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Dehydrated Foods: Why They Belong on the Dorm Checklist

Going off to college means new experiences and things to be learned, not just in the classroom but outside of it, too. Incoming freshmen making the change from their parents’ home to dorm living undoubtedly have a checklist set up as far as what furniture, personal items and electronic devices to bring along. However, there may be a few items missing from the list that students and their families might not have thought of before.

Student living almost always means living on a budget. This is definitely true for students accepted to big time schools like Stanford, where the cost of tuition and fees alone are equal to a person’s annual budget. One of the most effective ways students can save money is by being smart about their food choices. This doesn’t mean fast food—while cheap, burgers, fries and tacos on a regular basis only translates to terrible eating habits and unwanted weight gain.

From using coupons and student discounts while grocery shopping to learning how to cook meals, there are ways of avoiding spending too much money in this category. Purchasing dehydrated food is one alternative. Eating this kind of food may not seem very appetizing but is very beneficial in the long run for students.

There are many advantages that come with storing and consuming food that has been dehydrated. First, it serves as a much healthier snack that is also convenient to have around. Fresh fruits and veggies are ideal snacks, too, but they tend to get rotten if not eaten within a certain amount of time, which is not the case with dehydrated foods. Additionally, because the food is dehydrated, it affects the size and shape, making it easier to toss into plastic baggies, which can be stored in even the smallest dorm room or carried around in a backpack.

No preparation is required when dealing with dehydrated foods, either. That’s certainly a plus for students with little to no skills in food preparation and cooking. Many people think the only foods that can be dehydrated are fruits and vegetables but meat can be as well, which will be a pleasant treat for those that enjoy jerky.

Another benefit for students that make dehydrated foods a regular part of their dorm routine is the fact that in cases of an emergency or natural disaster, stored dehydrated foods make for an excellent source of nutrition. It’s not a subject that parents want to think about but it never hurts to be too prepared. Taking small measures like that for college students especially makes sense if they are attending a school that’s located in an area known for suffering from extreme weather conditions, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes.

Families sending their kids away to college for the first time can even help cut food costs by giving a food dehydrator as a gift. These products come in a variety of sizes, styles and affordable price ranges.