Quick, Easy Meals for the Gluten free College Student

We all know what a challenge it is to eat well in college - and as Celiacs, we may not even able to eat in the dining hall. So how do you come up with healthy meals, that don’t require a full kitchen or an hour of your time? Over the past few years, I’ve found some really amazing products for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that can be ready in a flash.

Breakfast has always been a difficult meal for me, and without being able to cook up eggs in the morning, I found myself in dire straits. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s has several breakfast items, including frozen pancakes and waffles (in plain and banana), and EnviroKids cereals (if that’s your thing) including chocolate rice crisps, peanut butter puffs and (my personal favorite), frosted “Amazon Flakes” - featuring a kinkajou on the box. For hot cereals that don’t require a stovetop or a huge time commitment, Amy’s offers a frozen, gluten free oatmeal that you can microwave. Also, if you take Perky’s Nutty Rice cereal and add some milk, raisins and cinnamon sugar, pop it in the microwave for two minutes and you’ll have a delicious breakfast that will really stick to your bones! If you’re looking for something you can eat on the go, toast some of Kinickinick’s fantastic English muffins - light and fluffy with just 170 calories per bun, add some butter and honey or jam and you’re off and running. Glutino also offers a frozen raisin bread which is wonderful -add some cream cheese and you’re out the door!

For lunch and dinner, you have a wide variety of choices. Trader Joe’s Indian Fare meals, microwaveable curries are fantastic - especially combined with their frozen white and brown rice. A really filling, vegetarian option that can either serve two or provide leftovers for tomorrow! Amy’s Garden Vegetable Lasagna and Macaroni & Cheese are also great, but my personal favorite are the new Hain’s Gluten Free Cafe frozen meals: the Fettucini Alfredo and Lemon Basil Chicken are absolutely phenomenal, but I’ve only been able to find them at Whole Foods Markets.

Armed with a microwave and ten minutes on the clock, let’s eat!

- Kelsey Ganes, University of Washington student