Cooking Gluten Free Food In College

[Guest gliX]

I've had celiac for about four years and am a freshman in college. I am finishing up my first semester in college at the University of Florida and have been on the meal plan this semester. The food has been kind of dull and the wheat-free selection has been very small so I'm looking to start cooking some food next semester because I have a kitchen in my dorm. So my question is--what are some good examples of foods that can be cooked for dinner? I think I'm going to be cooking at least four or five times a week next semester so I need something that is relatively easy to find and make and is filling. Something that would be ready in less than 20-30 minutes or so. I already have been making rice pasta, but what else is good? Thanks.

[taylor-]

I've had celiac for about four years and am a freshman in college. I am finishing up my first semester in college at the University of Florida and have been on the meal plan this semester. The food has been kind of dull and the wheat-free selection has been very small so I'm looking to start cooking some food next semester because I have a kitchen in my dorm. So my question is--what are some good examples of foods that can be cooked for dinner? I think I'm going to be cooking at least four or five times a week next semester so I need something that is relatively easy to find and make and is filling. Something that would be ready in less than 20-30 minutes or so. I already have been making rice pasta, but what else is good? Thanks.

Hey! im not sure if we have talked before..but im a freshman at FSU this year! no joke, all my friends from high school go to UF now, so ive been there a few times this semester. i have an apartment because i didnt even want to try the whole dorm/community kitchen/meal plan thing. so i admire you for trying it!! im not really sure what your situation is as far as a fridge, freezer, etc. but chicken has been my best friend. my room mates and i will buy the big packs of frozen chicken and all you have to do is take it out, defrost it, and then there are literally thousands of different things you can do with it. there are also these boxes of pasta called "Mrs. Leeper's" , all you have to do is cook some chicken or beef and they have a bunch of different flavors (cheeseburder mac, chicken alfredo..) it takes no more than 20 minutes, and usually will last a few meals. I know im talking about chicken a lot..it is literally my life now..haha, but ill make chicken enchilada's too. ill usually make more of the inside stuff then necessary, cook what i want and put the rest in the fridge. then later on in the week i can quickly make some more. hope that helps even a little bit..

and go noles!! since the big game is this weekend...and im praying that we just show up.

[Anonymousgurl]

Hey guys I'm also a freshman in college! I'm in the dorms as well, but I HAVE to cook all of my meals because I'm allergic to gluten and sensitive to anything that comes from an animal, has sugar, or has oil in it. So I definitely can't eat in the dining commons. My residence hall has a kitchen in it and I cook there 3 or 4 times a day (since I'm trying to gain weight) and it's a bit of a hastle and quite time consuming, but I'm doin it. I make mostly bean dishes which are a good source of protein without having to deal with the whole "raw meat" aspect. So canned beans make a nice quick lunch and dinner. I mix them with all sorts of grilled, roasted, steamed, veggies and mix them with things like salsa and tomato sauce. If you can tolerate it, you can also mix them with bbq sauce or tamari (wheat free soy sauce). Potatoes are also a big staple for me. If you don't have time to bake it in the oven, stick it in the microwave!

Hey Taylor, I actually admire the fact that you chose to live in an apartment! Is it hard to meet people that way as a freshman?

[Mango04]

I had a George Foreman in college - it made things really easy. Rice cookers come in handy too (especially the ones that allow you to steam rice and veggies at the same time). If you put some meat on the George Foreman, some rice and veggies in the rice cooker...and press some buttons...you'll quickly have food to last for a few meals.

Baked chicken is easy (put a few chicken breasts into a baking pan, pour your favorite dressing over it, cover it with foil....bake at 350 for about an hour..okay it takes an hour, but you can do other stuff while it bakes ).

Beans and rice is a good idea. Rice and lentils is easy b/c you can make it all in one pot.

Stir frys are easy.

Quick soups are good too (use a pre-made broth, such as Imagine or Pacific, then add whatever you want and boil.

You can do quick tacos (get some corn tortillas, cook ground beef or chicken....put meat in tortillas, add salsa and maybe cilantro).

You can put a potato in the microwave for 10 minutes...then open a can of black beans, chop up some veggies (add cheese if you eat dairy) and you have a quick and really inexpensive meal.

If you decide to make large batches of stir frys and soups, you can freeze that stuff in small individual containers and microwave it later.

[num1habsfan]

Well I know that theres a difference between universities in US vs. those is Canada, but I'm in my first year at a university, after 2 years of being spoiled in college...If you have any frozen meals like mac and cheese, see if you can find a microwave and just take the food with you. Or if you live close by make your schedule so that you can have time to run home and eat and make it back for your next class. That's how I do it. The shortest time frame between the clases are 50 minutes.

Good luck!

~ Lisa ~

[JoyfulM]

I Don't know how much I'll be able to help, since I was just diagnosed, but here's what I have to offer.

My RA can't eat gluten either, and already had a mini kitchen set up in our dorm.

We have:

George Foreman

electric stove top (think camping stove top)

rice cooker

toaster oven

I personally have a lot of things that I can take to class with me, like the Minute Rice individuals, canned or fresh fruit, and nuts. A good food to carry around (or eat for breakfast) for when you need a sugar boost is Trix Cereal. Also, if you have friends with apartments or a really nice RD, you can bake a lot of things then freeze the rest. I really like the Tinkyada Lasagna noodles for this.

I was taken off the meal plan when diagnosed, but I can still take my food in there and eat with my friends. If your school doesn't offer this option, annoy them until they do!

[taylor-]

Hey Taylor, I actually admire the fact that you chose to live in an apartment! Is it hard to meet people that way as a freshman?

Hey!! A lot of my younger friends from high school have been asking me this a lot lately, hoping that they might be able to do it..but I actually wouldn't suggest it for everyone. Unless you are really outgoing, you probably won't meet too many people. I'm not out going at all, but my cousin is a sophomore at the community college in tallahassee and lives with a bunch of guys across the street from my apartment complex, which is so great. He got me involved at a local church he goes to and I have met a ton of people through that, and sort of expanded from there. If I wanted to, I could go out to our apartment pool or in the social hall and meet people that way, but like i said, im pretty shy, so striking up casual conversation is really difficult for me..haha. I didn't think I had too many options as far as dorming went at FSU. And my cousin's friend was looking for two new roommates this year, so she contacted me and asked if i wanted to be one of them.

But it's only a tiny bit harder to make friends and get to campus...and I do love my full size bedroom and private bathroom, they are heaven.

I had a George Foreman in college - it made things really easy.

How could i have forgotten to mention my best friend George!!! I was just introduced to him at the beginning of the year and i looove him! hahaha

"I was taken off the meal plan when diagnosed, but I can still take my food in there and eat with my friends. If your school doesn't offer this option, annoy them until they do!"

I wish i could do that!! maybe i should bug them..

"A good food to carry around (or eat for breakfast) for when you need a sugar boost is Trix Cereal"

i didn't think trix cereal was gluten free...are you sure about that one?

[Daughter-of-TheLight]

I'm not in college, but I can suggest a few foods. I cook some at home, at intervals with my mom, and these are some of our favs.

Ground beef/turkey/buffalo: you can do ANYTHING with this stuff. I'll post a couple of recipies if you need them.

Frozen chicken tenders: I Looooove this stuff. You defrost and, yet again, do ANYTHING. we season it with Garlic and Lemon and serve it on top of rice. You can season it any way, really, though.

Gluten-free quinoa Pasta: Oh-Hem-Gee this stuff is soo good. You follow the directions on the package.

Chebe Bread: This stuff takes... ahh, thirty minutes? And it's so darn GOOD. Even my gluten-eating friends like it.

Sometimes what we do is we make enough for leftovers, then the next day, heat them for lunch.

Hope this helps!