Gluten Free for College Students
How to be a gluten-free college student
No matter what age you are, being gluten free is an adjustment. It’s not an easy one, but it’s so worth it if that’s what your body needs. It may be especially challenging to eat gluten free through college and I know this from personal experience. I became gluten free the summer before I went to college, so I’ve learned everything there is to know about eating gluten free on campus. Here are my top five tips and recommendations:
Make sure you choose a school that you feel comfortable eating at their dining halls
When I was touring colleges, I made sure to check out the dining halls and ask their chefs if they had gluten free food. Some of the best schools that I toured had separate gluten-free sections of food to choose from. Interesting to note that one of the highest rated schools for gluten-free options is UNH!
Research restaurants and stores on or near the campus that have gluten free food you can eat
This was very helpful for me because I was able to find staple restaurants that I got food at frequently. A great way to find them is by using the Find Me Gluten Free app!!! I can’t stress this enough, it’s a HUGE help when looking for places to eat.
Once you get on campus, talk to the dining hall staff and chefs
If you feel like there are not enough options or have questions,. talk to their chefs and address your concerns. They are very open to suggestions and ideas.
If you’re going to a restaurant with no gluten free options, bring your own food
Sometimes it’s best to bring your own food so that you can still enjoy time with friends. Just let the wait staff know and they will usually provide plates and silverware to accommodate.
Have snacks on you at all times!!
I found it very helpful to bring snacks with me so that I always had something to eat. You never know when you’ll be pulling an all-nighter or need a pick-me-up.