Hello my name is Jodi and I am currently a student at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I have been gluten free for ten years and run an Instagram called @Betches_love_gf. I am so excited to be a contributing writer for Munchyy.com!
Packing up your entire room and heading to an entirely new destination to receive a higher education can be stressful for the majority of the teenage population.
New classes, new friends, new parties and…. new food?
Those without food allergies often skip out on the anxieties of going to a foreign location with unexplored restaurants and food options.
As I migrated 2,000 miles across the country to Madison, WI, here are some tips I can offer about starting college healthily and pain-free!
1. Do your research.
Search online about options at the dining hall and which stations can accommodate your dietary restrictions. In addition, research the restaurants surrounding campus as you will dining hall meals will increasingly get less and less exciting as time goes by.
2. Talk to a campus dietitian.
Get in contact with your university dietitian to grasp an understanding of how to navigate through the dining hall with restrictions. It may be easier than you think and will prevent you from that first meal stress!
3. Prepare
Bring gluten free snacks where ever you go in case there is nothing you can eat. You’ll never know if the restaurant “cannot guarantee your meal will be gluten free” after your stomach begins to rumble.
4. Plan
Think about what food you will eat throughout your day to minimize anxiety you might get trying to find food during your minimal breaks between classes. It is important to eat during this time to keep your energy up and running so you can focus on your studies! (You can even get yourself a gluten free meal plan!)
5. Have a Back-up Plan
Always have a Plan B in case your original plan does not work. Knowing where you can go for food “just in case” is always good and will make you feel more comfortable in your new setting.
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Hopefully these tips will help your start your gluten free college experience on the right foot.
Thanks for reading!
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