One of the simplest but most memorable things my mom did for me while I was in college was send a college care package. The radiant box of Little Debbie snack cakes I received during finals week instantly made my day and prepared me for the long nights of studying ahead. Suffice it to say, if you know a college student, you should send them a care package! The best part about sending a college care package is that there’s no wrong time to send it: beginning of the year, during finals week, or just a random Tuesday, you can’t go wrong. Fill any college care package you send out with these delicious and energizing products we’ve pulled from our rankings!
- Jin Ramen Mild Korean Style Instant Noodles
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We’re all familiar with the cheap and classic college student staple, Maruchan ramen. And while Maruchan is perfect for college students to buy for themselves when they’re on a budget, the whole point of a college care package is to get things for a student that they might not get for themself. Jin Ramen is the perfect upgrade. The noodles are bouncy, tender, and perfectly chewy, and have a spectacular broth to boot. We promise the college student in your life will be grateful for these.
Read the full ranking of the best instant noodles
- Annie’s Rich & Creamy Classic Cheddar Mac and Cheese Cups
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The microwave is the best (and often only) kitchen appliance a college student has at their disposal. so be sure to fill your next college care package with Annie’s Rich & Creamy Classic Cheddar Mac and Cheese Cups. Annie’s mac is shockingly creamy for something not made on a stovetop, and it’s a good, filling snack to get a student through to their next dining hall visit. The best thing you can give the college student in your life is a home cooked meal, but the next best thing is Annie’s mac and cheese.
Read the full ranking of the best microwavable mac and cheese
- Old Trapper Old Fashioned Beef Jerky
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Finding solid sources of protein in a college dorm room can be difficult which makes beef jerky an excellent addition to any college care package. Whether they’re running from class to class without any breaks or they need some fuel to stay up all night studying, a bag of beef jerky will be a lifesaver. Again, a college care package should be filled with the very best, so grab a few bags of Old Trapper to fill your box. Its glistening chunks of meat are smoky, salty, and sweet, and the texture is great, too. As Sporked contributor Danny Palumbo said, “It’s chewy, but not so tough that it feels like you’re nibbling on an end table.”
Read the full ranking of the best beef jerky
- Starburst Flavored Fruit by the Foot
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Throwing candy into a college care package would be unethical, but throwing candy flavored Fruit by the Foot is just a genius move. According to Sporked senior writer Jordan Myrick, Starburst Flavored Fruit by the Foot tastes exactly like Starburst, but it’s a fruit snack so, you know, it’s not exactly candy. It’s a middle school lunchbox throwback college students will love when they’re being faced with the trials and tribulations of their newfound adulthood.
Read the full ranking of the best fruit roll-ups and fruit strips
- Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut Almond Granola Bars
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Famous last words uttered by every college freshman: “I got up at 6 a.m. for school every day, so surely I can handle a full schedule of classes that start at 8 a.m. every day.” A quick and even semi-healthy breakfast in a rush is a true lifesaver for students filled with regret and longing for their warm soft bed, so fill your college care package accordingly. Thankfully,Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut Almond granola bars are a perfect breakfast in a pinch—sweet, salty, filling, and packed with nuts for energy.
Read the full ranking of the best granola bars
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!