Gluten-free@ College 
in progress...

Practical info ~ 
How-Tos, Online Food, Snacks, Quick Meals, & Party Food  

Tips & Advice ~ from others who have gone before you...   
When you get to college, you do not want to worry about being different or eating differently. If you are cool with it, others will be too.

You want to relax about food. No problem! But it won't work to ignore GF eating. You have to work it out. In fact, many students follow diets such as vegetarian and vegan, allergan-avoidance, and so on, for a variety of reasons.

So, keep it real and stay GF:     
Learn what to do. Make yourself a checklist. Prepare ahead. Stay with it... You'll hardly notice it after awhile. To make life simple, plan ahead. 

1. Set up your area:  Appliances and food storage determine food options. You need to know what appliances you can use (rules vary) and what food storage you have. 

Work out arrangements with roommates and the school. (It sounds obvious, but I repeat, Have the conversation.)
Contamination is an issue. Find out the requirements for school policy exceptions, or, have a school administrator offer a "workaround solution".

This should include at least a full-sized refrigerator.
Other ideas - - a personal (gluten-free only!~) toaster oven, special cafeteria freezer space for you, and ordering and stocking cafeteria food that's GF.
This should be offered especially if a Meal Plan is typically mandatory - but try to negotiate anyway! Flexibility is the least you can expect, given a lack of provisions. Your food is going to be WAY more expensive than usual. Why should the school benefit by having you participate in a plan for food you cannot eat?

You need a Gluten-free microwave, not shared, at the very least.
There are techniques to prevent cross-contamination from kitchen equipment. We will share these in our newsletter.

These make a difference.

If you have questions or need help on this, and especially if you hit a brick wall and get a poor response, please contact us. 

2. Think and plan ahead. Get down the basics. Spontaneity doesn't work most of the time. It is what it is.

Now that you are in a totally new environment you need to figure out what food to get and where to get it. 

Most students (not just you) have relied on family meals. And your Gluten-free food is more complicated. (Meal plans can be insufficient, for example.)

3. Food draws a crowd. 
Most GF food is pretty good. Some is excellent. If you share your know-how, you take care of yourself AND may help out others. Have you tried warm homemade waffles? Food Checklist...

4. Find others on campus who eat GF. Or vegan, dairy-free.  Coordinate. Organize. How... 
Benefits: 
Food (online ordering) is cheaper in bulk. Check Amazon, for an idea of what's out there.
Others may have practical tips - cafeteria, school facilities, etc.
You share prep work: cooking, shopping.
It's good for company, restaurant reviews, campus food co-op...etc. 

Best Gluten-free & celiac blogs and Vendor web sites   
New information & tips, new food products, free samples and coupons. more...  

How to explain & deal with questions
You really don't want this to be a big deal. You want to join in, and might be tempted to pretend you can eat what everyone else eats. It would be great, except it will make you very sick to do it. Sorry.

The best way to handle this is to stay honest about your health issue. If you present it as normal for you, you allow others to accept it that way.

The way to make it a big deal, is to get sick.

People who are worth your time and friendship will settle down and include it as part of who you are! Everyone has their stuff...

On one hand, you are not being difficult, by being gluten-free - -  so do not let anyone be misled about that - or invalidate you. You are careful for a reason. This is not a "trend" for you.  Dismiss ignorance for what it is.

On the other hand, don't be hyper-sensitive.  You might assume others are judging you when they are not.  You can discuss this topic in an online forum.
To be continued...