Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Uni accommodation for newly diagnosed coeliac - catered or not?

70 replies

GrumpyOldBag · 29/04/2017 19:23

DS has been having tests for coeliac disease, it looks highly likely he has it - just awaiting blood test results - and will have to follow a gluten-free diet.

He starts Uni this Autumn and we are just trying to sort his accommodation. Originally it was going to be catered for first year - no brainer - as he can't/doesn't want to learn to cook (yet).

Now wondering whether if he goes catered they will be able to cope with his dietary requirements. Obviously they have to deal with vegans, vegetarians, religious diets - so I'm assuming they will. Just wondered if anyone has any useful insight into this at all.

Hoping to get application in for his insurance choice this w/end (aware we have already left it late), think we won't be able to phone & ask!

Thanks.

OP posts:
WildImaginings · 30/04/2017 19:00

I'm not GF but just wanted to recommend the Schär bread rolls. Bought some as they were on offer and counted as a B choice on slimming world, and they're actually really really nice.

My aunt is GF so have tasted my fair share of GF bread, and these rolls are the best I've tried so far.

multivac · 30/04/2017 19:01

A note on "GF" recipe books - in my experience, they tend to fall into one of two categories: either they are a 'clean eating' food vlogger fantasy, with gluten replaced by 37 rare and complicated ingredients, different for every recipe... or they are a totally normal recipe book, but with the words 'gluten free' put in front of things like 'flour', 'soy sauce', and 'baking powder'. I wouldn't waste your money, if I were you; just stick to what you seem to be planning anyway - a few, basic, use-up-what's-in-the-cupboard type recipes...

GrumpyOldBag · 30/04/2017 19:02

DS's ability to make puddings is great actually - when we have people over he always takes care of that and it's one major aspect of the meal I don't have to worry about at all.

OP posts:
GrumpyOldBag · 30/04/2017 19:06

DS went out this afternoon to buy some extra food because he doesn't like what I had in the fridge - came home with sausage rolls, a pork pie, a 6-pack of crisps & 4 cans of beer. It's going to be hard for him...

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 30/04/2017 19:08

If he can make some yummy (even if GF) desserts for flatmates and friends from time to time, I'm sure that will do wonders for his popularity! Grin

Bluntness100 · 30/04/2017 19:09

They have to do all the shopping cooking etc in their second year all catered does is takes a little of the pressure off where they don't have to think about doing a weekly shop just to feed themselves within budget. All catered does is take one less pressure off that first year as they know there is always an evening meal ready for them.

Uni is a big life change for most kids and for me personally anything a parent can do to make that year a little bit easier is worth it, so if you can afford catered I personally would recommend. They can do the running to Aldi and cooking every night in their second year.

Goldmandra · 30/04/2017 19:09

DS went out this afternoon to buy some extra food because he doesn't like what I had in the fridge - came home with sausage rolls, a pork pie, a 6-pack of crisps & 4 cans of beer. It's going to be hard for him...

Well he seems to have got to grips with the traditional student diet. Now he just has to learn to make it gluten free.

multivac · 30/04/2017 19:10

GF scotch pancakes are easy peasy and a really useful staple. Just make them with Doves SR gf flour.

Rinceoir · 30/04/2017 19:11

It is much easier to be gluten free than it used to be. I have lots of family with coeliac disease so make a lot of gluten free food put of habit. It's worth looking at some websites. This one for example has lots of cakes/breads as well as savoury stuff.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 01/05/2017 00:40

But Bluntness being gluten free could massively affect the choices available. I had to substantially change my diet in my first year and it was an absolute pain trying to negotiate with the halls. Plus in a fully catered hall there may be very limited student facilities so if they turn out not to be able to cater for someone who is coeliac with anything other than a jacket potato every night then they might end up paying twice and not having anywhere to cook.

Have you/ he tried ringing the accomodation office at the first choice/ back up Unis and asking them what the menus would be in the halls and how they usually advise students? What he really needs is to share with 5 other students with coeliac so they don't have cross contamination and they can teach each other to cook!!

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/05/2017 01:13

If you feel there isn't time to contact/ask his potential unis directly, see if there's a freshers' Facebook group or page and ask there. Best to hear that sort of thing straight from the other students, I feel. The 'official' line and the reality of the food on offer will probably be world's apart!

GrumpyOldBag · 01/05/2017 09:25

Thanks all for the great advice. DS is thinking self-catering is now the way to go (he knows he's a fussy eater); he's now going to wait a couple of days before making the final decision until he's had a chance to discuss the diagnosis with his doctor.

Luckily his firm choice hasn't even opened applications for Accommodation yet, so we'll be armed with more knowledge when we get to that, it's just the insurance choice we want to get done. And I'm thinking that if DS has a good reason for choosing a specific type of accommodation he may get priority.

OP posts:
Abraiid2 · 05/05/2017 18:10

My son was diagnosed one term into university. York were great. He was catered and there was always plenty for him to eat at mealtimes. In fact in this second year, where he is now living in a house, he often returns to the campus for lunch as he knows he can get gf food.

I would recommend getting a george Forman grill if there is anywhere he can plug it in, catered or not, as you can cook all kinds of meat and egg on it.

Going out is the only problem. And not being able to drink draught beer. He has managed far better than I could have hoped.

Food is more expensive if you're cooking for yourself, though. We had to give him more money.

Abraiid2 · 05/05/2017 18:13

Do PM me if I can help further. It was a big shock for us but also reassuring to know thy there was a reason for various puzzling things. We only had the Christmas holidays to grasp the whole thing. If diagnosed your son will probably be referred to a dietician. This was really helpful for my son. Someone else other than his mum nagging him made it more compelling, it seemed.

NoHaudinMaWheest · 06/05/2017 14:27

Can I just add a couple of thoughts? Ds is in first year at university and has ASD. He is in a self catered flat but usually eats at catered outlets during the week. Being in a self catered place gives him flexibility which is essential as he may not like what is offered or on the other hand be too tired/ stressed to cook.

He needs to keep his food and equipment separate for OCD rather than dietary reasons. He has labelled his cupboards clearly and always puts everything away rather than leaving it out. He has also labelled shelves in the fridge and freezer and always labels his juice, milk etc.
It is certainly possible to highlight additional needs on accommodation applications and I would recommend you do so. Every university we asked has said that additional needs would be prioritised. This was also true when we asked if that would hold if he went there as an insurance choice but I know from others that that might not always be the case.
It is worth contacting disability services too so that they are aware of his needs. We have found them invaluable in liaising with ds's department and accommodation when necessary. I suggest this from an ASD point of view as well as the coeliac issues.

GrumpyOldBag · 06/05/2017 16:42

Thank you Abraiid & NoHaud.

OP posts:
C0RAL · 18/05/2017 16:15

YY to what nahaudin says. Highlight This on his accommodation application form. They might even put him in with other students who have dietary requirements. It doesn't matter if they are different ones, most people who have one are very understanding of other people's needs.

You have totally made the right decision about SC with tuition from mum over the summer.once you get used to it it's easier that you think. He just needs to plan ahead more that other kids, as you can't just reach into the cupboard and pull out a packet of biscuits if you are peckish at 2am.

He will needs to learn to cook some basics things like sauce for pasta and mild chillie and soups and store portions on the freezer.then he can make easy meals with GF pasta and packets of rice that microwave in 2 mins.

It's easier if you start again from scratch when you think of meals , rather that start with existing diet and try to buy everything GF. Remember most food is naturally GF - all meat fish, dairy, fruits and veg, pulses and beans. Many grains.

He needs to learn what to eat for breakfast and Lunch. Dinners are actually the easiest.

E.g. If breakfast is normally 3 slices of toast, he will need to eat 6 Gf slices to get the same amount. So have 2 slices of GF toast and scrambled eggs make in MW or baked beans or boiled egg and a tomato. Or porridge with Gf oats and some fruit.

He needs to practice GF lunches , he will need to make this each day as he won't be able to pick up Gf sandwiches on campus. Even if they say they do them, they mean " we sometimes have them in on some days but it's only one packet and we are usually sold out by 10am ".

GF wraps are good for packed lunches.

Somecrisps are GF, he needs to learn to read the labels for what flavour / brand.

Most chocolate bars are ok.

Ditto yoghurts.

One of the good things about many kids with ASD if that they don't mind eating the same thing every day. This will help with the GF diet Grin

GrumpyOldBag · 23/05/2017 20:55

Thanks Coral (sorry I'd missed this post)

OP posts:
JanetBrown2015 · 25/05/2017 08:57

I have twins about to chose Bristol accommodation and one is vegan. I tink they will pick a catered hall as it is only 2 meals a day there anyway and if the food is awful (they cook their own food currently at home) just work around that by buying other stuff they like.

As said above he needs to think about gluten free lunches. My vegan son (and indeed his twin) tend to take food into school (or go out at lunch time to buy it and it can be difficult as most stuff on sale is sandwiches ). The non vegan one doesn't eat sandwiches (nor do I usually for that matter).

The main thing is he will just have to plan ahead.

Nice gluten free breakfast can be eggs - in fact traditional British breakfast actually - used to be things like bacon, eggs, kippers, tomatoes (rather than loads of carbs, jam, sugar).

WorldsacpeLove · 31/05/2017 13:39

Grumpy; ask him to get on TSR and ask specifically at the University. I'm a postgraduate but our lunch choice is chicken or fish with tomato sauce every.single.day. On Friday, if we order it the day before we can have cold gluten-free fish and chips.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page