It's a shame the meal plans aren't working out so well for some of the "kids." I guess I now feel a little better about DD's plan. Hers is just a cash value to be used at her discretion, paying per item in the dining halls, stores, restaurants, etc. on campus. It was pretty hard to figure out how much to buy because we didn't know the per item prices. So we just took the middle of the line cash amt and figured we'd adjust as needed.
After the first week, she estimated how much she was spending per meal, and we did a little math. It worked out to about 14 meals per week at her current spending level.
Which is about right, two meals a day is what she's had time for. She's keeping a bit in her room for snacks to cover another "meal" per day. So far, she's been making pretty healthy choices for her room: tuna, wraps, fresh fruit and veggies, cereal and milk. We'll see if that holds up once the pizza buying starts.
She's been lucky that the "health food store" is attached to her dorm. It makes it a little easier to make better snacking choices. She also has a
Walmart about a mile away where she has purchased groceries for a fraction of the campus cost. So meals and budgets are working out better than we had hoped.
I've got to be honest I was a bit worried about the Freshman Fifteen for DD and was encouraging her to find a way to workout on campus, take the stairs, etc long before she got to campus. She's only 5'1" and puts on weight very easy. She doesn't play a sport, but has enjoyed doing a few 5 and 10K runs during high school. That's about the extent of her high school athletics. She found an on campus organization for women that brings a different instructor to campus each week to teach different workouts. So far, they've had a boot camp style circuit training and "Zumba with drum sticks" which she really liked.
They also have regular times to go to the athletic center for your more typical group workouts. And, they also have a private online Facebook group so they can discuss dining options and arrange schedules to meet for jogging, swimming, hiking, whatever they are interested in. So, she's got lots of options as far as maintaining a workout schedule, if she wants to.
I've got to admit, I was thrilled about all of this since I was worried about her jogging alone, crossing campus early or late to go to the gym alone, or not doing anything at all for those reasons... She's already made a couple friends through the group and is glad she took a chance and signed up.
As far as taking the stairs (my suggestion), she ended up on the tenth floor. So.... she actually still tried it (not sure I would have, six is about my limit, lol), she is starting to get shin splints. She's not sure if its the stairs, but she started to skip them every other time to see if that would help. I thought maybe she should just take them slower, maybe she's trying to go up to fast and mainly jogging up on her toes? I know I used to get shin splints from jumping rope and I figured it was related to being on the front of my foot (toes) more than not. So, we'll see if she can get past the pain and keep up her stair walking.
I'm sorry so many of your kids are already getting sick. I guess we should have expected that, new community, new bugs... they'll probably all do a lot better as the year progresses. So far, so good for DD.
Things have been running pretty smoothly for my daughter, no problems with classes, other than a professor who curses like a sailor. DD finds that a bit annoying. lol. She tried to go to her first football game Saturday night. The Christian group on campus tailgated before the game, but the weather got rough and everyone ended up having to shelter with the players in a practice field. Once they released them, the game was still delayed, and DD and her friend finally gave up and went back to the dorm. So, a little excitement, but no game. lol.
I hope everyone starts feeling better soon and computers and classroom glitches get worked out. College is stressful enough in the beginning without technology breakdowns and starvation (lol).
Commuting has been going well, they're figuring out what works best and their routines are varying day to day. DD drove in with DS one day but took the train home. Another day she gave a ride home to one of her new friends who lives nearby. She likes her schedule, a couple of days she doesn't have to be in till late morning, which is a welcome change. DS's days are longer as all of his classes are early and he has to stay late for his sport, but he's figuring it out, too. He does have some time to get his work done at school which is good, and he's found some places around campus he enjoys. He's made some friends as well even though practices haven't really gotten underway yet. He and one of his friends discovered the game room and whoopie pies - what's not to love? 
At home we're like ships passing in the night as we all work varying shifts and hours. Their work schedules are limited to one weekend day until they get settled in school, but eventually they'll figure out if they can do a few hours here and there. They like having their paychecks and the money comes in handy for parking and food at school. So, glad things are finally underway and they're settling in!
Did I mention this is NON Athletic child???
