Page 72 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

To wrap it up...
The transition to college or university is a very exciting time! When figuring out how you’ll manage your allergies, there are a lot of things to consider. But it does not need to be overwhelming because, with some preparation and research, the transition can be very manageable.
If you choose to live in residence, you’ll need to figure out whether you want a single or shared room. Having a single room can make things easier; but, if you’re living with roommates, it can work out really well as long as you tell them ahead of time and work together on some ground that everyone is on board with. Once you move into residence, you’ll want to tell your floor supervisor about your allergies. And telling others living on your floor is also a good idea.
Getting a meal plan is often possible, even if you have many allergies, because meal plans have a lot of options and cafeteria staffs are usually pretty accommodating. They have to deal with many students with a wide variety of dietary needs. If you’re visiting the school ahead of time, it’s worth taking a trip to all of the eating establishments to see what they are like. Talk to the chefs or managers at each location to see what is safe for you to eat and if you can get separate meals made if necessary. If, after researching, you do not feel that a meal plan would suit you, there are other options such as choosing a residence with a kitchenette or living in an apartment on or off campus.
While in college or university, you may choose to live in a house or apartment with others, which can be a lot of fun and a great experience. When choosing your housemates, make sure they all understand your allergies before you choose to live together. You’ll have to work together on finding ways to reduce the risk of being exposed to your allergens. You may wish to allocate cupboards so that you have your own space for your food or, alternatively, there can be one particular cupboard where your housemates can put things that contain or may contain your allergen(s). You can also offer alternatives to things you’re allergic to, or establish designated cutlery, plates and pots that are only used for certain foods.
Overall, going to college or university is a time when you really experience independence. If you are moving away, you’ll probably be meeting tons of new people. From the beginning, it is important to rebuild a network of people around you who know about your allergies and could help you if you had a reaction. Be confident that you know how to manage your allergies in different situations. Above all, have fun, study hard, and enjoy the experience!
Summary Tips
1) Look into campus health and security and how they can help in an emergency.
2) Tell new friends about your allergies, including roommates and housemates.
3) Work with your campus cafeteria staff to find safe food options.