I will be a college freshman in a week. I opted to live on campus for social interactions , but I later changed my mind after finding out I have Celiac disease. Cooking my own food is the only way ill be 100% sure that Im not consuming gluten. Having my own apartment was the only way I could make sure of that. Im going to live in the same apartment complex my older brother lived in his sophomore year, and I luckily wont have to worry about my apartment costs. Im a reasonably mature person , and I need my privacy, on the other hand im somewhat of a social butterfly and i value the company of others. I decided to join a bunch of clubs offered just for the social interaction, but im worried if its enough. I had alot of friends in highschool , but I mostly kept to myself and focused on my future. I want to go into college and meet new people , and live the “college expeirence” to the fullest , Im just unsure of if ill be able to do that under my circumstances.
Given that you have celiac disease, you absolutely made the right decision. To stay healthy, you need to be able to insure you are not exposed to gluten, so cooking for yourself and being able to avoid any cross-contamination is ideal. That is just not possible living in a dorm or eating in a dorm cafeteria… As long as you get involved in activities you enjoy while in college, you will make friends and have a regular college experience.
I would also try to form some study groups to meet people in your classes.
Unless you’ve done so already, I think you should have a discussion with the food service manager. Colleges are having to deal with students on restricted diets more and more in recent years, and going gluten-free has become a huge thing. I’d be very surprised if your needs couldn’t be accommodated in at least one of the dining halls.
You have made the right decision. Try not to second guess it. Jump in to all the other aspects of school while being certain you can care for your health needs.
@MommaJ. Your advice is excellent for some one who tries to maintain a gluten free diet - I have a moderate allergy to wheat so I effectively have a gluten free diet. Celiac disease is a whole different ball game - it goes far beyond just being gluten free like me. It is an autoimmune disease that if not properly managed can lead to the development of other autoimmune diseases. All sources of gluten must be eliminated, not just food. For example, some brands of shampoo have gluten in them that the body absorbs via the skin. So someone with celiac disease must become a master at reading labels.
Cross contamination is a huge issue that the best college food service cannot avoid. OP is smart to have a kitchen environment that he can control.
@goldensrock, actually, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has stated that gluten in shampoos is a non-issue as it cannot be absorbed through the skin. I think @Bryson96 should be at peace with his decision, but he should also know that many, many colleges are becoming more adept at handling students with celiac (my daughter being one of them). So I think there are no worries either way.
I defer to you on that as a mom with a d with celiac disease. My h had a secretary with celiac and at that time she listed shampoos as one of the many items she had to be careful about.
I’m gluten sensitive and I have several friends that are either gluten sensitive, gluten intolerant, or have celiac. At my school, they’re pretty careful about cross contamination and they specifically label things as gluten free if they are. You can also get access to a special fridge of gluten-free foods at the dining hall if you go through disability services. Most of my friends don’t have a problem eating at the dining hall, but I can see how celiac specifically can be a problem if someone in the kitchen makes a mistake or things get cross-contaminated in the buffet line. I’m also sure that not all schools are as careful as mine. I think you made the right choice.