in microwaves. Stauffers, etc frozen meals will last in the fridge for several days. they don’t have to be frozen the entire time, just modify cooking time. Another hit for my S, but a bit expensive, is microwave/already fried bacon. He could make blt’s. </p>
<p>Scrambled eggs can also be done in a microwavable cup/bowl. Is cereal on your list?</p>
<p>Does he have a toaster? Toasted cheese sandwiches and a cup of soup might work…</p>