BY JULIA MORELLI
Two years ago, I was like most teenage girls who had the luxury of eating whatever they had a craving for. Cookies, cake, chicken nuggets, and anything that associated itself with my old friends, wheat, rye and barley. Enjoying a few casual drinks was a breeze. But that all changed the summer I became extremely ill. After countless blood tests and four biopsies, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
“Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction produces inflammation that damages the small intestine’s lining and prevents absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption),” explains MayoClinic.org.
Moving into residence in my first year at Carleton was both exciting and nerve wracking. It ended up being a great learning experience, as I now know where I can enjoy food on campus. Now, in second year, I am fully confident with my food choices here. The following is a personal breakdown of my favorite spots to enjoy gluten free food on campus.
Fresh Food Company/Residence Cafeteria: Carleton not only has a gluten free station that serves pastas and stir-fry specifically made for celiacs, but there are also many other options such as the sandwich bar, where you can enjoy the daily sandwich on gluten free bread. My all-time favorite meal would have to be the celiac stir-fry from the gluten free station, which is available to me whenever I wanted it. Using whichever vegetables you want, the cafeteria staff take extra special care to make sure that there is no cross contamination and so that you can enjoy your meal without worry. The staff definitely knows how to make a mean chicken stir-fry.
Roosters: Roosters is one of my favorite places to hang out on campus, and to enjoy a quick lunch. Roosters offers gluten free bread (which is DELICIOUS) for any of their sandwiches. The staff is also very cautious and handle all gluten free sandwiches on a separate cutting board to prevent any cross contamination. It is one of my favorite spots to stop and grab a bite or some breakfast if I have an early class.Â
Oliver’s Pub (Ollie’s): My favorite dish to order at Ollie’s is the nachos, which are made from corn tortillas. I also enjoy the Caesar salad without the croutons. Drink wise, I tend to stick with anything Smirnoff, as it is made from potato rather than wheat.
University Center Food Court: Due to all of the chain restaurants, there is only a small amount of gluten free meal options here. There are some options that are offered in the food court, such as sushi or soup, but all of these options have the frustrating “May Contain” sign on the packaging. I tend to stay away from the chance of gluten being in the food, and chose from the other awesome places to eat on campus.
Mikes Place: Last, but most certainly not least is Mike’s Place. This newly discovered gem is my favorite place on campus for an affordable and deliciously gluten free meal. Mike’s Place serves an array of curry dishes that are all gluten free, and all taste delicious. If you are a big fan of more curry related foods, then Mike’s Place is the spot for you. Each curry dish is served with rice and the certainty that your tummy will approve of the meal.
Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I have had to make many obvious changes to by diet, by limiting the amount of eating out at restaurants, and teaching myself to read labels in order to stay healthy. By making these changes and maintaining them, I have been able to take my celiac disease into a state of remission. Having the right information about the places you can safely enjoy gluten free options makes all the difference in making it a little less stressful when eating on campus.