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Even college students who revel in their independence need a little parental nurturing now and then. How are you going to show them that you're thinking of them?

Send them a care package.

A number of companies have made it their business to help parents with that chore by assembling and shipping boxes of snack foods, useful supplies and the occasional oddball toy or gift. There's a fledgling market for such offerings: Since introducing its line of college care packages in 2003, Beyond Bookmarks, in Boerne, Texas, has seen its business grow from 165 shipments annually to 3,800. Another newcomer, Box-o-Box, started by a pair of recent University of Massachusetts graduates, sold 45,000 packages in 2006-07, its first academic year.

But can a care package put together by a mail-order house still have that homey touch? To find out, we bought four and let a group of student leaders from Florida Atlantic University's Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter, Fla., be the judges.

The packages got mixed reviews. In general, the more esoteric or "grown-up" the offering, the more our students were likely to give it a failing grade. The Back to School: Dorm Room Essentials package from igourmet.com, with such highbrow culinary delights as Spanish Serrano ham and a jar of peppers stuffed with feta cheese, was greeted with "yucks" from the crowd. Well Baskets' Healthy College Student Care Package, with such "treats" as dried vegetables, was similarly nixed.

Also given high marks were clever nonedible items such as Box-o-Box's Cool Dorm Stuff package, which included a deck of playing cards and a Venus Fly Trap kit.

Still, nothing could match Beyond Bookmarks' Hip Kits — specifically, The Stuff Box ($39.99), the students' pick for Best Overall and Best Value. By combining toys (a Koosh ball, bubbles) with familiar foods (peanut-butter crackers, Skittles), the package provided the right sort of study-break relief.

How we shopped: Aside from doing a general search for "college care packages," we found many offerings at gourmet retailers.

Cool Dorm Stuff package

boxobox.com; 1-800-730-0223

$49.99; standard shipping cost: $8

The good: A pleasantly quirky mix of items, from a Venus Fly Trap kit to a package of ramen noodles.

The bad: Not enough food to please our hungry testers. In addition to those noodles, the package includes bags of popcorn, a box of macaroni-and-cheese mix and a few candy items. A spokesman noted that other packages — notably, the aptly named Pig Out — are more food-oriented.

The Stuff Box

(Rated best overall and best value)

hipkits.com; 1-877-447-5487

$39.99; standard shipping: $8.53

The good: The perfect mix of edible and nonedible items, from Pringles chips to a plastic gavel. The silly packaging — one student said the box reminded him of a McDonald's Happy Meal — was a big hit.

The bad: The edible items, mostly brand-name snack foods, aren't the most healthful choices around. But many of the students seemed to prefer them for that very reason. The company does offer boxes with nutritious options.

Healthy College Student Care Package

wellbaskets.com; 1-800-582-6164

$65; standard shipping cost: $8.50

The good: Well, it's healthy — or, at least, the items don't include much vending-machine fare. Our panel liked the granola and a cocoa mix.

The bad: Even health-minded college kids aren't likely to get too excited about broccoli soup — or dried vegetables ("that's downright weird," one tester said). The handle of the basket arrived broken. A company spokeswoman said the packages are liked by those seeking a junk-food alternative.

Back to School: Dorm Room Essentials package

igourmet.com; 1-877-446-8763

$39.99; shipping (with dry ice): $13.78

The good: With such items as high-end cheese (extra-aged Gouda, anyone?) and feta-stuffed peppers, the package might work for a culinary student or college-age foodie.

The bad: Our testers turned up their noses at most of the offerings (and the package contains a mere seven items). And even we found the Spanish serrano ham to be unappealing.