Boca Raton is home to literally hundreds of dining options from fast food to fast-casual, from family-style to fine dining. You will find your burgers, pizza, Mexican, Chinese, barbecue, sushi, salads, Mediterranean, a restaurant for every palate, and every price point. When coming to Boca Raton to visit your student or tour the campus with a prospective student, what restaurants are must-visit for dinner? Below we give you a breakdown of some of our favorites. Dining in Boca Raton, especially on weekends and during the months of November through April, are extremely crowded. Some of the restaurants take reservations either through their own website or on websites such as TripAdvisor, Yelp or Open Table.

Dinner…

• 2 Georges at the Cove: SE 3rd Ct. Dockside, an outdoor restaurant with a large selection of local seafood. A typical night includes great views of the intercostal and live music.
• Blaze Pizza: Federal Highway: Create your own pizza. This chain restaurant offers its diners the ability to customize their pizza every step of the way.
• Charm City Burger Co: E. Hillsboro Blvd. Fast Burger and Fries Joint, well-loved due to their classic take on burgers. Nothing fancy but it is delicious.
• Cheesecake Factory: Glades Road. The widespread chain restaurant is known for its cheesecake. Huge Menu, something for everyone!
• Dada: Swinton Ave (Delray Beach) Dada is an eclectic restaurant located in the oldest former home in Delray Beach, Florida. The restaurant is situated under large trees strung with lanterns and inside is a rotating selection of artwork created by local artists. The menu changes seasonally and showcases locally grown food.  Their Mojitos along with their watermelon “steak” are legendary.
• Deck 84: Atlantic Ave (Delray Beach) Situated along the Intracoastal Water, this casual dining spot features fresh seafood and several American style options. Come by car or by boat, you’ll be greeted with food and drinks with a tropical twist. Reserve an outdoor dining table for a warm, Florida breeze and waterfront views.
• Dubliner – Located in Mizner Park, this is where you should head if you are craving Irish inspired foods including their award-winning Shepherds Pie, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, House-cured corn beef. Full bar and shows all major televised sporting events. Live music and entertainment seven nights a week. Same owners as Kapow Noodle Bar and Dada which we recommend for dinner as well.
• Flashback Diner: Federal Highway. 24-hour diner serving up American diner fare with a Mediterranean flair. Known for their large pancakes and shakes.
• Gary Rack’s Farm House Kitchen: Delray Beach. Gary Rack’s Serves both Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner. They offer “clean eating” options. Their ingredients are seasonal, local and sustainably farmed and each menu item is designed to allow those ingredients to shine.
• I Heart Mac and Cheese– Looking for something a lot more casual? Check out Mac and cheese for grown-ups. About 5 minutes from campus
• Kanapai Sushi: Federal Highway. Sushi and Japanese BBQ restaurant featuring a revolving sushi bar. The sushi bar features boats that float by with fresh sushi and appetizers made by chefs in front of you. The restaurant also features a full Japanese menu and a late-night happy hour with half-price sushi.
• Kapow Noodle Bar: Plaza Real. Located in Mizner Park, Kapow makes a creative twist on classic Asian dishes. Unexpected combinations and larger than life art on the walls make for an enjoyable, hip dinner. Expect a 30 minute or more wait, this a popular spot for students and locals alike.
• Las Fajitas: N Dixie Highway. Classic Mexican Fare. Careful, the Chips and Salsa are addictive.  Las Fajitas serves up tacos, flautas, enchiladas and a wide variety of classic Mexican dishes.
• Loch Bar – Located in Mizner Park, this Raw Bar and Seafood restaurant featuring one of South Florida’s largest raw bars, a substantial whiskey menu and a wide selection of craft beers and handcrafted cocktails. Loch Bar also features live music 7 days a week!
• Louie Bossi’s – Located on E. Palmetto Park Rd. High energy restaurant serving up Italian foods including house-made pasta, wood-burning Neopolitan pizzas, Sicilian entrees and their famous house-cured salumi.
• Max’s Grille: Mizner Park. Max’s Grille has been a staple in Mizner Park for the past 20 years. American style food with a twist and amazing hand-crafted cocktails.
• M.E.A.T Taproom: Federal Highway: A hidden gem, it’s hard to find but worth the hunt. M.E.A.T taproom serves pub-style dishes. Enjoy favorites such as Beer Cheese Soup, Brisket Burgers, and homemade bread pudding. Perfect spot to relax with a craft beer and great food.
• Mississippi Sweets BBQ: Federal Highway. Southern Style BBQ Restaurant with a plethora of comfort foods.
• New York Grilled Cheese– this is what you get when you take a classic grilled cheese out of the frying pan and into a waffle press. Add in their waffle fries in many combos and this is comfort food on a different level.
• Oishii – Located right next to UPark on 20th, this hibachi restaurant also offers sushi and bento boxes.
• Rebel House: E Palmetto Park Rd. Quirky restaurant with some familiar favorites (popcorn as the appetizer!) American Fare with some unexpected Twists. Fun Restaurant with unique twists on old favorites.
• Rise Sushi – One of the more popular Asian restaurants and sushi bar, located on SW 18th Street, not that far from FAU
• Rocco’s Tacos: Military Trail. Mexican Chain restaurant. Try the tableside Guacamole, you won’t be sorry. Rocco’s has classic Mexican dishes and some new favorites to discover. Always a wait no matter what day of the week.
• Willie’s Sushi Bar & Bistro – Located at 5030 Champion Boulevard. One part of the menu is sushi and the other is a bistro menu with a little bit of everything (steak, chicken pasta)
• Yard House: Mizner Park. High-end sports bar with American fare, located in the heart of Mizner Park. A late-night bite menu is a favorite of students.
• Yokohama Sushi: Located at  9168 Glades Road. A beloved favorite of FAU students…in a new location! Cozy Japanese restaurant where sushi is chief. Large menu featuring several types of sushi. Features a late-night happy hour with half-price sushi.

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**This is an unusual and unprecedented Spring (2020) and the situation and circumstances continue to evolve daily. Please start all your planning for any event this Spring by first checking here for the updates directly from FAU**

Do you really make your graduation restaurant reservations now? The resounding answer is YES! Graduation is a time to celebrate and a celebration requires a nice meal, a nice meal needs a reserved spot! FAU holds graduation ceremonies three times per year with May being the largest ceremony, broken down by college. Spring Graduation is May 3rd and 4th. Hopefully, you have read our hotel blog and made your hotel reservations. But if you are coming up with your entire family, you may want to reserve your favorite restaurant in plenty of time, as many of the restaurants get extremely busy.

To help you out, we are listing the restaurants that take reservations, and if they require a deposit to hold the reservation (some do). Obviously not a list of all possible places but these are some of our favorites. For other restaurant recommendations, see our blog on restaurants for lunch, dinner, and brunch. We will continue to add to this list regularly as we find more information but our suggestion to make your plans early, especially for the Fall and Spring graduation weekends, is strongly advised. Make your plans early and you will have a smooth graduation celebration.

Reservations and Restaurants that are taking reservations for Graduation

• Chop’s Lobster Bar– 101 Plaza Real S, Boca Raton, FL 33432  561-395-2675
• Farmhouse Kitchen – 399 SE Mizner Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432,  561-826-2625
• Farmer’s Table– 1901 N Military Trl, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-417-5836
• Grand Lux Café– 6000 Glades Rd in Town Center Mall, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-392-2141
• J. Alexander’s Boca Raton– 1400 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-347-9875
• Madison’s New York Grille and Bar-2006 NW Executive Center Cir, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-994-0808
• Maggiano’s– 21090 St Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33433, 561-361-8244
• Mario’s Osteria – 1400 Glades Rd #210, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-239-7000
• Max’s Grille –  404 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-368-0080
• Morton’s Steakhouse – 5050 Town Center Cir, Boca Raton, FL 33486, 561-392-7724
• Ouzo Bay Greek–  201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-757-0082
• Rack’s Downtown Eatery & Tavern– 402 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-395-1662
• Ruth Chris Steakhouse– 225 NE Mizner Blvd Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-392-6746
• Seasons 52– 2300 NW Executive Center Dr, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-998-9952
• Tanzy Boca Raton – 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-922-6699
• The Capital Grille – 6000 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431, 561-368-1077
• The Melting Pot– 5455 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, FL 33487, 561-997-7472
• The Rebel House -297 E Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33432 561-353-5888
• Yard House Boca Raton– 201 Plaza Real #1201, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-417-6124

…but The Cheesecake Factory– Does not take reservations…

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Apps, The Easiest Way.

Remember when you were in college and everything was easily accessible via apps on your phone? No? Well, me either. Our kids, however, do live in this world and there are literally apps that provide things like food delivery, tutoring services, how to create a budget or the perfect bibliography. Below is a list of the apps I thought most useful.

FAU and College Studying Apps

• MyFAU gives students access to FAU resources, including campus maps, Web courses, FAU Email, the library, news, sports schedules, class schedules, emergency information, and more.
• FAU Guardian: because the first thing on my list is always my child’s safety.  With FAU Guardian, students can report a problem silently via text. It sort of empowers students to prevent assaults before they get out of hand. View crime around the FAU Campus, trigger Mobile Blue Light to send your location and call FAU PD, a toolbox that contains a flashlight, a safety timer, and the ability to send your location. The app also allows students to enter their own medical information and emergency contacts, in case of an emergency.
• Audible: College can be very busy and many students don’t have time to sit down and read a book for pleasure. Audible allows students to listen to audiobooks on the go. It has entertainment, information, and educational programming. Students can join Audible for a discounted price of $9.95 a month when they verify their student status. They will get three titles every month as well as audio-guided workouts and the opportunity to exchange an audiobook for free.
• CamScanner – as its name implies, this allows you to scan docs and save it as .jpeg or PDF. Great if you need to email or fax an important document.
• Canvas – Just like the website, students can instantly access their Canvas courses for free without having to lug around a laptop to keep up with your homework. You can see your grades, submit assignments, send and receive messages, view content, and modules, watch videos, take quizzes, and more.
• Chegg – Highly recommended. Oftentimes you can rent a book for more than half the price that a bookstore is renting it out. Students can rent, buy, and sell their books. They also offer assistance with completing homework and gives access to tutors, at a cost.
• Coursicle – Need to get into a class? Coursicle will notify you as soon as it has an open seat. $4.99 for premium per semester or free if you refer three friends.
• EasyBib by Chegg – With EasyBib Plus, students can use the plagiarism checker to find missing citations, and fix them before submitting their paper. Also, easily catch writing style and grammar errors with easy-to-understand explanations on how to improve their writing for next time. No matter what citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago etc.), EasyBib Plus will help create the right bibliography. Right now, students get a 3-day free trial of the product.
• Evernote – is a free app that takes note-taking to the next level. Students can brainstorm ideas, make to-do lists, take pictures of pages and sketches, organize everything into a notebook format, and share with others or collaborate as a group. The app even has the ability to search handwritten content; so finding your past notes is easy.
• Fandango Now – Another streaming service offering movie rentals
• Google Drive – Allows students to collaborate with other students as well as share documents, slides, sheets, and other files for class-wide projects and group study sessions. This is interchangeable with Microsoft’s OneDrive app.
• GroupMe – At some point in their college career they will have to participate in a group project, which means the fate of their grade, depends on working together. While GroupMe can’t force the group slacker, should there be one, to pull their fair share; it can facilitate easier communication. It works like a group chat, but, because you don’t have to meet up anywhere, everyone in the group saves time and money by making plans and discussing problems on their phones.
• Grammarly’s mobile keyboard is the personal editor you can take with you wherever you go. Best plagiarism checker & proofreader.
• iHomework 2 – If your student is really organized then skip this one, but I know a few that could definitely benefit from it. This free app can keep track of their assignments, deadlines, and tasks, and plan them out over a certain time period so they’re not left cramming at the last minute.
• iTunes U- if you use Apple devices, this app is a great study tool. iTunes U gives students access to text and course materials from universities across the world.
• LitCharts – is great for English majors. This free app helps understand literature. Find reviews, summaries, themes, and quotes for hundreds of titles without any in-app ads. Think of it as a portable Cliff Notes.
• Mathway – This app is great for college math. It guides students step-by-step to get the solution or check your work to see if it matches up to theirs. One of my daughter’s well-loved apps
• Offtime – This app costs $2.99 and is worth it if you’re looking to disconnect and avoid distractions in order to focus on homework, or studying. It blocks websites, apps, text messages, phone calls, and other notifications for a set period of time so you don’t get off-topic.
• OneDrive – A Microsoft app that allows students to get and share documents, photos, and other files from your Android device, computer (PC or Mac). It allows you to open and save files in Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote).
• Outlook – allows students to easily access their school email on their phone.
• PhotoMath- Another great app for college math courses. Students can take a picture of the equation and Photomath shows step-by-step directions to solve the equation.
• Quizlet – Quizlet is a free study app that allows the user to take other people’s quizzes or create their own. A user can create multiple-choice, matching, true/false, and open-ended questions and use these in various ways, such as flashcards and games. Students can share their “study sets” with others in their class and even encourage a professor to create one.
• RealCalc Scientific Calculator- Although I would never have used it, my son, economics, and business major, may find this one useful. RealCalc Scientific Calculator means students don’t have to lug around that fancy scientific calculator because this free app allows them to complete all of your computing right from your mobile device.
• Scholly – One of the fastest-growing apps after appearing on Shark Tank in 2015. This app matches students with scholarships using specific parameters and customized data. The app can even spot scams and weed out scholarships that require you to give your social security number (did we mention, don’t ever do this).
• Scribd- Scribd complies with all the important files and information to the topic a student may be searching for in one place. Students can create a library on the app and compile the notes, documents, and books that correspond to the topic of their research.
• Student Beans– Instant access to discounts, all you need your student ID.
• Wolfram/Alpha is actually a fancy search engine that can answer questions, perform computations, conduct analysis, and prepare reports. You can get help with complicated algebra and calculus equations or find chemistry, engineering, or physics formulas. This app is $2.99.

Restaurants & Entertainment Apps

• Fandango– A streaming service that offers movie rentals.
• EatStreet – online and mobile food ordering and delivery service provider
• GrubHub – Simply browse menus, pick what you want, and submit your order.  Local suggestions are great and most deliveries are around $3. They run specials if you sign up for their emails, so get that setup.
• Ibotta – is another cash back app that is simple and convenient for students. By taking a photo of your receipts and they will match items you bought to offers that are available for points on the app and give you cashback.
• Insomnia Cookies – As though being able to order and have cookies delivered until 3 am is not enough; they can also earn loyalty points when they order through the app (even if they plan to pick the cookies up). The only glitch may be that sometimes they may be short a driver, so be sure to check first if delivery is what you were hoping for.
• Instacart – For faster shopping and easier checkout, get the app and have groceries, etc. delivered from most of the same places as Shipt, but also includes CVS and Whole Foods.
• Pocket Points – I love this one. It literally incentivizes students to keep their phones out of sight during class. They just open the app, lock their phone, and earn points for the time it is off. Later they can trade the points for discounts at certain restaurants
• Postmates – Another great food-related app like UberEATS. This allows students to deliver food and goods similar to Ubereats. Postmates also has the option for students to have items such as groceries delivered from places such as Winn-Dixie and CVS.
• Shipt – Get 2 weeks free and $15 off your first order on deliveries from stores like Publix, Costco, Target, and ABC Fine Wines & Spirits. Let their shoppers do what your student doesn’t have time to.
• UConnection – A food and drink app with exclusive deals, daily specials and more from restaurants and bars
• Yelp – Always students to find the best places to eat, drink, shop, and have fun. You can also read reviews that other people have written as well as write your own review.
• Zupp (formerly Party Tutor – Allows students to explore local specials and deals for nearby restaurants, apartments, bars, and local businesses. My daughter is a big fan of this one. You can enjoy exclusive rewards at everyone’s favorite bars and restaurants; it’s just $4.99/mo. Download it on your mobile device.
• GoPuff – A convenience store delivery app. Delivery is $1.95. Order anytime; delivery is very fast.
• DoorDash – This is the same concept as UberEats.  They have an easy app that guides you through your order.  They have also launched Project Dash. This initiative helps tackle food waste and hunger in the local communities that they serve.
• Groupon: This is a great app that provides discounts for various things in the area for students to do when they are not studying or going to class. Some examples of what you can find on the app include, escape rooms, shows, fitness classes, and even nightclubs for older students.
• Many restaurants have their own rewards programs so if students go to those restaurants, they can save money. These include Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Panera, Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, Smoothie King, and Chick Fil A.
• For music, many students recommend Spotify and Pandora.

Money, Finances & Getting Around

• Venmo – I am mentioning this because I think it is so easy to use, but your students probably have it already. My kids are the ones that introduced me to it. Venmo allows students to pay each other back for anything their friends may have paid for them; their share of the electric bill, half the groceries, half the Uber ride…and so on. It is also a great app for parents to use to send their students money while they are away at college.
• Uber app (and an account) is a must. Uber allows your students to request rides easily and quickly from their phones.
• Mint – Mint is a budgeting app that helps students keep track of their finances, as well as help them understand where they can make some budget cuts of their own.
• Unidays- Unidays allows for students to easily find out which of their favorite brands or stores offers student discounts.
• Come to think of it, your students should also have the Uber app (and an account) so they never get stuck walking home late at night alone. If they prefer, they can also use Lyft which works the same way as Uber…
• Student Beans will give them discounts for food & drink, fashion, tech and mobile, health & beauty, travel, study, and more.
• Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) – If you like to online shop, but hate spending money then you may get hooked to this app. I use it more on my desktop, but you can make an account to get cashback on so many online stores! I simply look up any store and it will give me a notification if I get cash back and how much I may get back. I personally have received almost $1000 back over the last few years! It is also accepted with Amazon so if students purchase any textbooks or school supplies on Amazon then this app is highly recommended. And when you need coffee, download Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks to pay for your purchase and earn rewards.
• Lyft works the same way as Uber.

Health, Wellness & Fitness Apps

• Calm – a great source to learn to meditate, techniques for sleep, and stress reduction. (There is presently a Groupon for a discount on this app.)
• Headspace – For students who want to improve their mental health, not just maintain it, the Headspace app is the perfect place to start. They offer a ten-day trial. If nothing else, the app is a daily reminder that for ten minutes a day, we all should calm down, breathe, dislocate from any stresses and surroundings, and try to focus on how we feeling on a deeper level.
• MyFitnessPal – tracks diet and exercise to determine optimal caloric intake and nutrients for the users’ goals. Calorie charts, nutrition facts, exercise, and more.  Sponsored by UnderArmour.
• Sworkit – Personalized video workouts that are easy for students to do in their dorm. Also have the ability to choose from pre-built workouts for specific types of exercise such as strength training, yoga, and Pilates. Students can keep track of their progress as they go.
• Wholesome –  Students can find ratings for healthy recipes to make on their own depending on their living situation. They can also obtain personalized nutrition information which helps identify personal nutrition gaps and make suggestions for the best foods to eat. Perfect for students who want to make sure they are staying healthy and eating the right foods while away at college.

These apps are useful and fun too…

• Duolingo – Great app for language-learning.
• ParkByApp – An app that allows you to upload a debit or credit card and pay for metered parking. It also allows you to extend your parking time from your phone without having to revisit the meter. This app is applicable in College Town metered parking and additional metered parking on campus.
• Wag – A Dog-Walking app. Think “Uber” but for Dog services. Affordable and the walkers are all thoroughly vetted. Upon signing up, Wag will send you a free lockbox for your key to leaving for walkers. Wag offers dog-walking, dog-sitting, and dog boarding.
• Rover – This dog sitting service is great when you have class and need someone to walk your fur baby. They also hire dog walkers.
• Target – The Target (Cartwheel) app has saved me so much money. I do not need to buy anything through the app, I simply click “cartwheel offers” and it shows me every coupon that is currently available. I can save as many coupons as I want and when I am ready to go to the store and buy my products, I show them the app barcode and it takes all the coupons at once.
• It’s a wonder we ever made it through school without some of these. There are even more; fitness apps, language translators, and so on, but at the risk of overwhelming you (scroll back to Headspace if I have); I tried to keep my list to only my favorites.

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Dad’s weekend isn’t exactly official at FAU, meaning that there isn’t one specific weekend that it is called for, but some sororities and fraternities have one. The sorority I am in does not have a specific weekend exclusive for dads, but there are several weekends throughout the year that you are meant to invite your family to. Whether you have a specific Dad’s weekend or not, there are plenty of things to do when your dad comes to town that will make your time with him special.

Going to school at the FAU allows you to have endless possibilities for activities to do with your dad. For those dads looking to relive their college experience, there are floods of parents that go out during Happy Hour. It is extremely relaxed and always a good time. There is both outside and inside seating and parents can get a glimpse into the college lives of their students. My parents love it- we get to go to the bars and have some great bar food for lunch.

For those students 21 and up, I would recommend going out in Boca or, just a short drive away, the Avenue in Delray. Some of our Boca favorites include

• O’Brian’s Irish Pub: The Irish Pub that draws 21-year-olds near and far. Known for their Friday night block parties and fun drinks.
• Dubliner: Irish pub featuring live music, karaoke, and trivia nights.
• Yard House: While it is a Full restaurant, Yard house features a large bar with over 100 beers on tap.
• Black Rose Irish Pub: Both indoor and outdoor bar space featuring several TVs and live music several nights a week.
• Nipper’s Bar and Grill: Nipper is a Local Legend, one of the only local places that stay open past 2 am. Nipper’s is a casual bar that features pool tables, games, and live music.

If you decide to head to The Avenue in Delray, check out:

• Salt7: Salt7 is for the partying crowd, a live nightclub featuring DJs every Friday and Saturday night. Brunch at Salt7 is also an experience; it turns into a full-blown party with music and performers.
• Honey: Honey has a lounge area with small tables, excellent small plates, and specialty cocktails. Honey has a DJ or Live music almost every night of the week.
• Bull Bar: Somewhat of a dive bar but always a good time. Bull Bar is a local favorite featuring a good variety of beers on tap, TVs, and live music.
• Sandbar: All outdoor, oceanfront tiki bars. This bar serves up tropical drinks on its sandy patio. Live music and yard games set the tone at this casual, beachfront bar.
• The Office – another popular spot located on the Avenue. DJ

A fun thing to do with your dad if  you are 21 or older is to hit up some of the breweries; here are the top ones:

• The Funky Buddha Brewery & Lounge: Smalls plates, live music, and in-house brewed beer make for a great evening at this quirky location.
• Prosperity Brewers: One of the newer breweries calling Boca Raton home, Prosperity Brewers is located in the warehouse district. Prosperity has 8 beers on tap and features season beers throughout the year. Great Casual brewery to kick off the weekend.
• SaltWater Brewery: Located in Delray Beach, SaltWater featured a tasting bar, live music, brewery tours, and a beer garden with rotating food trucks.
• Park and Ocean – Located in Birch State Park, this restaurant, and garden have their own in-house brewery offering specialty beers. Great place to chill
• LauderAle – Located just outside Port Everglades, this is one of the first nano breweries in South Florida. Serving blondes, imperial stouts, and seasonal and special releases.
• Invasive Species –  Located in Flagler Village. Rotating drafts, outside beer garden, beer to go, and food trucks on the weekends.

My parents and I love to eat at all of the amazing restaurants in town, so when my dad comes up, we always try to eat somewhere new and different. Whether it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner we are always guaranteed a good meal, and it’s nice to have dad pay for it! There are so many great restaurants located right on the water and the area is just beautiful.

There are also tons of different nature and outdoorsy activities to do with your dad – check out our suggestions in Nature vs Nurture. Wherever you go or whatever you do, make the most of the time you have with your dad when he comes to visit you. Having your dad come spend time with you at college will make memories that you will always remember!

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Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getting by, some putting their nourishment behind paying for college and all of the expenses that go along with college; tuition, books, rent, utilities, to name a few. The USDA average monthly cost of food for a college-age student for a moderate-cost food plan, following the recommended Food plans, is $223.55.

According to Education Data, in 2018:

• Nearly 25% of high school students considered middle class indicated they were not planning to attend college because of the expense
• In 2018, an average of 45% of students experienced frequent food insecurity
• Over 50% of students from 2-year institutions and 44% of 4-year students worried about running out of food
• Nearly 50% of students could not afford balanced meals

Many students who are struggling just to keep up with the cost of college even while working and getting loans, often feel uncomfortable saying anything about struggling to maintain a balanced diet. As a college student who relied on school loans, I would often make light of this, kidding around and saying my meals consisted of ramen noodles. But knowing the importance a healthy diet plays on one’s health, sleep patterns, stress, capacity to think and be strong mentally and physically, it is not a joking manner. And students should not have to make a choice between buying textbooks and buying groceries. Fortunately, many campuses today recognize this problem and have addressed it by having Food Pantries. At most universities, it is referred to as food insecurity; basically, referring to students not having access to nutritious groceries on a regular basis.

At FAU, they have the Beyond Food Program. The Program offers non-perishable food. Students(and faculty and staff) may refer another student by using their FAU Net ID and password to log in to the Owl Central website and then they may complete the referral form. That student will be contacted within 2 business days to schedule a time to meet with a team member from Beyond Food. Students in need of emergency food assistance may visit University Village Apartments (UVA) and speak with a front desk staff member. A single one-day emergency supply will be available with information on nearby Boca Helping Hands.

If you know of a student that needs this resource, you should absolutely share this information. They are very discreet about respecting the privacy of those that are in need, whether temporarily or long-term. They will typically receive a three-day food assistance pack which they can get one time per month. Students also have the option to go to Boca Helping Hands, located two miles from FAU’s Boca Raton Campus. The Boca Helping Hands (BHH) hot lunch program is offered Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and family dinner on Thursdays, 4:30 – 6 p.m. They do need to register and it is closed all Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

And, if you are more fortunate than others, the Beyond Food Program accepts donations, both monetary and food.

For more great tips, read through our other blogs, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at haveuheard.com and share with other parents you know. New to HUH, here is how to use the site. 

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Easier Than ToGo, It Comes To the Door!

Taking time away from studying can be the difference between dinner or a bag of chips and a soda.  Sometimes it pays to turn to delivery services. Here are some of the ones we found and what they deliver and/or how they work. Delivery equals easy!

Delivery:

• Amazon – Seriously, what can’t you get from Amazon. By signing up for Amazon Prime as a student, the first 6 months are free and then there is a discounted membership fee for the next 4 years until graduation. Prime membership includes free 2-day delivery, among many other perks.
• DoorDash – More food delivery at your fingertips. Some say it is more efficient than UberEats too. Use the app or the website.
• Eat Street – Delivery and takeout options available. There are delivery fees and a minimum amount that has to be purchased for certain restaurants. They offer features to filter your restaurant results such as order ahead, restaurant-rewards, specials, fast delivery, or try something new – all on the website.
• Eat24– is actually powered by GrubHub. It is super easy to navigate, you type your address in the search they will show you restaurants currently delivering to your area, as well as places that offer pick up. There can be a minimum amount spent, depending on the restaurant. Just enter your address into the website or app and before you know it you’ll have dinner.
• GrubHub – Sign up for their emails and get $7 off your first order of $15+. As well, for each friend you get to sign up you get $7.
• Instacart – For faster shopping and easier checkout, get the app and have groceries, etc. delivered from most of the same places as Shipt, but also includes CVS and Whole Foods.
• Just Baked -This Cookie and Candy shop lets you create the cookie of your dreams. With several options on the menu and additions that can make it your own. The best part is that they deliver to FAU.
• Krave Kitchen– Specific to Boca Raton, Krave Kitchen delivers vegan meals ready to go. All your student has to do is heat it up.
• Postmates – Another app that delivers food, drinks, and groceries. You can choose delivery or pickup. Check their daily deals from your favorite restaurants.
• Seamless – Online ordering and Delivery from your favorite local eateries and chains, powered by GrubHub. Users can earn rewards and coupons for their favorite restaurants.
• Shipt – Get 2 weeks free and $15 off your first order on deliveries from stores like Publix, Costco, Target, and ABC Fine Wines & Spirits. Let their shoppers do what your student doesn’t have time to.
• Uber Eats – The same concept as Uber, but they deliver food. You can track, via the app, when the restaurant is preparing food; your driver is picking up and when they are in route to you. The fee may be a little pricier than most delivery places.

Particularly when they have been studying for hours on end or they aren’t feeling well; it’s good to know that food can be delivered right to their dorm or apartment. My favorite delivery option is probably chicken soup from the Hillel. Just call and give them the name of your sick student and a quart will be delivered, usually within a few hours.

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