Moving away from home for the first time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking in general. Having to figure out classes, homework, and meet new people is already enough to deal with. College is a time to explore, figure out what you want to do for a career, and have fun. However, for those of us with allergies, college requires situations that may be more stressful. In this post I am going to talk about looking at schools, dining halls, and having fun without letting your allergies get in the way.
What should I look for when looking at/choosing a college?
First, make sure it is a fit for you. This means the right size and the right community feel. The best piece of advice that I received was if you can see yourself walking around the campus when you visit, then you know that you will be happy.
Second, in terms of your food allergy, make sure that there is a disability services department. The help they offer may differ from school to school but in general they help you figure out what accommodations you may need. This can include housing accommodations, food accommodations, and classroom accommodations.
Third, some schools have amazing allergy practices in the dining halls with detailed labels of all the food being served. If you have the option, eat in the dining hall and see if you feel comfortable with the schools procedures and practices. Additionally, you can check out the following link from Food Allergy Research and Education which is a database on over 1,000 colleges in the US and their allergy practices- link here.
How do I navigate dining halls with food allergies?
Dining halls are central to the college experience. It is where you can meet and see lots of people all at once. You bond with friends over meals for hours on end. However, it can be stressful for people with allergies. Even though sometimes there is something I can’t eat, I can always find something safe for me to eat.
Before I get into the specifics, I just want to state that my experience in my dining hall will be different from other schools. That being said, there are some general points that I hope will be helpful for those going to college!
Many dining halls will have different stations that are related to different types of food. Knowing what foods are safe for you to eat and which types of food are not can help relieve some stress. Additionally, knowing that you can always make a salad or sandwich if there is absolutely nothing else to eat helps as well! Additionally, sometimes disability services will help you speak to the head chef at the school so you can understand what is available for you to eat. Some schools also have a special allergy friendly station with top 8 free options that are cooked with separate equipment than the other stations.
All in all, take a deep breath and know that there is always something for you to eat at a dining hall!
How do I navigate housing with food allergies?
College housing is another crucial part of the college experience. You meet so many new people, you learn how to live with someone else if you have a roommate(s), and more. Normally people take to social media to find a roommate(s) and or are assigned a random roommate. However, for those with allergies, it is a little harder since we have to find roommate(s) who are respectful of our allergies.
I went back and forth between living with another person and trying to get a single. I even made a whole spreadsheet outlining the pros and cons. Even though living with another person had many pros, I was just too worried about who my roommate would be. I learned that I could live in a single and possible with a sink. That option just seemed to be less stressful for me.
In no way am I saying that having roommates is better or that being in a single room is better, I am just saying think about your options and what would work best for you. For me that happened to be a single room but that could look differently for others.
How can I still have fun/enjoy college even with allergies?
As I have mentioned, college is a truly transformative experience so having an allergy should not stop you from exploring and having fun. Here are my tips:
- Tell all your friends/coaches/partners about your allergy. The more people who know, the more people who can help if there is an emergency.
- Teach your friends/coaches/partners how to use an epi-pen (even if they already know how).
- Take your epi-pen with you everywhere! This seems so simple but making sure you carry it everywhere is very important.
- Develop a relationship with the different offices and departments that can help. (ie. Disability Services, Dining Services, Housing and Residential Life, Health Center)
- Take caution when going out in terms of what you eat.
- Get out and explore the surrounding area- not every outing has to involve food. It is also ok to not eat at a restaurant and just go for the fun.
- Know that you are NEVER alone- there are others at your school who also have allergies!
