College Food Banks

 Universities and food banks usually don't go together but they do. There are hundreds of students and their families that are food insecure. They need fresh produce as well as nutritious basics to thrive in a school situation of intense classes and coursework.LUckily this is where their schools fi  in offering all sorts of  necessities for a healthy collegiate life.

What's in a college food bank ro pantry? The same that's in a regular food pantry. At Fairleigh Dickinson's Teaneck -Hackensack campus the food pantry is the size of a small convenience store. It's called the Knight's (after the school mascot) Pantry, located n  topfo the cafeteria and next to the campus bookstore.It offered easy meals  like Ramen and Hot pockets to make at the Student Union Building (r any dorm with a small microwave) There are also containers of Mac and cheese as well as canned soups.There are important foods such as cereal,granola bars and crackers. Sometimes there are apples and bananas a,especially in the fall when the students go back. This is open for both dor students and commuter ones. Commuter students can bring home some basics for their families too. The school's Madison New Jersey campus has their own pantry The Devils Care. Both have an Amazon wish list   which includes kitchen items like oven mitts and spaulas, ,OTC medications and such basics as hot cocoa mix, instant soups and boxes of pasta.

Other schools have this too. Rutgers has a similarly named Knights Pantry along with a mobile pantry. They too have the basics. Unlike FDU RUtgers offers such dairy products as milk and yogurt along with meats and produce They also offer baby products like wipes and diapers for those students who have little ones. They take both monetary donations as well as actual ones. F you are an alumna of any of these schools then donate There are so many students coming from finance challenged households  (Rutgers ,Newark campus has one in four students who  face food insecurity) Kids simply cant afford decent meals . These help them combat hunger .A well fed student is one that doesn't have concentration problems and can focus better without hunger gnawing at them. Donating to a school's library or garden is nice Donating to their students' food pantry is infinitely better. Campuses themselves can also chip in. Many have enough land to create gardens such as Montclair College in Montclair ,New Jersey where one thousand square feet is dedicated to growing veggies and fruit. The harvests are then donated to the school's food pantry, Red Hawk Pantry.

If you want to do good by your alma mater, then donated to your school's food pantry. The next generation of students will appreciate this. Give to the school that gave you your education

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A Little Help With Dinner

There' are days when you don't feel like going whole hog when making dinner,You had a busy day or it was spent doing strenuous chores. This is when home chefs need a little help with making dinner. Call  in classic aides such as Hamburger Helper  Underwood devilled meats and any canned soup to create a tasty meal that's full of flavor not full of work

Sometimes it is hard to whip up a nutritious meal from scratch.If you're too tired to cook then try Hamburger Helper. This is a quick way to have a hearty  hot dish that the kids will love.It just browning ground chuck or even soy crumbles in a skillet and adding sauce and pasta.There are recipes out there where you can make your own from scratch. They're slightly more labor intensive and if you have the energy go for it. If not then make the real deal.There are so many different types that you can make with chicken , beef or  tuna. Srve with a nice veggie loaded salad and you have a good weekday meal. Another quick dinner is pasta with jarred sauce. Yes, it's not as good as the homemade kind  but homemade sauce is labor intensive. It's easier and quicker just to unscrew a lid and pour premade sauce into a sauce pan. Have it with a broccoli salad and garlic bread to round it out.

A home chef's best friend is any of the Underwood devilled meats. These are wonderful to have around because they are so versatile. My favorite easy dinner go to a ham or chicken salad on toasted croissants. It's just taking one can of either the ham or chicken and blending it  well with two tablespoons of  mayo. Add a heavy dash of tarragon for the chicken and celery seed for the ham for extra flavor. This mix also makes a great cracker topper if you're in need of instant hors d'ouevres.Underwood also makes  roast beef and liverwurst versions too as well as a corned beef  one.You can use any of them to also fill wraps. Add some chopped veggies like broccoli , tomatoes and onions along with cheese to make a quick supper . A super easy hot meal is soup. Always have a few cans on hand for those nights when just opening a can is a chore. to make this simple meal special also have some Ritz crackers or better yet, warmed crusty rolls and butter as extras.


There are days when a home cooked hot dinner is just not feasible. Rely on aids such as Hamburger helper , devilled ham or canned soup. They'll help in creating an easy but filling meal your family will love.

Blizzard Basics

Most of New York , New Jersey and even Connecticut are going through Lola, the mega blizzard of 2015. The last few days have been crazy at our local supermarkets as everyone prepares for this behemoth of a storm. Surprisingly a lot of people don't; know how to shop for one.They figure a day in eating snacks and baking slice and bake cookies but its' much more than that. Multi purpose and versatile basics need to be bought .

Bread , milk and eggs are always the three items that always go first. People tend to gravitate towards these, and they are versatile. After all these are the three ingredients needed to make French toast,- a great breakfast after an hour of shoveling. However they're all versatile on their own. Bread can be used to make sandwiches and grilled cheeses but it can also be used as a layer for strata that egg based casserole. Stale bread can be cubed and fried to make croutons .If you feel ambitious you can even make homemade stuffing with it. Eggs can be used for everything from soups to even sauces. Hard boiled eggs make a good snack and provide much needed protein to combat an unshovelled driveway. Milk again is another multiuse food. Use it for real old fashioned hot cocoa but also try it to make delicious cream soups  as well as in batters for both sweet and savory dishes. Add lemon juice to it to create buttermilk if you want buttermilk pancakes or buttermilk dressing.

Other blizzard must haves are pancake  and waffle mix, especially if you have kids.It's an instant breakfast and can feed a lot. Also there's nothing like starting off  a snowy day with fresh , homemade waffles. Pasta should already be in your pantry . Again this is a versatile staple that can be made with tomato sauce , Oriental sauces and veggies or just plain and buttered for a simple evening supper.Boullion cubes are another must. Everyone loves a good homemade soup, whether it has a beef, chicken or veggie base. There's also so much to make from a simple stock. If you're not that ambitious then get a variety of canned soups to accommodate everyone's tastes.Have the freezer stocked too (and if the blizzard knocks your electricity out, just remember it's winter. Store stuff in your car  or shed). Margarine and butter should be on the ready as is olive oil.Another should have are ingredients for stews. Stews are easy to make, and filling. They can also be reheated for two days of eating. Make dumplings for even heartier fare. Water should also be a stock up however  you ca n boil snow for drinking water if need be.Just makes sure it's fresh  fallen and white.

don't be phased by Lola. Instead be prepared foodwise for a few days indoors and away from the supermarket.Yoiu can get through this, well fed with good , homemade and nutritious food.