Care Packages

I don’t know about your parents, but every quarter my parents are invited to buy a pre-made care package to be delivered to me during finals week. Unfortunately, these non-perishables aren’t usually gluten-free. So what’s a kid to do? Finals are stressful enough without having to worry about quick and convenient foods - so here are some healthier ideas! Go on, send this to your parents or if you are a parent, listen up!

• Highlighters
  
• No. 2 pencils
  
• Post-It notes
  
• AA batteries
  
• protein bars (I really like PureFit Almond Crunch)
  
• hot chocolate mix
  
• tea (I like chamomile as a stress-reducer)
  
• trail mix
  
• snacks (these can be varying degrees of healthy… I like Lundberg Farms Honey
• Dijon Rice Chips and Lesser Evil Black and White Popcorn)
  
• package of cookies (I like Pamela’s Single serving 2-packs)
  
• microwaveable popcorn
  
• fruit (always a tough one, but Funky Monkey has a whole selection of freeze-dried 100% food snacks)

It’s always hard to try and fit healthy meals into the finals week cram session, so I hope this list was able to provide at least few new ideas! Now remember, while quick snack foods are great, they’re not always the healthiest choice - especially in times of stress. For those of us with Celiac disease, stress takes a much greater toll on our health and it’s extremely important to eat well (real fruit, yogurt, quality protein), sleep (I know, college and sleep are not always the best of friends, but a good 8 hours a night will do wonders for your health) and exercise (get out of your dorm, go walk to the gym and back - you don’t even have to go in, but get out of your room!) and of course, I hate to admit it, but our parents were right - take your vitamins (yes, even gummy cartoons are better than nothing). So take care in the coming weeks, be conscious of your health and best of luck!

- Kelsey Ganes, University of Washington student

ADVERTISEMENT