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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

That first night in Uni halls - what to cook?!

19 replies

365isalot · 02/09/2016 02:41

Ok so you drop them off, with a cupboard full of food, say goodbye and ...then what? Will they cook dinner? How to negotiate making a meal in a new kitchen with 5 strangers, while also unpacking and orientating yourself in completely new surroundings? Will they eat at all? Or go out drinking, on empty stomach - recipe for feeling utterly crap and knackered on the first day away from home ConfusedSad?

OP posts:
foreverandalways · 02/09/2016 02:46

Just relax, leave your child to it....honestly it will be the best decision you have ever made....they will become independent, strong and grateful of the times spent at home between term time....leave them find their own way around what ever kitchen they are n and wherever they may be....leave them spread their wings and start the first chapter of the rest of their lives..

FoxesOnSocks · 02/09/2016 02:46

Pasta + sauce, so many varieties of sauce out there these days, not like in my time I tell you. Beans on toast is an exciting alternative.

(I pretty much lived off pasta and pesto as a student )

PerspicaciaTick · 02/09/2016 02:48

You could remind them to pack the basics of a meal - but I suspect they may well order a pizza together so they can share a meal. Or get chips on the way home from the pub.

PerspicaciaTick · 02/09/2016 02:49

If you are worried about health - then just possibly it would be OK to give them a bag of apples or oranges to snack on. But even that might look a bit OTT.

TheDucksAreComing · 02/09/2016 03:15

Pack them a microwave meal. One of those pasta things that takes 5 minutes. Then if they need to make their own dinner on the first night they don't have to waste any time faffing.

WatcherOfTheNight · 02/09/2016 03:30

My DD started last year,I think they ate mostly cereal & Dominios for the first week,that's in spite of my taking up a batch of different home made meals & all the shopping we bought!
The home made curries etc were frozen & I know she really enjoyed them once she was flat out working.

MyFriendsCallMeOh · 02/09/2016 04:29

Presuming your child is an adult, I'd let them fend for themself. Not heard of many students starving (or cooking on the first night)....

nooka · 02/09/2016 04:48

Why are you worried? Presumably your child is capable of deciding what to eat, and will choose something from the cupboard of food you have kindly provided them. They might well go out for a drink with their new roommates but I'd hope by 18 or thereabouts they know how to manage their booze. My ds will no doubt eat rice, noodles or dry pasta, as that's what he eats by himself now. dd would probably eat something potato based.

Hangovers are part of student life though aren't they? Surely the parental response is mostly 'what do you expect'.

Sorry I'm a bit of a mean mum, but most new students are totally fine, having fun getting to know each other and exploring their new surroundings. Your almost adult child will be just fine :)

errorofjudgement · 02/09/2016 07:04

The kitchen is the hub of the flat, those 5 strangers will quickly become good friends - specially if they are all in the kitchen together trying to cook 😀
And yes, my DS too lived on pasta, sauce and cheddar sprinkled on top for the first term.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 02/09/2016 07:07

Not completely related but pack them some tubes of Pringles and a box of Heroes to share with new flat mates. Breaks the ice.

I honestly can't remember what I ate the first night of uni (probably didn't) but buy them in a pizza that can be frozen in case they decide to order in. Something really easy that takes minimal concentration and pans.

SavoyCabbage · 02/09/2016 07:13

They will go out the first night, of course they will. You want them to surely, to get to know each other. That is more important than the potential of eating on an empty stomach.

I wouldn't bother with many meal ingredients at all. We went to the supermarket together when I went to university. It's a part of those first few days. Just make sure there are things that are really quick. Weetabix, bananas, popcorn. Maybe a ready meal.

Knottyknitter · 02/09/2016 07:14

For the first night, I'd say give £20 to cover takeout pizza. Stodgy pre-beer food and ice breaker in one.

lanbro · 02/09/2016 07:23

I went to uni with no pots, pans, crockery, cutlery etc, and definitely no food - just hadn't occurred to me or my dps! I remember going to the pub on the first night and presumably I ate something, then had a trip to Argos and Asda. Don't give it another thought, students are pretty hardy!

JemimaMuddledUp · 02/09/2016 07:36

I still remember my first night - we had a takeout pizza (and got to know each other as we shared it) then went to a Fresher's club night in the union. Kebab on the way home. Met some great people that night, still friends 20+ years later.

Cooking dinner just wasn't on my radar.

Later on I mostly ate pasta and sauce with cheese on top, baked potatoes with beans, cheese toasties and instant noodle soup. I survived!

mouldycheesefan · 02/09/2016 09:02

Not everyone arrives at accommodation at the same time. In our flat of 8 , 2 were from overseas and didn't arrive till later. 3 were mature students in their 30s doing masters courses so not into drinking and pizza!

WeetabixLorry · 02/09/2016 09:10

OP it's very sweet and I'm sure I'll be thinking this way too when my DS grows up, but as someone who only graduated from uni 4 years ago I find this question a bit odd!

It's the first day of the rest of your child's life... They don't need you anymore.. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, we all need our mums now and then, but the days of needing you to help make mealtimes happen are definitely over.

I don't even remember what I ate on the first night. I am pretty sure I did populate the fridge with a few essentials when I arrived. And yes usually there are drunken parties pretty much immediately on the first night. Let them make their own way and their own decisions. Helping with their dinner arrangements at this point seems a bit like micromamaging!

hellsbells99 · 02/09/2016 09:48

DD is going to take a few ready meals/bowl of chilli etc to see her through freshers week. If there is a local Domino's they offer free and £1 pizzas during freshers week. They won't starve.

senua · 02/09/2016 10:02

Cover all bases.
-Have something easy-to-cook that can be stretched to provide for more than one person (pasta, pizza) so DC can be sociable.
-But also said food won't spoil if you don't eat it on the first night.
-There again, have cash on stand-by in case the flat decides to eat out.
Go with the flow.

A supply of biscuits / cake / alcohol is an ice-breaker.

idontlikealdi · 02/09/2016 10:13

There was no cooking in the first week when I went! There was a lots of cheesy chips from the Union for £1.

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