A break from cafeteria food can be a welcomed treat. Send a wide variety of nutritional staples, but don't limit your options to candy and chips. Include healthy snacks that store well in the dorm or bedroom and travel easily, such as single-serving-size packages of nuts or granola bars. If your student has access to a microwave, include foods like microwavable macaroni and cheese or popcorn.
While school supplies are easily accessible on a college campus, the cost of these items adds up. Your student might not have all supplies necessary at the beginning of the year and some need consistent replacement throughout the semester. Include pens, pencils, erasers, single-subject notebooks, folders, highlighters, staples and tape.
Part of the college experience is having fun outside of class and study time. A small gift card to your daughter's favorite coffee shop or restaurant encourages her to get off campus and relax while enjoying a nice warm drink or hot meal away from the mess hall. Include a subscription to an online DVD service if your student is stuck in her room frequently. Some plans also allow students to rent DVDs and mail them back when they're done.
New shower shoes are essential to the dorm experience; no one wants to walk on that floor barefoot. Your college student might also forget that the batteries in her television remote could die at any time, so include both AA and AAA batteries. A sleep mask is a nice surprise if your child is an early bird and needs to shield light from his roommate's late-night study habits.
Over-the-counter medications for common problems such as allergies, stomachaches, headaches and heartburn are smart to keep on hand. A box of tissues or bandages are other ideas to add to the package. Your college student might not have considered these when packing for moving day.