The Gluten Free Student

GREAT NEWS! I just stumbled upon this article posted by Koofers on Facebook about Gluten Free Students and the Gluten Free status of their respective on campus meal plans!

What an excellent resource for people with Gluten Intolerance who are entering college. If I had known I would be faced with this illness, it would have greatly influenced my college choice. But then, so many things would be different. So many lovely things. Sorry – I floated away to somewhere else.

Here’s the link to the article.

I will be reviewing my school to add to the database!

I’m laying in bed right now, at my parents house, after my very first endoscopy. What an experience!

I don’t remember a thing at all, except waking myself up with a loud belch then apologizing to the nurse saying, “That wasn’t very ladylike! I’m sorry – that wasn’t classy!” We’re having a hard time deciphering the medispeak results, but what we do know is that my stomach is red and inflamed.

That could explain why I’ve been so incredibly nauseous for the last two months….

FOODWISE: I haven’t eaten in two days. When I came home, I watched Arrested Development on Netflix – and Buster was eating a grilled cheese sandwich. The bread/cheese combination is really doing it for me right now, so I’m going to partake in one of these -

It’s a Kinnickinnik 7″ frozen pizza crust. I’m going to melt some mozzarella over mine and drift off into happy food land.

It’s about $9.00 for four pizza crusts, which is a little shockingly high. But they are pre-cooked, puff up nicely like bread in the microwave, have a delightful taste and texture, and are readily available.

My only complaint is that there is some kind of seasoning? Or sesame seed? SOMETHING small and granular that will spill onto your furniture if you aren’t careful.

Which brings me to another point – being in this happy cozy bed has convinced me: I’ve got to STOP eating in the dorm bed. I want to separate food and bed, in hopes that maybe I’ll sleep better. So, that’s my goal for next week. No more food in bed!!

That’s all for now. My esophagus sore from the procedure (it feels like a pill when it doesn’t go down right) and I have a hunger
headache, but besides that I’m okay. Here’s hoping I start feeling human soon.

This PostSecret spoke to me this morning in an unexpected way. I don’t want to get too emotional, but I do want to lightly touch on the emotional ramifications of being Gluten Intolerant.

A good friend of mine was sitting next to me in class on Friday, and for some reason the mention of “Oreos” came up. I said, “We should make them Gluten-Free Oreos so I can have some!” (Sidebar: Newman’s Own makes GREAT Gluten Free “Oreos” called, “Newman-O’s”) She told me that as soon as I suggested we make the Oreos Gluten-Free, she thought for a moment, “But then none of the rest of us could have any….”

That seems to be the subconscious mindset du jour when it comes to food allergies. Well, I’m tired of being treated like a food leper! I feel so incredibly guilty or high-maintenance when I tell someone that I can’t eat in a certain restaurant. I’m an easy going gal! I just have health problems! Its frustrating. Even in movies, and TV, the Gluten Free character is always the complicated geeky one who you roll your eyes at and think, “You’re just making things difficult!” (Sleepless in Seattle – Meg Ryan’s first fiance, Walter, is allergic to wheat. And he didn’t get the girl.)

If you’re just hopping on the Gluten Free bandwagon, the good news is that the transition will be easier than you ever expected. It’s more expensive, yes, but you have to shop wisely. We live in the perfect time to be Gluten Free, because it’s very “trendy” right now (because people are naturally masochistic, I guess) and there are cornucopias of food out there! But, be warned, people are stupid.

- No one told the Church my choir sang at about food allergies, and we showed up to Lasagna and Garlic Bread – My absolute favorite meal in the entire world, forever and always amen. I cried my eyes out. In private. Later. After munching on fruit and salad.

- I wasn’t prepared for Weddings, Parties, Communion, Holidays, or other social gatherings, like people going out for Pizza and Beer.

It can be quite alienating, and there are a whole slew of issues you can develop over something that seems trivial. Food is an integral part of who we are as human beings. We eat for so many different occasions, that it is rarely about just being hungry. So chin up! You are a wonderful, uncomplicated, human being with an allergy! Don’t let anyone roll their eyes, or think you’re a nut, or treat you differently. Your intestines will thank you, I assure you!

The Old College Go-To spot in this teeny tiny town is the Waffle House, “…where everyone knows your name!”

I can’t tell you how many times we would go to Waffle House, after studying, after partying, for no reason at all – just a few weeks ago, there was a blizzard and the only open restaurant was the Waffle House, so a
guy took me there on a date.

My old “usual” was an order of hash browns and a pecan waffle. I’d put a little pat of butter right in the middle of that waffle and enter Wheat Heaven.

I still order the hash browns, but I’ve been missing waffles. Light, fluffy, delicious waffles.

Now, Ian’s makes a waffle sandwich that I initially loved – but for some reason, when I microwave them lately they come out kind of…. goopy? It’s as though the batter doesn’t quite cook through or something.

Van’s also does Gluten Free Waffles and French Toast. They’re adequate, they’ll do the job, but I wouldn’t say I’d rave about them.

But I found microwave waffles that are magical. The first time I nuked them, I overdid it and they got a little crispy. I was surprised! Usually when you zap frozen waffles (Gluten Free or Otherwise) they come out floppier than a ladies’ hat on a hot Easter Sunday.

Nature’s Path Foods – Organic Gluten Free Waffles

I microwaved them for a minute and a half, put a pat of Smart Balance on each of them, and three slices of banana on top. YUM! Excellent comfort food after three days of dodgy digestive pain.

I found these waffles for $1.25 at Kroger on a Manager’s Special price. Nature’s Path is currently moving into a larger facility, so their products may be harder to get your hands on for a little while.

Check out their website!
www.naturespath.com

Sorry for the two-day-delay! The Internet was down in the dorm, and I was thrown into the stone age. It was a terrifying time, I assure you.

As far as what’s on the “menu” for today – I am positively raving about, “Justin’s Nut Butters” on a banana. I buy 3 or 4 of the 1.5 ounce maple almond butter packets and distribute the perfect amount onto a banana. I suppose you could put it on any fruit of your choice, but I am really partial to the banana.

http://justinsnutbutter.elsstore.com/view/category/6001-packs/

Product Name: Justin’s Nut Butter (Maple
Almond) individual packages.
Unit Price: approximately $1.00 per 1.5/oz.
Convenience: A+…. for someone always on the
go, it’s nice to have a self-contained snack that requires no utensils,
Tupperware, plates, or other preparation.

Taste: A…. I love the earthy texture, the natural ingredients, and the fact that it’s not too sticky or greasy. I didn’t love the chocolate hazelnut flavor, though. Probably because I’ve been ruined by Nutella.
Other It is both gluten and dairy free, available in many major retailers (as listed on the website) or buy online.

The con is the price-per-packet. Yes, it's cheaper to just buy a jar of the stuff, but you lose all the quickness to the snack. I would gladly
spend $4 per week on a food that I don't have to cook or clean up
after.

All this talk about it has got me craving it pretty fiercely, so I'm off to take my lunch!

Once a week my mother so generously takes me Grocery Shopping, as I am a full time student with a minimum wage part time job. On the occasion that I find myself in good financial standing, I take myself grocery shopping. It evens out, as I’ve taken on the financial responsibility of school (through loans) but I would have no idea what I would do without my parents’ support. Starve?

The thing about Grocery Shopping when you’re Gluten Free is all about product knowledge. Different stores carry different products. and many of those products are priced differently to boot.
Here’s my opinion of the Grocery Stores (Note: In the Southeastern Region).

Ingles:
- Udi’s products
- Katz’s products (some)
- Excellent selection of Thai Kitchen
- Glutino products
- Bob’s Red Mill products
-  deBoles Pasta (great selection)
- Huge variety of cake mixes, brownie mixes, etc.
- Enjoy Life Foods (YUCK, I’ll save that for a “product review” post)

Kroger:
- Ian’s products (LOVE the Waffle Sandwiches)
- Great selection of Amy’s Frozen Meals
- Julie’s Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches

Publix:
- Not really a contender. Sorry Publix.

Whole Foods:
- The Grainless Baker artesian breads
- Kinnickinnick  Donuts
- Whole Foods Market Gluten Free Bakehouse (containing a whole slew of feel good foods)

Trader Joe’s :
- Great variety of GF pasta at a low price
- Brownie and cake mixes
- Low prices on Store Brand foods that naturally do not contain gluten are delicious and extremely competitive to major chains.

Return to Eden (Atlanta):
- Canyon Bakehouse Rosemary Foccacia Bread
- Pamela’s cookies, cakes, and mixes
- Smaller Gluten-Free food companies not well known (and therefore $$$)

My suggestion to you would be to go online to your grocery stores’ websites, and see if they have a list of gluten free products they offer. Whole Foods has specific lists for your area and contains everything from face-cream to dessert that is gluten free.

Also, to save money, go to the manufacturer’s website for a lot of name brand Gluten Free substitutes or surf weekly circulars to see if something you already use is on sale that week. It takes some time to get to know your area, your grocery stores, your likes and dislikes, but once you do grocery shopping will be easier and you’ll start to feel normal again. You’ll may even pick up new favorites along the way!

Ciao!

I despise doing dishes.
Therefore, if I ever wash your dirty dinnerware for you, then I’m either in love with you, or being held at gunpoint.

What adds to my hatred of dish doing (in the dorms, at least) is the fact that I have to go down two flights of stairs, past all the folks inn the lobby (who are staring confusedly like, “Why does that girl have so many dirty dishes in a laundry basket? Where is she going with them?”) I’m going to the big industrial sink in the basement. It’s like they had the intention of putting in a full kitchen, but built a sink and called it a day. Awesome.

Last night, as my room started to smell like fresh death, I decided that I needed to do dishes. But, I have a policy: Never put on a bra just to do housework. I was in my PJ’s and not about to venture downstairs. So, I washed them all in my bathroom sink.

It’s imperative to have the following for Kitchenless Dish Washing:
- a bath towel for the counter
- a soap filled dish wand
- a scrubbing brush
- a drying rack
- dish soap
- dirty dishes

(optional)

- dish tub
- kitchen towel
- trash can

My bathroom sink has a strainer over the drain, making it really difficult to:

A) fill up the sink to soak dishes
B) rinse away large food particles (ew!)

So, I bring in a small trash can and scrape off the yucky stuff. The rest is just patience, elbow grease, and space management. For the stuff that is really stuck on good, I fill up a dish tub with hot water and soap and let it soak. It’s by no means glamorous, but it gets the job done, and I have new appreciation for dishwashers!

Hello, and Bienvenue!

My name is Allison, and I am a gluten-intolerant college student. The biggest challenge I’ve had in my college career has been related to FOOD.

College is supposed to be a time of eating like a fool! Greasy pizza and cheap beer flow freely. For a time, I too was happily consuming .89 cent burritos from Taco Bell at 2AM. In December of 2009, all that changed. I experienced a lot of adverse symptoms, and through
trial and error found that gluten was the source. I was devastated. I tried to eat gluten free in the school’s cafeteria, but my options
were extremely limited (this is rural Georgia, folks. Everything is battered, fried, and served with biscuits. Really.)

After being hospitalized for complications after eating contaminated
GF cake (not provided by the school) I was exempted from the
school’s required meal plan. At first I was ecstatic! Look at all this
money I saved, by not eating in the Caf!

Then reality set in.

I’m living in a 10×14 square that is meant to hold all of my belongings as well as foster an environment conducive to food
preparation. Here’s the scratch: I HAVE NO ACCESS TO A KITCHEN.
I have a mid-sized fridge and a microwave. No other appliances are allowed. The best sink for washing dishes is down two flights of
stairs.

It seems that organization is the name of the game (she said,
peering sidelong at the tower of dishes stacked up on the desk). I
am the antithesis of neat and tidy. C’est une problem.

Therefore, for the next 100 days (until the end of this semester) I will be blogging every day about how Gluten Free Kitchenless
Students are supposed to nourish themselves without going insane. I
will include Product Reviews, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, Notable
mentions of Gluten Free News, and other helpful tips.

This will be an interesting journey! Thanks for reading; suggestions
are greatly appreciated!

Take Care,

Allison