I have a food allergy called Celiac Disease, in which eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), makes my body's immune system attack the small intestine. Because of this, I have to avoid gluten almost entirely. And FYI, gluten is in everything.

Thankfully, the dining hall is required to list all of the allergens in the food they put out. There is even one dining hall on campus that provides allergen-free food. Margaret's in The District on West Green makes gluten free pizza, bagels, stir-fry, sandwiches and more upon request. Ohio University also offers help from a dietician, in which you can schedule meals and pickup times from all three dining halls to accommodate your dietary needs. This is helpful if I can't get all the way to Boyd, or don't have time to eat between classes.

Gluten-free bread is also offered at many other locations, including the Shively Grab 'n' Go. There is even packaged gluten-free baked goods.

Although the dining hall is more than willing to accommodate a food allergy, there are still problems I face. For example, if I want to eat on campus, but the dining hall is closed, I have a limited selection when it comes to fast food or other quick-grab choices.

The most inconvenient thing I have found while living on a college campus is the availability of alcohol vs. the availability of gluten-free alcohol. Beer is cheap and the most available, and it's sometime inconvenient to locate anything else.

While living with a food allergy in college, sometimes it's awkward when denying food from friends. Most people are understanding and interested in helping you work around your allergens after you tell them you're not gluten-free because of a fad diet.