It sounds so dramatic and ominous, but this is our last week as a family as we prepare to send our beautiful and intelligent daughter off to college. Going to college is an incredible experience, and we are confident she will have a blast and do well.
The darker side of me will worry about her well-being, especially how well she will eat, given that she is not skilled in the kitchen. Honestly, she can only boil noodles and bake cakes, which might be enough to sustain her for a few weeks.
I wonder if I should invest in a small Traeger grill, so she can continue to eat well while at college!? That’s the least I can do to support her diet.
Viking Heart Warrior
I’m seriously considering creating a new section on my site for college meals and dinners, hoping to help her impress her new friends and eat healthier while away.
We could invest in the college food plan, but having seen school lunches during elementary, middle, and high schools, it would be an unhealthy option. Easy. But damn unhealthy.
A local county fair
Since moving to the US in July 2011, we have visited a semi-local county fair in New Jersey every year. The only year we missed was 2020, when the fecking COVID plaque ravaged the globe shutting down everything.
This year we celebrate our 10th anniversary at the fairgrounds. But, of course, it would’ve been 11 years if it wasn’t for COVID.
I’m sure there are many great county fairs around and closer to where we live, but for this reason, this county fair stole our hearts, and we go back every year.
Our oldest daughter competed at the fair with her horseback riding team, so we spent most of the weekends walking around the fairgrounds.
There’s something special about walking around large barns with cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits on a sweltering hot summer day, being greeted with the hard-hitting smells of manure. The moist air carries the fumes well, and we never know what we step in. But we love it and go back every year.
After the animal section, we stroll through all the stalls of crafts and food, buying delicious items while being tempted to purchase rustic designs, cowboy hats, sheds, or a tractor.
The avenues are filled with people and food trucks. You can get anything you want, as long as you are ok with it being deep fried and pumped full of artificial colors and flavors.
I’ve always felt bad for the farm animals as most foods served contains beef, pork, or chicken, from a large selection of BBQ joints.
Lastly, we tour the actual fair with all the rides and places where you can win large plush animals for “just” $5, although I know that they are tricking us, and we end up spending more money trying to win than the plush toy cost to manufacture in China.
Supporting the Panthers
We are so excited for our daughter as she (we) prepares for the next step in her life. Imagine leaving the safety of home for a chance to live in a dorm with other young women looking to explore higher education and parties.
We will be supporting the might panthers at Florida Institute of Technology as she is preparing for life after dad’s food and mum’s undevoted love. Something tells me she will be tempted with parties and new friendships and hopefully be less homesick.
The FIT was around 1958 when it was known as Brevard Engineering College. It started as an idea in the mind of Jerome P. Keuper, a visionary physicist working at Cape Canaveral (now NASA – Kennedy Space Center). It sounds and feels like a beautiful university that thoroughly supports STEM programs and encourages learning in a safe environment.
a father’s worries
I am scared that something will happen to her and that I cannot be there to help her quickly.
We are a tight-knit family that has spent every day and minute together since we moved to the US. There are no relatives in the US, so we have always relied on our little family to stay safe.
Sending your child off to college comes with a shitload of anxiety, and it can be hard to realize that your daughter is ready to stand on her own two feet. Especially as we have witnessed her less convincing moments when trying to make dinner, do laundry, and manage school work.
But, she did amazing in high school and has developed a strong mindset. She will do great things in the future, and we are very proud of the woman she has become.
It will be interesting to see how quickly boys can run once they see my battle axe.
Viking Heart Warrior
A Daughter’s Wishes
This week’s meal plan will be less organized and planned than previous weeks. It is based on my daughter’s neverending challenges with making decisions when she constantly asks, “What is for dinner, dad?”
I have attempted to list the lunches and dinners that I think she wants, but I feel that it may change rapidly throughout the day and week.
She will decide what we eat this week since she’s officially moving out Saturday morning.
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Bagels with eggs and sliced tomatoes | Burgers with cheese, tomato, and bacon |
| Tuesday | Roastbeef, lettuce, cheese, and mustard sandwich | Simple Salad Galore |
| Wednesday | Mozerella and pesto sandwich | Jalapeno Poppers, steak, and summer salad |
| Thursday | Dumplings with soy and sesame sauce | Spaghetti and meat sauce |
| Friday | Caesar salad with grilled chicken | Burnet pork ends with cornbread, wings, and shrimp on the BBQ. |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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