Kitchen and Apartments (Housing Question)

<p>Hello,
I'm an incoming freshman that just got accepted to UCSC and was wondering about the kitchen situation in apartment housing at UCSC. For most of my high school life I was struggling with an eating disorder and have progressively made my way to committing myself to eating healthy and eating regularly. I do this by planning and cooking my own meals according to my own dietary restrictions and preferences. I'm afraid that once I move away for college, the new environment will disrupt this system and I'll relapse again.
Anyway, what I'm trying to find out is if there any other way for me to have access to the kitchens without paying for apartment housing? Apartments are more expense than dorms/residence halls so I may or may not be able to afford it, and I also heard that freshmen generally don't get the option of apartments (unless you're at Kresge, if I'm not mistaken). I plan on applying for Kresge college, but in the case that it doesn't happen, I'd really really appreciate it if there'd be a way for me to cook my own meals.
Also, on a slightly off-tangent note, how is the dining/food? If there's no way for me to cook my own meals in my freshman year, then it would help a lot if the food at UCSC was at least healthy/had healthy options.
Sorry if this was a lengthy and weird question haha, thanks a lot! :) </p>