Going to college means spreading your wings, making new friends and trying new experiences. If you have celiac disease, your sensitivity to the plant storage proteins known as gluten, can pose a challenge in campus dining halls and area restaurants. At a time when you most want to fit in with the crowd, you may feel that your dietary restrictions make you stand out. With a little planning, however, you can safely choose gluten-free foods in any venue.
The Basics
Once you have celiac disease, your body will identify the gliadin protein in wheat, hordein in barley and secalin in rye as foreign bodies and launch an attack. Repeated attacks damage the villi, or small finger-like projections on the inner lining of your small intestines. The villi lose their ability to absorb vital nutrients from food, and you can become malnourished. A gluten-free diet is the only proven treatment for celiac disease.
Gluten-Free Foods
The next time you go through the cafeteria line or read a menu, remember that four of the five major food groups are naturally gluten-free. You can safely ingest unprocessed forms of dairy products, fruits, vegetables and meat/meat alternatives. Choose fresh produce when possible and select meat, fish and poultry dishes that are free from breading or sauces that may contain gluten. It's safe to eat brown or white rice, potatoes, yams, tapioca and quinoa. You can also select gluten-free pasta, cereals, breads and other baked goods made with gluten-free flours, such as cornmeal, rice or nut flours.
Forbidden Foods
Even a small amount of gluten can lead to an autoimmune response, so avoid breads, cereals, pasta and baked goods made with wheat, rye or barley. Ask the food service manager at your dining hall or your server in a restaurant to verify that soups, lunch meats, imitation meat or imitation seafood are free from gluten. Be cautious when using condiments that may contain gluten, such as malt vinegar, gravies, salad dressings and soy sauce.
Tips
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness publishes an extensive online listing of gluten-free markets, stores and restaurants to make your shopping and dining experiences easier. Restaurant managers are becoming increasingly aware of the number of people with celiac disease, and some now use symbols on their menus or self-serve food tables to indicate foods that are gluten-free. You can shop in a health food store for gluten-free foods for your college pantry, or look for the gluten-free section of the local supermarket.
Member Comments