Family Kids

How to Put Together a College Get-Well & Stay-Well Care Package

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College Care Package

No doubt is is hard to when your child packs up and heads off to college.  After unloading the car, helping set up the dorm room, meeting the roommate, and a few floor mates – the time eventually comes – no matter how long you stall- to say good-bye! That is a totally hard moment. Exciting, but hard.

But harder yet? The day my child called crying that her throat is so sore she cannot swallow, that her head hurts so bad she cannot think, and that she thinks she has a fever but isn’t sure how high. The first time I got a phone call like that, I felt so helpless! With my daughter away at college 3,000 miles away – there was not a lot that I could do at that moment other than offer comforting words and advice over the telephone.

Well, I learned to be ready!  I have sent four kids off to college so far, and now I pack up a Stay-Well & Get-Well care package that contains many products that help them not only get-well but stay-well. And while I cannot be there to make them fresh chicken noodle soup – I can send along a package of ready to make chicken noodle soup that they can easily put together. This along with a fun mug, pair of cozy socks, and CD of some of my feel good songs is meant to help them feel the extra love of momma’s touch. I just put together two boxes for my two girls that are in college right now.

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One reason that my kids have really appreciated these packages is because they don’t want to spend their money on medicine cabinet products. The cost for a college student can really add up! But I trust Pfizer products, and when I shop at Walmart I know I can get a good deal.

What I include in my College Get-Well & Stay-Well Care Package:

  • Chicken Noodle Soup – Recipe below
  • Colorful mug
  • Warm and Cozy Socks
  • Small Candle
  • CD of Feel Good Songs
  • Centrum MultiGummy:
    • 100% daily value or more of Vitamins D, B12, and E
    • Gluten-free
    • Contains no wheat,milk, soy, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish or shellfish
    • Supports energy, immunity, and metabolism
    • A multi-benefit gummy multivitamin
  • Emergen-C:
    • More Healthy Days, More Healthy Nights
    • “Let Your Healthy Out”
    • With over 20 varieties of vitamin supplement drink mixes, Emergen-C offers the formula, flavor, fix, and FUN you’re looking for!
  • Advil Liqui-Gels:
    • Use as directed.
    • Nothing’s faster on tough pain (among OTC pain relievers)
      • muscle ache
      • headache
      • joint pain
    • Advanced liquid fast relief

As much as we all want to stay healthy – it seems inevitable that we will get sick. But for college students so far away from home – dealing with the stresses of studying and figuring out a lot on their own – it can be double hard to deal with. I hate that I cannot be right there with my child when he or she gets sick – but I can send my love and a Get-Well & Stay-Well care package.

Chicken Soup in a Jar

Chicken Soup in a Jar

Because I mail these – I like to re-use plastic peanut butter jars that I have cleaned and saved. This means my homemade soup for my kids can come in differing sizes. They love the extra pasta of the large jars. Depending on the size on hand – you can add less or more pasta as needed to fill the jar.

Ingredients

 

Layered in the jar starting with the first ingredients and ending with the bay leaf on top.

  • ¼ cup of red lentils
  • 2 tbsp. dried onion flakes
  • 1½ tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
  • ½ tsp. dried dill seed
  • 1/8 tsp celery flakes
  • 1/8 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • approximately 1 cup medium egg noodles
  • 1 bay leaf.

Directions for a Dorm Room – Be sure to attach

  • Empty the soup jar mix into the bottom of a large ceramic or glass bowl
  • Add six cups of water
  • Microwave on high, 5 minutes at a time, until pasta is done and beans are tender ( approximately 25 minutes).
  • Stir after each five minute interval
  • Discard bay leaf
  • If available add in cooked diced chicken – heat throughly.

soup in a jar directions

With one stop shopping at Walmart I can get everything I need for the soup and the Get-well & Stay-Well package including the mug and socks.

Get-Well PackageNow I have two packages ready to ship! I’ve shared my ideas about what to include in an “Get-Well & Stay-Well College Care” package, I’d love to hear about yours! Please leave a comment to let me know what you would include in your kit!

How to put together a Get-Well & Stay-Well College Care Package

(59) Comments

  1. […] out what Positively Stacy included in her College Get-Well & Stay-Well Care Package here or find out how to make your own DIY first aid kit with Dollar Store items […]

  2. Do you think the soup could be microwaved while in a glass jar?

    1. Stacey says:

      No, glass jars get super hot in the microwave! There are microwavable glass containers, but the standard mason jars get too hot. Especially for that amount of time that this soup needs to cook for.

  3. Lovely idea! Just so you know, your photo is of dry red beans which are not the same as red lentils and require quite a bit of soaking and boiling to remove toxins:-/

    1. Stacey says:

      Ah Susan, you are right! I will need to swap that photo out. Although, my daughter did make the soup when she was sick at school and it cooked up fine. But yes, the smaller lentils do cook up much faster!

  4. This is probably the best care package I have ever seen. Soup is so healing and sending a soup mix like this is a great idea.

    1. Stacey says:

      Ah, thanks! I really helps them out when they are not feeling well!

  5. Lots of great ideas. I am sure it would make your young adult feel better with something that your delivered to them.

    1. Stacey says:

      They are always happy to get a care-package!

  6. This is such a great idea! My sister- in-law is currently in college so I could totally do this for her!

    1. Stacey says:

      Oh yes, she would be so appreciative!

  7. This is a great gift for anyone we love. It’s so important to take care of ourselves.

    1. Stacey says:

      Yes! We need to take care of ourselves and protect our health.

  8. I love your idea of sending a care package with get well items. Thanks for prompting me to buy chapstick, it will be snowing soon where my kids go to school.

    1. Stacey says:

      Even though we live in California – three of my kids have headed off to school in places that snow. There are so many little essentials that they need that I had never really thought about.

  9. I used to love getting care packages when I was in college from my mom. The ones that had medicine and all of the things that cost alot of money were the best since I didn’t have to buy them! 😉

    1. Stacey says:

      That is exactly they way my kids think! College kids really do not want to spend what little money they have on non-fun items.

  10. The soup in a jar is such a clever idea! I love it! specially since it is like having mom near to cook! Great post!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks! It’s fun to put together and while it is not mom’s homemade soup – it does help!

  11. My daughter is a few years away from college but I collect information like this so I can be prepared way ahead of time! And I love the soup recipe! What a nice touch!

    1. Stacey says:

      Natasha, the time will fly by so fast! That is great that you are tucking away ideas now.

  12. Aw I love the jar recipes you sent! How smart!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks, Jaclyn!

  13. This is perfect! My niece just went off to college and I’ve been trying to decide what to get for her in a care package.

    1. Stacey says:

      Oh – she would love this! It is so helpful to help them stay healthy! Add a few sweet treats – cause who don’t like that and you are set!

  14. What a great idea for a care package, I love the soup in a jar! I would have loved to receive this care package back in college, especially the Advil!

    1. Stacey says:

      Yes! I went through a lot of advil in college :S

  15. This is such an awesome idea for college freshman! When I lived away from home for the first time, I was completely hopeless the first time I was sick and not living with my mom!

    1. Stacey says:

      I was totally helpless my first time sick too! And then my kids called sick – it is so hard not to be right there to take care of them. This is the next best thing!

  16. This is a really loving and thoughtful idea; you’re right, cold and flu supplies are expensive, and I would guess that “kids” don’t necessarily pay attention to all of the stuff that Mom has on hand from when they’ve been sick. I LOVE the soup kit. totally brilliant!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks! Yes, they don’t want to spend their limit funds on this – but then they know how much it helps.

  17. Susan says:

    My oldest “baby” is at college and called two weeks ago because she was ill with a terrible cold, so I know what you’re talking about. I love how you added homemade soup that can be made in a dorm room.

    1. Stacey says:

      Oh – I hope she is feeling better! It does happen!

  18. Debra says:

    I would have loved a package like this when I was in college. So thoughtful!

    1. Stacey says:

      Me too! I really could have used it when I was sick!

  19. The vitamins and emergen-c are perfect! I know I needed that all the time in college, but didn’t have the energy to get some when I was feeling ill!

    1. Stacey says:

      Mar, you are so right! The minute you feel sick is the minute you do not want to head out and get stuff!

  20. oh my you are so nice. I would have LOVED to receive this in college – when you are sick at school – especially in college – it was the worst – this is a sweet package to receive.

    1. Stacey says:

      I agree – getting sick in college is rough. No matter how old I am I need my mom when life gets tough!

  21. I wish someone sent me this box when I was in college, especially the chicken soup in the jar, so clever.

    1. Stacey says:

      It’s not quite mom’s homemade – but it helps a little bit.

  22. What a wonderful package to send and rec’v! Perfect timing for cold and flu season

    1. Stacey says:

      It is true – cold and flu season is upon us. Here is to sending healthy vibes out to everyone!

  23. Great ideas — I love those EmergenC packs and they are perfect for someone in a dorm!

    1. Stacey says:

      Really! Anything to help them stay healthy! It’s hard in the close quarters of a dorm.

  24. Aw you are the cutest mum ever sending her a stay well care box complete with soup!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks, Ana. It’s hard when they are so far away!

  25. What a fantastic idea, I would love to receive one of these myself, so well thought out. x

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks, Sarah. I know my kids all really like the Emergen-C!

  26. That’s a really great idea for any college student!

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks, Kelly! It really comes in handy!

  27. Yes, I so agree that all of these things need to be in there! My mom also threw in some laundry sheets (back when Purex made those) and some junk food for late night studying!

    1. Stacey says:

      Tissue is good too! And of course all the kiddos love a sweet treat!

  28. This is such an adorable idea, any son/daughter would be filled with love to receive it.

    1. Stacey says:

      When they are feeling sick, they are even all the more appreciative!

  29. Sheila Madrieres says:

    THANK YOU !!!!!!

    1. Stacey says:

      It is sooooo hard when they get sick! This really helps.

  30. Nicole says:

    If you want to send one of these to your daughter in Nicole, I’m sure she’d really appreciate it!! And throw in some magic serum for headaches 🙂

    1. Stacey says:

      I have yours all ready to go! Plus an addition of candy 🙂 Maybe that will be the magic serum :S

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