Food allergies in college
Posted on February 26th, 2010 by alison
I went to college with no dietary restrictions. I ate in the dining hall, free to choose whatever I wanted. There is enough to think about in college without having to worry about food allergies. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for young adults today who have to manage their diets in addition to everything else.
The number of teenagers with food allergies entering college is on the rise. And according to a study done by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, students with potentially life-threatening food allergies are at an increased risk for having severe reactions on college campuses. The good news is that colleges and universities are becoming better prepared with food allergy action plans, accommodations and better food choices for students.
An article is USA Today, “Colleges accommodate more students with food allergies”, highlights some of the ways students’ needs are being met.
A wonderful resource for college kids with food allergies is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Their FAAN College Network has a great list of Frequently Asked Questions for young adults entering college, and a database search of colleges and their “Food Allergy Approach.”
FAAN also has a website dedicated to teens with food allergies, www.FAANTeen.org.
Kids with Food Allergies has an article called Allergies and College Life with advice from a student who went through the process herself. One of her main points, which is a great one, is to plan early.
If anyone has tips for attending college with food allergies, please share them!
I would imagine a good idea would be to see if they will allow a mini-fridge and microwave in the dorm room. Having a stash of safe items in the room would be good. If there is a roommate make sure they know not to eat the gluten free stuff otherwise the student may not have anything to eat. I wouldn’t rely on the school to provide gluten free because even though they may try, there is no guarantee that the person putting it together doesn’t cross contaminate the food. My son is in 7th grade with a severe peanut allergy and although they make precautions for him they are not educated enough to make sure he is completely safe, so I always send his own food.
Lori,
You are right - many schools allow mini-fridge and microwave in special circumstances. Thanks for the tip!
Just wanted to express my appreciation for this site.
I’m 20 years old and a sophomore in college. Four days ago, I found out the culprit to my many medical issues. You guessed it - gluten intolerance!
Luckily my mother is a registered dietitian and she’s been a very helpful resource. My biggest worry is going back to school three days from now, after my spring break is over.
I’m going to have to handle all my meals by myself and in my cafeteria, even though I’m so new at this! Going to need all the help I can get!
Maria,
Good luck to you! It will definitely be a challenge, but it will get easier. Have you called the school to see what accommodations they can make for you? I am also going to email you some updated guides I have for a class I am teaching on Living Gluten-Free.
Alison