Walk into any typical college cafeteria and you’ll see the usual assortment of greasy (but tempting) pizzas, warm cookies, frozen yogurt, cereals and more. For some, it’s a cornucopia of deliciousness. For others, it’s a quick ticket to the worst stomachache of your life. While everyone gets an upset stomach every now and then from overindulging at the sundae bar, constant stomachaches could be a sign of something more—a food allergy. Many college students are already aware of their food allergies when they get to campus, but food allergies can also pop up during adulthood. We talked to FARE, Food Allergy Research and Education, an organization committed to ensuring the safety of those with food allergies and finding cures, about what to do if you suspect you have a food allergy and how to deal with it.
What’s a food allergy?
A food allergy means your immune system overreacts in response to a certain food protein, says Veronica Brown, a spokesperson for FARE. There are eight foods that account for 90 percent of all food allergies: milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts, shellfish, fish and wheat. That other ten percent could be anything—seeds, corn, gelatin, even meat—but those are much more rare. Many food allergies pop up during childhood—you probably remember having to be careful about peanuts in elementary schools. But for some, food allergies can develop at any time. “While many food allergies are outgrown in childhood, others don’t develop until adulthood. For example, studies show more than half of those with a shellfish allergy experience their first allergic reaction as adults,” Brown says. Doctors still don’t know why this happens, but it’s not at all uncommon. “I'm allergic to almonds, macadamia nuts and poppy seeds (but I try to stay away from all tree nuts) and I actually didn't find out until college,” says Elyssa, a Boston University collegiette.
A quick distinction between an allergy and a food intolerance. You’ve probably heard of lactose intolerance and Celiac disease (people who actually have to be gluten-free)—these are not food allergies, but rather a sensitivity to a certain food. A food allergy also has to do with the immune system—you have an allergy if your immune system overreacts to a certain protein. However, much of the following advice applies to those sufferers as well.
Do I have a food allergy?
There are many tip-offs that could indicate you have an allergy to something you’re eating. But, Brown warns, reactions are unpredictable: “Someone could experience multiple reactions with only mild symptoms, then suddenly experience anaphylaxis with their next reaction,” she says. “Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild symptoms (for example, rash, itching or isolated hives) to severe symptoms, such as wheezing, trouble breathing or anaphylaxis, a serious reaction that can occur suddenly and can be potentially fatal,” Brown says. “Individuals with milk allergy can experience mild or severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis, just as someone with a peanut allergy can,” Brown says. Unsure if your stomachache is from your cheese pizza or just the flu? Start a food diary. “If you suspect a food allergy, it’s a good idea to take note of those symptoms, when they are occurring, and the ingredients in the foods eaten,” Brown says.
What do I do if I think I have an allergy?
If you’re experiencing intestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting or stomach pain, consider an elimination diet. Basically, if you suspect you’re allergic to dairy based off of your food diary, cut out all milk, cheese and ice cream for one or two weeks. See if your symptoms go away. After you’ve cut out the suspect for a while, re-introduce it. If your symptoms come back, see a doctor to get a formal diagnosis. If you’re experiencing more life-threatening symptoms like trouble breathing, don’t do an elimination diet. Set up an appointment with an allergist, a specialist who can help you pinpoint exactly what’s affecting you, and bring your food diary to help her diagnose you. Your student health center or your primary care provider can point you in the right direction. “An allergist can determine whether food allergy testing is appropriate, and if you do have an allergy, your allergist can prescribe medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, to help you treat allergic reactions,” Brown says.
The next step will often be a skin prick test, which is a simple procedure where an allergist will place a tiny bit of the suspected allergen onto your skin and then prick your skin to let the allergen in. Food allergies do not have cures, per se, but avoiding the food in question is the best way to stay symptom-free. Sometimes, allergies will go away as you get older, but not always. A Lactaid pill will not help a dairy allergy like it will lactose intolerance — if there’s any doubt, don’t self-diagnose: seek out an allergist who can confirm an allergy.
Now what?
It can be tough to deal with a food allergy when your friends are eating the foods you can’t. This can be especially difficult in college if your dining hall isn’t especially accommodating. But never fear! There are plenty of ways to get the sustenance you need and keep your body happy in the process. Read on for tips for living allergen-free!
1. Contact your dining hall
Many schools are very flexible when it comes to food allergies—but make sure you check to make sure the facilities are safe for you to eat in, particularly if your allergy is severe. “On campus, this could mean meeting with dining services staff to learn about the school’s allergen management policies in the kitchen,” Brown says. Allergic to peanuts? Confirm with your dining hall director that the equipment used for cooking does not come into contact with peanuts. Talking to the dining staff is also a good way to bring in the foods you CAN eat: gluten-free bread, non-dairy ice cream and milk, etc. That’s how Julia, a collegiette at Kenyon College, found some great dairy-free options. “Talk to your dining hall workers! Ours are the NICEST and they have special dietary foods, but people just don't know about it! I didn't know we had chocolate soymilk here until I happened to be chatting with a worker,” she says.
2. Tell your friends
OK, so your boyfriend doesn’t need to know the gruesome details of your dairy allergy, but if you’re allergic to nuts—speak up. If you’ve got an allergy where even touching the food is enough to send your body into reaction-mode, your roommate, significant other and close friends need to know for your own safety. Have a nut allergy and your boyfriend just ate a PB&J? Even a small kiss could be life-threatening if your allergy is severe—and that’s for all allergies, not just peanuts and tree nuts.
“At the beginning of the school year, take the time to have an in-person conversation so you can explain what you are allergic to, how they can help you avoid them, and what they should do if you have an allergic reaction,” Brown says. If your food allergy is a new thing, telling your friends is a great idea so they can help you remember—especially when you’re not preparing your own food. Be mindful of your allergy when eating out, and make sure to ask your server that your dish doesn’t isn’t prepared with anything you’re allergic to.
Finally, if your allergy is severe enough, consider keeping a card in your wallet, which you can get at your doctor’s office or online. “I carry around my medic alert card because if I were to have a reaction, it would give friends and doctors information about it,” says Anne, a Johns Hopkins collegiette. It just might save your life. “We recommend that all individuals with food allergies have a documented treatment plan, such as a Food Allergy Action Plan,” Brown says.
3. Find fun alternatives
So what if you can’t drink milk? Most coffee shops and cafes offer soymilk to mix with your latte. Can’t eat wheat? Check out the gluten-free aisle to find wheat-free options. If you’re allergic to dairy or soy, often the vegan aisle will have good options.
You may even like the substitute better than the original! Focus on all of the delicious stuff you can eat, not the stuff you can’t. Mallory, an Ohio University collegiette, makes her wheat allergy work for her by focusing on how healthy she has become without it. “I enjoy my diet. I feel that I am incredibly healthy. Today everything is breaded and fried and so many unhealthy foods make up the main part of peoples’ diets,” she says. “And you save so many calories from [not drinking] beer!”
4. Shop smart
Most foods will list the allergens present on the ingredient label, but even if the food itself does not contain your allergen, it might have been processed on equipment that has touched the bad food. Read the label carefully. Summer, a collegiette at Auburn, found this out the hard way: the pasta her mom bought was made with chickpea flour—a legume very similar to peanuts. The second Summer had a bite, her life-threatening peanut allergy flared up. But the experience has made her a smart shopper. “Read everything. The reason why I have had a relatively small number of ER visits is because I'm adamant that I either read the ingredients, know who made it and trust that they did so safely or I don't eat it,” she says.
Don’t let a food allergy bring you down! By being careful about what you’re eating, you can live a happy, healthy and delicious life!