Tip for any college student

I have just completed my freshman year at Sonoma State University and have learned a lot when it comes to staying healthy and eating right. At first it was a difficult life style to get use to, especially since I had no kitchen. However, once I got over my fear of not being able to eat food, the answer was simple. One tip that I suggest is, go to a grocery store and find basic foods that will last on a shelf or in a fridge. For me I found comfort in rice, almond butter sandwiches and string cheese. It is easy to fall into traps that might seem healthy at first but in a vast amount can actually be harmful. Moderation is the key to sticking with this diet and living a healthy life. Looking back the diet became so much easier with a little research, and determination.

Now that I am on summer break and have a little more time on my hands, I am going to dedicate my summer on experimenting on new ways to make delicious foods. I will try and keep you posted and put up pictures at to what I am making, so you can try at your home as well. Hopefully by the end of summer you will find a few new recipes that you and your family might enjoy.

Update

I hope you all took the past week to do a little of your own research on Celiac and have broadened your horizions. One of the reasons why I started this blog, was to spread information and second was to create a place where we can share recipies and certain places to eat out. Some tips that I have found helpful when traveling anywhere is to: one, eat beforehand so you are full before you arrive at any event. This works well when going out to dinners for you won't be as tempted to snack on things because you will be already full and can enjoy the company. Second, bring snack and eat it when no one is looking. I always carry either lara bars, fruit leather, apple, or some sort of nuts. Things that if I were to get hungry I can reach in my bag and snack without being rude. Don't let your restrictions on eating hold you back on hanging with your friends!

Don't forget to stand your ground and not give into the temptations for you will regret it later!!!

Some helpful grocery stores are:
Whole Foods *
Raley's
Sprouts
Mothers

Make sure you read all ingredients for labels can LIE!!! READ EVERYTHING! It is better to be safe than sorry.

If anyone has anything other suggestions, please share!

Welcome

Hello my name is Megan and I am eighteen years old and a freshman in college. Half way through my freshman year I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease along with numerous other food sensitivities. My first response was, "Celiac" what? Celiac Disease, means your body attacks itself when “gluten” has been ingested. Gluten, can often be found in breads, pastas, cakes, soy sauce and some seasonings. For a college kid who soley lived on peanut butter sandwiches, this is definately a huge challenge. The hardest part of my “special diet” as I like to refer to it, is not only do I have to be on the look out for gluten, but I also have to monitor all of my other food sensitivities. Some food sensitivities that I have include; corn, soy, dairy, turkey, beef,pinto and kidney beans ….the list goes on. Basically, it would be easier to tell you what I can have on a daily basis. Some might think that I am being dramatic but unfortunately I am not. I can rotate most things however, meaning I can have spinach or chicken once every four days but its just not the same. At the moment my diet consists of rice, almond butter, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, rice pasta and few veggies. It has definately been tricky especially trying to make food without a kitchen. Living in a dorm has been the hardest portion of this whole lifestyle but it has made me think outside the box and create things that are delicious yet safe.

I challenge those who read this, to go to the grocery store and read the labels that are found on a product, and see how often you see it say: Contains soy, Contains Corn, Contains traces of wheat.

Remember that corn syrup is the same as corn!!!
And if it says "Wheat-free" that doesn't mean that it is "Gluten-free."