Applying to college is not an easy process, one that is made slightly more complex if you have Celiac Disease. When you are choosing a university, you aren’t just looking at academics: you have to examine each school holistically, from the social scene to the surrounding environment and so much more. For someone with Celiac Disease, the food offered by the school is a huge factor to consider. In most cases, students will spend at least a year eating food provided by the school in the dining halls, meaning it is important that there are Celiac-safe options. While every school accommodates to students’ food allergies, the degree to which they do so and the variety of options offered vary greatly. As a college student with Celiac who has been through this process, I’m here to help guide you through this process with some tips and recommendations to make it just a bit more manageable.
Okay, I’m ready to look at schools, what do I do first?
The first thing I did was some quick Google searches. Personally, I made a list of colleges that I was interested in regardless of their food options, and then researched what they offered. I simply typed in “[college name] + gluten-free”. Usually, the school’s dining webpage appeared and I was able to poke around and see if they had online resources or a list of on-campus eateries providing safe options. Some schools generated a great deal of results, since they had dining programs that were known to have excellent gluten-free options (ex: Boston University!) Others were dead-ends, where I couldn’t find a ton of information online about the safety of the gluten-free options provided. I found that doing this research helped me understand which schools would stand out when it came to GF food and which would provide simply average accommodations.
It’s time to tour…and time to ask questions!
Personally, I was within driving distance of all the schools I looked at and decided to go to a LOT of information sessions and go on a ton of tours. Against my will, my mom would often ask in front of the group about what kind of gluten-free options the dining halls offered for gluten-free students. At the time, I was still often embarrassed about my needs. Looking back, I am SO grateful that my mom was willing to ask these questions for me, because it was so important. Sometimes the tour guides didn’t know a ton of information about the subject, but were always willing to provide us with a name or number where we could find out more. Sometimes, they were aware of the allergen-free stations on campus, and it was nice to learn about them from a student. So if you get the chance to go visit a school in person, make sure you ASK QUESTIONS!! Talk to people while you’re there – it helps a lot.
Time to get serious – contact the on-campus dietician!
Something I learned very early on in this process is that most universities have on-campus dietitians who act as a bridge between the dining services and the students. Usually, their emails and contact information is listed on the school’s website, and this can be a great resource for learning more about the school’s gluten-free options. Personally, I didn’t talk to my school’s dietician until after I had chosen my college. Looking back though, I wish I had spoken to her prior so that I could have had a better understanding of my options before I made my choice. It wouldn’t have changed my decision, but I think it would have been wiser to have those conversations at an earlier point in the process.
When I contacted the dietician at my school, we set up a phone call to go over the options at my school. If you are able to do this, it’s important to come prepared with your questions. Some important questions to ask:
- What gluten-free options are offered by the school’s dining services?
- Does every dining hall on campus have gluten-free options, or just a select few?
- Do the dining halls have separate toasters for gluten-free students?
- Are there self-service gluten-free stations? (such as a fridge/freezer where bread, muffins, meals etc. are kept for GF students – this is common at many schools)
- Is the GF food prepared separately from the rest of the food in the dining hall?
- Are there many off-campus options for GF students?
- Is there a large population of GF students on campus?
When you have this call, it might also be beneficial to request that the head chef or head of dining is present. They are often willing to talk to students, and they can provide you with a better understanding of what goes on in the kitchen.
I don’t feel safe eating in a dining hall…
This is completely understandable. As someone with Celiac Disease, I have been accidentally glutened by well-meaning people plenty of times, and I understand the fear. Another option for students is ensuring that your housing has a kitchen inside of it so that you can prepare your own food. The best way to get special housing accommodations is to register with the disability center at a school. Celiac Disease is considered a disability, and you simply need to fill out a few forms with a note from your doctor stating that you require a kitchen in order to prepare your own food safely. Once you are registered with the disability center, you will usually work with them and your school’s housing office to make arrangements that include a kitchen. This is something you can ask about during the application process if it is an option that you are considering.
Okay, what’s next?
Next, you have to apply and pick! That makes it sound a lot easier than it is, but seriously, this is about choosing the school that is right for you in all aspects. Food is a huge part of your life, and that’s why you have to do this research before choosing a school. But it’s also not your whole life, and you want to find a school that also interests you academically and socially. It’s a hard balance, but my biggest tip is to weigh the pros and cons of the school. In my experience, the school I chose didn’t have the greatest food options of all of the ones I applied to. But it made sense financially and was where I wanted to go academically, and I knew going in that I would only be eating in the dining halls for the first year, since almost every sophomore had an on-campus apartment with a kitchen. I decided this was worth it, but I wouldn’t have been able to weigh these pros and cons had I not done the research prior. Even though it will be added work during an already stressful time, it will be worth it when you can confidently choose a school that you know will keep you safe.
I know this is a lot of information, and as a 16/17/18-year old, its overwhelming. I’m always here to answer questions and provide information. Please don’t hesitate to email me (celiactivist@gmail.com) or DM me on Instagram to chat. Just remember – you’re not alone!
