Chapter 6: Personal Stories
Below you will find a compilation of anonymous personal stories from college students with food allergies. These have been provided to show that going to college with food allergies is very possible, but isn't always without struggle. All of the stories are different and address different problems students with food allergies may have while in college. If you are currently a student in college or have graduated and you have a personal story you would like to share, we would love to add it to our page! Click here for directions on how to submit your success story.
GOING TO CULINARY WITH FOOD ALLERGIES
Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved to cook. I am not sure it if was because of my food allergies and being exposed to cooking at a young age, or if it was just that I was born with a love for food itself. All through high school, I dreamed about going to culinary school. Every night when I came home from school, I would cook dinner for my family. Sometimes I would make Italian food, or American food, but as I got older, I ventured into more exotic dishes and exotic cuisines. My favorite response from my family was never, "Oh this tastes great!" rather I loved when someone said, "Wait this doesn't have nuts in it?"
During my senior year of high school, I decided that I wanted to go to culinary school at Johnson and Wales. They have a top rated program and it felt like the perfect place to expand my skills and my knowledge of food. When I told my parents that I was my number one choice, their faces turned white. At first, my mom said no. She was afraid that it would be too dangerous for me because of the frequent use of nuts in cooking, especially in baking. I was adamant though, and she allowed me to apply. When I got accepted, I was over the moon. I knew that I could finally follow my dream of becoming a professional chef. My mom though was not because she was still scared.
Today, I am in my third year at Johnson and Wales and I love it! I have been very lucky to have professors who understand my allergies and are willing to work with me so that I can be safe. The interesting thing is, that restaurants now have to become more and more accommodating for people with food allergies. I think that in a way, as people learn to adapt their recipes for me, it will help them become more flexible chefs in the real world. That being said, there has not been a time when I feel unsafe, but when I do, I have learned that it is important to tell my professor. After all, safety is the most important rule in the kitchen, sometimes though; safety for me is more than just not starting a fire or cutting my finger off with a knife.
If I had one bit of advice for food allergic students, it would be to follow your heart, because if you don't, you will spend the rest of your life wishing that you had.
During my senior year of high school, I decided that I wanted to go to culinary school at Johnson and Wales. They have a top rated program and it felt like the perfect place to expand my skills and my knowledge of food. When I told my parents that I was my number one choice, their faces turned white. At first, my mom said no. She was afraid that it would be too dangerous for me because of the frequent use of nuts in cooking, especially in baking. I was adamant though, and she allowed me to apply. When I got accepted, I was over the moon. I knew that I could finally follow my dream of becoming a professional chef. My mom though was not because she was still scared.
Today, I am in my third year at Johnson and Wales and I love it! I have been very lucky to have professors who understand my allergies and are willing to work with me so that I can be safe. The interesting thing is, that restaurants now have to become more and more accommodating for people with food allergies. I think that in a way, as people learn to adapt their recipes for me, it will help them become more flexible chefs in the real world. That being said, there has not been a time when I feel unsafe, but when I do, I have learned that it is important to tell my professor. After all, safety is the most important rule in the kitchen, sometimes though; safety for me is more than just not starting a fire or cutting my finger off with a knife.
If I had one bit of advice for food allergic students, it would be to follow your heart, because if you don't, you will spend the rest of your life wishing that you had.
I'm Not Invincible!
I'm a dare devil which is a bad mix for someone with celiac disease and an anaphylactic egg allergy. My dare devil/spontaneous side never really impacted my health though until my freshman year in college. I was too caught up in not being the allergy/celiac kid, that I spent the first semester eating dining hall food that had gluten in it. About 15 minutes after dinner I would run up to my room and spend almost the entire night barfing and curled up in the fetal position. Being sick all the time left me with no energy for schoolwork. I missed classes, failed tests and was in jeopardy of being put on academic probation after my first semester.
If that wasn't bad enough, the day before I was going to go home for thanksgiving break, I went to a party and drank from the punch bowl. Shortly after, I realized that the "punch" had egg in it but it was too late. I started having an anaphylactic reaction right in the middle of a frat party, and I didn't have my epipen. Luckily, someone had one though and they gave it to me and called 911. When I got to the ER, they gave me more medicine and made me stay the night. In the morning, the doctor ordered an emergency endoscopy because of my celiac. When I woke up he showed me the pictures and my intestines were so inflamed. I realized that my body could no longer function with my reckless behavior.
The next semester, I cleaned up my act, got good grades and stayed healthy. I am a sophomore now and I haven't had any issues since last Thanksgiving. I now work really closely with the dining services to make sure that I have safe food. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to be afraid of looking like the allergy or celiac kid. Honestly in college, people really don't care, and if they do, they aren't real friends. Your real friends who don't care about the fact you have allergies or celiac will be there when you need them. Oh, and don't forget to carry your epipen!
If that wasn't bad enough, the day before I was going to go home for thanksgiving break, I went to a party and drank from the punch bowl. Shortly after, I realized that the "punch" had egg in it but it was too late. I started having an anaphylactic reaction right in the middle of a frat party, and I didn't have my epipen. Luckily, someone had one though and they gave it to me and called 911. When I got to the ER, they gave me more medicine and made me stay the night. In the morning, the doctor ordered an emergency endoscopy because of my celiac. When I woke up he showed me the pictures and my intestines were so inflamed. I realized that my body could no longer function with my reckless behavior.
The next semester, I cleaned up my act, got good grades and stayed healthy. I am a sophomore now and I haven't had any issues since last Thanksgiving. I now work really closely with the dining services to make sure that I have safe food. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to be afraid of looking like the allergy or celiac kid. Honestly in college, people really don't care, and if they do, they aren't real friends. Your real friends who don't care about the fact you have allergies or celiac will be there when you need them. Oh, and don't forget to carry your epipen!
ROOMMATE STRUGGLES!
One of the things I couldn't wait for about college was having a roommate. I know it sounds weird but I couldn't wait to have a "brother" the way my older brother's roommates became like their brothers. After the first few weeks of college, my roommate seemed like the kind of brother that you can't stand. He came in around 3:30 am every morning and woke me up. He left our room a mess with piles of dirty clothes that started to smell. But worst of all, he smoked and always smelled like an ashtray. I have asthma along with food allergies and one of my triggers is smoke. At first, I though I could handle it and make due, but pretty soon I was up all night coughing.
Fed up with my roommate, I went to my RA for help. He was super cool and talked to us both about respecting each other's space and health. For about a week, my roommate kept his clothes clean and tried to keep from smelling like smoke. Then though he did the unthinkable, he decided to save room in our mini-fridge by combining his milk with my milk. The only problem was, I am allergic to milk, so my milk was rice milk. The worst part was, I only found this out after I put the milk on my cereal and had an allergic reaction.
A few days after the reaction, I went to the disability services and requested a single since his ignorance was affecting my health. Within a week, I had a single and I was able to move out on my own. Since then, I haven't had any issues. If I could give one piece of advice to future college students, don't get a roommate unless you know them and you know they will keep you safe. I originally didn't want a single because I thought it would be isolating, but it really isn't and it gives you a nice quiet place to study!
Fed up with my roommate, I went to my RA for help. He was super cool and talked to us both about respecting each other's space and health. For about a week, my roommate kept his clothes clean and tried to keep from smelling like smoke. Then though he did the unthinkable, he decided to save room in our mini-fridge by combining his milk with my milk. The only problem was, I am allergic to milk, so my milk was rice milk. The worst part was, I only found this out after I put the milk on my cereal and had an allergic reaction.
A few days after the reaction, I went to the disability services and requested a single since his ignorance was affecting my health. Within a week, I had a single and I was able to move out on my own. Since then, I haven't had any issues. If I could give one piece of advice to future college students, don't get a roommate unless you know them and you know they will keep you safe. I originally didn't want a single because I thought it would be isolating, but it really isn't and it gives you a nice quiet place to study!
Commuting Out of Fear
My parents told me they would only pay for college on one condition: I live at home and commute. I am lucky enough to live in a major city with good schools at my fingertips, but I never saw myself commuting to any of them. Before going to college I thought that the most important part of the college experience was moving out and living with a roommate in a dorm. I knew, as a commuter that would not be part of my college story.
I am a senior in college now and I still live in the room that I did when I was a baby. Honestly, I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would. I enjoy having the freedom to live how I want, I enjoy not having to take chances with the dining hall, I enjoy that I can eat home cooked meals and I enjoy that I have a quiet place to study after a long day.
Sure commuting to college has its benefits and its drawbacks, but I am here to tell you that you can still experience college—even if you live at home.
I am a senior in college now and I still live in the room that I did when I was a baby. Honestly, I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would. I enjoy having the freedom to live how I want, I enjoy not having to take chances with the dining hall, I enjoy that I can eat home cooked meals and I enjoy that I have a quiet place to study after a long day.
Sure commuting to college has its benefits and its drawbacks, but I am here to tell you that you can still experience college—even if you live at home.
Food Allergies Made Me Get In Touch With Reality
It was halfway through my first semester at college when I realized I was failing out. I was an A student in high school; I studied a lot, I took lots of honors and AP classes, I had friends, but I never failed a class. Sure I guess college had been a little different. I never really partied in high school—my mom never allowed it, but in college it seemed like I was “partying” with the guys on my floor almost every night. Multiple nights I put down my bio book or my stat book or my chem book and picked up a red solo cup instead. I had never had a problem with drinking with the guys before. I am have anaphylactic allergies to peanuts and eggs, so allergens in the alcohol was never really a concern.
The last time I parties with the guys was the night before my chem midterm. I felt prepared enough but was stressing out so I went to my buddy’s room to chill and have a bit to drink. Eventually one thing led to another and we got drunk, like really drunk. Apparently, I agreed to eat a peanut butter granola bar on a dare. The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital bed with my parents sitting next to me.
According to my RA, I went into anaphylactic shock after eating the sandwich and they had to call 911. The campus police came along with the paramedics. Because I had so much to drink, the epinephrine wasn’t as effective and I had epinephrine drip in the ICU for 3 more days. I missed my chem midterm, and my bio and stat midterm. When I went to talk to my professors about making them up, they all told me the same thing; I was failing their class.
I immediately turned my act around. I stopped drinking and partying and studied. I was able to bring my grades up and pass all my classes. Had it not been for my food allergies and my trip to the ER and ICU, I may have flunked out of college. If you can learn one thing from me, put your studies first because food allergies and alcohol don’t exist.
The last time I parties with the guys was the night before my chem midterm. I felt prepared enough but was stressing out so I went to my buddy’s room to chill and have a bit to drink. Eventually one thing led to another and we got drunk, like really drunk. Apparently, I agreed to eat a peanut butter granola bar on a dare. The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital bed with my parents sitting next to me.
According to my RA, I went into anaphylactic shock after eating the sandwich and they had to call 911. The campus police came along with the paramedics. Because I had so much to drink, the epinephrine wasn’t as effective and I had epinephrine drip in the ICU for 3 more days. I missed my chem midterm, and my bio and stat midterm. When I went to talk to my professors about making them up, they all told me the same thing; I was failing their class.
I immediately turned my act around. I stopped drinking and partying and studied. I was able to bring my grades up and pass all my classes. Had it not been for my food allergies and my trip to the ER and ICU, I may have flunked out of college. If you can learn one thing from me, put your studies first because food allergies and alcohol don’t exist.
Diving In To College With Food Allergies
I have always loved to swim. I think it is because in the pool, I feel free; there isn't allergens or food and my asthma doesn't bother me when I swim. I was lucky enough to get recruited to college to be on the swim an dive team. Although I had been on my local swim team since age 4 and my high school team since freshman year, I knew that college level swimming was going to be a lot different. Not only was I going to have the challenge of dealing with juggling academics and my sport, but I was also going to have the challenge of dealing with food allergies.
Having food allergies can be tough when you are playing a college level sport. I am allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts so it can sometimes be hard to avoid when we are traveling. Another issue is that all of my allergens contain essential ingredients for building strong muscles and bones. Luckily, when I arrived at school, I was able to meet with a nutritionist on campus to help devise a plan so that I would be getting enough nutrients to keep my body as healthy as possible so I could perform to my peak level. I also was able to work out how to stay safe and healthy while we were on the road.
I am a senior now, and I can happily say that I have not had a single anaphylactic reaction in college. Although it has taken a lot of persistence, I have managed to stay healthy. If I had one piece of advice for incoming college students, It would be to follow your heart because food allergies shouldn't be what stops you from reaching your goals!
Having food allergies can be tough when you are playing a college level sport. I am allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts so it can sometimes be hard to avoid when we are traveling. Another issue is that all of my allergens contain essential ingredients for building strong muscles and bones. Luckily, when I arrived at school, I was able to meet with a nutritionist on campus to help devise a plan so that I would be getting enough nutrients to keep my body as healthy as possible so I could perform to my peak level. I also was able to work out how to stay safe and healthy while we were on the road.
I am a senior now, and I can happily say that I have not had a single anaphylactic reaction in college. Although it has taken a lot of persistence, I have managed to stay healthy. If I had one piece of advice for incoming college students, It would be to follow your heart because food allergies shouldn't be what stops you from reaching your goals!