Empowering Your Student: Cooking and Eating

// By JACEY CRAWFORD ’21

With the busyness of college life, students may be tempted to put good cooking and eating habits on the back burner. Before your student leaves for their first year at AU, help them understand the importance of practicing safe and smart cooking and eating habits. Below are some of the skills your student should master before they fly from your nest to ours.

Managing a balanced diet – At AU, we’re proud to offer a variety of food options that will always satisfy your cravings. While we do have plenty of options for healthy dining, we also offer various forms of comfort food. At the Marketplace on campus, students can enjoy everything from pizza and pasta to salads and whole fruits. At Create, we have wraps and sandwiches. And in the Raven’s Haven, we have Chick-Fil-A. Although there’s a time and a place for comfort food (especially for college students), make sure that your student understands the importance of healthy eating and getting the nutrients they need. 

Using a microwave – The microwave oven is every college student’s best friend — but it can quickly become their worst enemy if not used properly. Make sure that your student knows how long to microwave leftovers, popcorn, and other favorite foods. Teach them that the directions on the back of popcorn bags and frozen meals can be their best friend. But above all, quiz your student on what not to microwave — aluminum foil, metal, paper bags, takeout containers, etc.

Food safety – Make sure that your student knows the food safety basics — don’t leave perishable foods unrefrigerated for more than two hours, wash hands and surfaces frequently, respect the expiration date, etc. You’ll also want to teach them about the rules of cooking with raw meat, such as don’t cross-contaminate, and always cook to the proper temperature.

Shopping for groceries – There is little that scares college students more than grocery shopping. You’re likely to get frequent calls from your student asking, “Where is ____ in Walmart?” Although you may not know the layout of all the supermarkets near campus, you should make sure your student understands how foods are typically organized in grocery stores. You’ll also want to ensure your student knows to be prepared for a grocery store trip and understands portion control, how to find the best prices, and how to make a list.  

 

Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.