Delaney
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, and egg allergies
School: University of Miami
Where did you live at school? In an off-Campus Apartment
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I just asked that all my roommates immediately clean any dish that had my allergen on it
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Don’t be embarrassed to speak up! It is better to say something then end up in the hospital. If they are really your friend they will want to keep you safe!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @delaneybrody + on Insta @delaney.brody
Brooke
Manages: Peanut and tree nut allergies (I have developed additional allergies to wheat, dairy, eggs, and shellfish since college)
School: UMass Amherst
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, sorority house, and an off-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? I told them the severity of my allergens and asked them to avoid keeping or eating them in our room. I also told them about my favorite substitutes for those products!
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, we had a nut-free kitchen!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Just be open about your allergies! Be specific about what makes you comfortable and uncomfortable. Also, when saying “don’t have ____,” try and offer up a substitution. It’s important to address anything when it comes up instead of feeling uncomfortable or developing tensions.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @bha474 + on Insta @nutfreenewyorker
Blake
Manages: A tree nut allergy
School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? I let my roommate know about my nut-allergy and kindly asked him to not eat tree nuts in our dorm room. He was very accepting about it and is one of my best friends to this day!
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I shared a kitchen with three roommates for three years. They all understood my nut allergy and they never cooked with nuts because of this so it made it fairly easy to navigate.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? The best thing to do is over-communicate your allergy. I think you will find that most people with be super respectful and will go out of their way to accommodate your allergy!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @bsorensen + on Insta @blakesseeddbased
Ava
Manages: Peanut and tree nut allergies
School: NC State University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, a sorority house, and an off-Campus Apartment
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, while sharing a kitchen space, I notified my roommates of my allergies and made them aware of the ways cross-contamination could occur. I found most helpful to use separate dish sponges and blenders when my roommate used peanut butter or almond butter in their meals. While living in the sorority house, I met with the chef and they were very accommodating on making sure all the meals were nut-free.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? My best piece of advice is to be very transparent about the severity of your food allergies and share what makes you uncomfortable such as sharing utensils or dishes. This is a learning experience for you as well as your roommate. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and ask them to accommodate to make your living situation feel like a safe space.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @avawisniewski + on Insta @liaavaeats
Clare
Manages: Dairy, egg, and peanut allergies
School: Marquette University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, a sorority house, and an off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only peanuts
How did you ask? I brought it up very early on! I said “I just want to let you know I have some food allergies so I’m going to be careful about sharing surfaces if you have them in the room.” I also asked if she would be willing to not eat peanut butter in the room (one of my most severe allergies). She was very accommodating and made sure to wash her hands and wipe down surfaces to make sure there was no cross-contamination!
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I wiped down surfaces I was meal prepping on and made sure to have a set of my own pots and pans and cutting boards that were a bright color and that my roommates knew were only for me to use.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? I felt uncomfortable loading the dishwasher in my sorority house since a lot of the other dishes had my allergens on them, so I talked about this with my roommates and offered to unload exclusively so we could still split chores!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be open and communicate!! I know it can be nerve wracking to open up about your food allergies and ask the people around you to respect them, but being communicative about measures you can take to keep yourself comfortable and safe is so important. Most of the time people are incredibly nice and accommodating!!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @clarekirch + on Insta @kirchnerclare
Anjali
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, sesame, lentil, pea, and shrimp allergies
School: UC Berkeley
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and in residential housing
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only some of my allergens
How did you ask? I usually asked them if they could be careful when eating the allergens I am severely allergic to, by keeping it on their side of the room or washing their hands if possible!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Don’t be afraid to tell your roommates upfront about your allergens. It’s better to be safe than sorry and usually a roomie is willing to make adjustments to keep you safe!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @allergyanj
Vivian
Manages: Dairy, peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies
School: Iowa State University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, sorority house, and an off-campus apartment
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I made my roommate aware of my allergies and asked her to just make sure to clean up after herself if she were to eat anything containing my allergens! We had our own sections in the cabinet and fridge for our food so there wouldn’t be any risk of cross contamination through packaging and such.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? My advice is to be super open with your roommate! Even if it seems “controlling” or excessive, it is your life on the line! Do not be stressed or worried what they might think, all of my roommates, even random roommates, have always understood and respected my requests.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @viviancrabbe + on Insta @Vivian.crabbe
Sami
Manages: Dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat, shellfish, and sweet potato allergies
School: The University of Georgia
Where did you live at school? Dorm
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only some of my allergens
How did you ask? First, I asked my roommate if she would be eating in the dorm, and she said only snacks! Then I asked her if she eats nuts and she said she didn’t like them! So I never had to ask her not to eat my allergens in our room.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be open and honest!! Tell your roommate upfront and before you guys move in. If a potential roommate is not willing to room with you because of your allergies, you do not want to room with them. Most people are curious about allergies, take these moments to educate your dorm mates and fellow students!!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @samisafeeats + on Insta @samisafeeats
Lia
Manages: Peanut and tree nut allergies
School: Auburn University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus apartment
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, when sharing a kitchen I made sure if they ate or bought food with my allergens that it was in a place separate from my groceries such as a different shelf and that all dishes were washed properly after. I suggest different sponges and blenders!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I suggest being 100% honest to your roommate(s) if you would prefer them not to eat it your allergens around you or not, as well as how severe your allergies are. My roommates were super considerate of my allergies knowing I was anaphylactic and if they ever baked or cooked something for me, they knew how to identify my allergens on labels.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Liarw + on Insta @Liawisniewski
Natalie
Manages: Peanut allergies
School: College of Charleston
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus house
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? My roommate actually had a brother who was allergic to nuts as well, so she understood allergies and was super considerate
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, my roommates have always been very understanding of my allergy. They typically never use peanut products and if they do they only use their own kitchen supplies.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I would recommend to always be super upfront about your allergies. It’s definitely not an embarrassing topic and it is super important, especially if you have anaphylactic reactions. My roommate experience has been amazing and they have been my absolute best friends throughout college!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @natchick
Yael
Manages: Peanut and tree nut allergies
School: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Where did you live at school? An off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? We talked about my allergies before moving in together! Emily was AMAZING about not bringing peanuts or any peanut products into the entire apartment! If she had other nuts, she just wouldn’t bring them into my room. I explained to her the importance of my allergy and severity and open communication about how to read labels really helped!
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, we kept open communication at all times and if she had any questions about whether items may or may not contain peanut products, Emily would ask me! We were really good about wiping down common areas and cooking surfaces as well. We had separate pots and pans and cutlery too which really helped!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Make sure you share the importance of communication and allergies early on! Before moving in, talk to them about what you can and cannot have in the room
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Yaelkara + on Insta @Yaelkara
Jenna
Manages: Milk, eggs, beef, and pork allergies
School: University of Toronto
Where did you live at school? In a sorority house, an off-Campus Apartment and in a single
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only dairy
How did you ask? My roommate in the sorority house was luckily one of my closest friends, so she knew about my allergies and that dairy is my most severe allergy. I asked her before we moved in if she could avoid having dairy in our room to prevent me coming into contact with it or inhaling it, and we had no issues!
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I lived in a single room in a dorm with a shared kitchenette for a year and in a sorority house with 8 other girls for two years. When I lived in the dorm, I tried to make the mandatory meal plan work for the first couple of months because the school had promised to accommodate my allergies, but once the chef himself told me they couldn’t guarantee the food was safe, I was able to get a refund and resort to making my meals in my dorm room and kitchenette that had a sink, large freeze and freezer, and microwave. I got very creative and would microwave safe soups, bake potatoes in the microwave, make pasta in the microwave, and of course lots of sandwiches and salads made in my dorm! I would just clean the microwave before I used it. When I lived in the sorority house, it was pretty challenging to share a kitchen with 8 other people, some of whom were not familiar with my allergies. I made sure everyone was aware of my allergies before I moved in and made special arrangements to buy my own pots, pans, dishware, utensils, and sponges and store them in my own separate cabinet to avoid cross-contact. I also had my own shelf in the fridge and freezer where I could safely store my food and everyone knew not to touch it. I never had a reaction, but it was challenging at times to need to use the kitchen to make myself some safe food, only to come downstairs and find that the kitchen was dirty and even had leftover cheesy pasta on the stove, for example. I would typically wear gloves and clean kitchen surfaces before I used them as well as cleaning my own dishes with my sponge rather than using the shared dishwasher and getting my safe pots, pans, and dishware mixed up with the house’s.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Your allergies are actually a hidden superpower. Every room you walk into, you will leave having made a difference whether it’s by advocating for the needs of people with allergies and other conditions, educating others about allergies, or by simply opening people’s perspectives up to the challenges of those with invisible disabilities, your voice is important. What comes with this, is often running into people who are ignorant about allergies or maybe even don’t care. Although it can be discouraging at times, I encourage you to not let your allergies hold you back from having the experiences you want to have. It’s not a matter of, “can I do this?” it’s, “how can I do this safely?” I lived in a single dorm my first year because I felt it would’ve been a big jump to go from having my own room at home to sharing a small dorm with a stranger, and I didn’t feel ready for it. I still think that was the right decision for me at the time and it helped me gain the confidence and experience to then move into a sorority house and live there for 2 years. Of course, there were challenges and uncomfortable conversations that had to be had at times, but living in that crowded sorority house taught me to communicate more effectively and where my boundaries were regarding my allergies. It was such a valuable experience for me that I encourage you to live with another person in whatever capacity you’re open to if you are able to in college.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @jennatso8 + on Insta @thefoodallergytherapist
Alyssa
Manages: Peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and chickpea allergies
School: The Ohio State University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? For freshman and sophomore year, I was fortunate enough to have a roommate who also had peanut allergies! But I did ask that she did not eat my other allergens in our shared dorm room. As someone with allergies herself, she totally respected my request and we never had any issues.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, for junior and senior year, I lived in an off campus apartment with three other roommates. Before signing a lease, we had a sit down dinner to discuss my allergy concerns. I wanted to be sure this was something everyone was on the same page about before we moved in together! All three roommates agreed to keep my allergens out of the shared kitchen. But I felt comfortable enough to allow them to keep those foods and snacks in their own bedrooms. I also had a separate tub of personal kitchen utensils that was off limits to everyone else.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Despite our prior agreement, two of my roommates did not respect my allergy wishes. I repeatedly found my allergens in our shared kitchen, and they were making disrespectful comments about my allergies to others. I ended up buying a mini fridge to keep in my bedroom to hold my own foods. I also purchased a campus dining plan so I did not have to cook in our shared kitchen. I even ended up moving out early! It was a really disheartening situation, and I obviously no longer consider those people as friends!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Register with the disability services office on campus! Ohio State was willing to waive my on-campus living requirement due to my allergy.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @alyssabauder + on Insta @allthingsallergies
Kelsey
Manages: Peanut, tree nuts, dairy, wheat, rye, barley, soy, shellfish, and fruit allergies and OAS
School: Cornell University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, a sorority House, an off-campus apartment and an off-Campus house
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only peanuts and tree nuts
How did you ask? In my dorm room freshman year, I asked my roommate to avoid all nuts in the room because it was close quarters. After that, I asked my friends to be aware but did not ask them to avoid anything.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, peanuts are my most severe allergy. By the time I was off campus with a kitchen my junior and senior years, I was living with my best friends who knew ALL ABOUT my allergies. I purchased paper plates and plastic utensils for everyone and asked that when people ate nuts they use the disposable items and throw them away outside. This way I never had to worry about coming in contact. I have the most amazing and supportive friends who never made me feel like this request was a burden and came to literally every single dance and a cappella performance that I did. We all looked out for each other inside and outside the house!
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Living in the sorority house was definitely a challenge. There are a lot of people living in close quarters on very different schedules. Adding alcohol to the mix also is not easy. My sorority house had a kitchen with a chef who was quite accommodating and aware of allergies. We also had a kitchenette with cereal, snacks and 2 refrigerators for us to store our own items. We made one fridge nut-free and I got one cabinet shelf to store my own food items. This was very helpful, but as you can imagine with the chaos in a sorority house, everything ended up everywhere anyway. I ended up keeping some food in my room instead to avoid any issues and only ate items from the kitchenette that were in sealed packages due to cross-contamination risk. Despite the challenges here, I loved my experience in the house!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be open and honest about your needs and concerns from the beginning (before move in). Be nice. Offer alternatives. Share your snacks! People are generally aware of what allergies are. They may not know all of the details we need to think about on a daily basis. Sharing a piece of that can help them understand your experience better. Everyone has something they are dealing with- I’m sure there is something you will need to adjust to accommodate your roommate too!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Allergytravelr + on Insta @allergytraveler
Kelly
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, soy, sesame, and legume allergies
School: Rutgers University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus house
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? I was always sure to approach the conversation from an informative and educational perspective. This way I was able to educate my friends/roommates while, also, politely urging them to not eat my allergens. When I lived in a dorm room this was particularly important because of how small the shared space is and the lack of personal space can make it difficult to manage allergies.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I lived in a house with 5 other girls. All 5 of my roommates were D1 collegiate athletes, therefore, they were constantly going to practice, games, and were training and working out. Peanut butter and nuts, in my opinion, are super common among athletes because it is a quick snack with high protein. My roommates were always super cautious and aware about my allergy. Whenever they would make anything with one of my allergens they would text me, or tell me, that my allergen was out in the kitchen to warn me not to come in. They would then sanitize the entire kitchen and would then let me know it was safe to return to the area. When they would eat my allergen they would go into their own bedroom to eat it or would eat it outside, weather permitted. Therefore, they never ate my allergen in a communal space. In addition, they were always super aware to never leave dishes in the sink. If a dish they used had an allergen of mine on it and left it in the sink, I then would not be able to wash my dishes. It was a rule in our house to wash your dishes immediately after you were done with them to prevent an allergic reaction.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? No my roommates were incredible and I owe them everything, like quite possibly my life.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be your own advocate I cannot stress how important overall awareness and communication is!!! Don’t feel shy about your allergy. When discussing your allergy, approach the conversation gently, with an open mind because a lot of people are simply unaware and uneducated – and that is okay as long as you provide them with awareness and education. Make it a two-way street, when discussing your requests for them for things pertaining to your allergies ask them if there is anything you can do as a roommate to make their living situation more comfortable. Also, make sure to leave the door open for the conversation – say to your roommate “if you ever have questions regarding this please don’t hesitate to ask”. Please reach out to me on Instagram if you need help approaching these conversations, navigating college with allergies, or just want to chat!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @kellinanutshell + on Insta @kell_inanutshell
Emma
Manages: Celiac and peanut and tree nut allergies
School: Tufts University
Where did you live at school? Dorm
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only nuts
How did you ask? I had a single freshman year but my sophomore year I roomed with a friend. I asked her to keep the room a nut-free space and to make sure she didn’t eat gluten on my side of the room or near my desk. For the fridge, I kept my food on the top shelf to avoid cross-contamination. Anything with nuts had to be eaten in a friend’s room or outside so it wasn’t brought in.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? I was lucky not to experience a situation like this, and everyone I hung out with either had allergies themselves or was very understanding.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Don’t feel bad about asking for your room to be an allergen-free space! You deserve to be comfortable and safe in your space for the school year and it shouldn’t be an added stress. Communicate clearly about your allergies and don’t be afraid to double check ingredients or labels for foods they are eating.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @nutsfornogluten + on Insta @nutsfornogluten
Audrey
Manages: Wheat, gluten, eggs, peanut, tree nut, legume, seed, and shrimp allergies
School: Rutgers University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only nuts
How did you ask? I asked my roommate if she could avoid peanuts and tree nuts in the dorm when we first got to meet each other in person! I just mentioned that these were some of my highest risk allergens, and I would be really grateful if she was able to avoid bringing them into our shared space. She was super willing to agree!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I would recommend communicating your allergies and needs as the first thing to do. This helped a lot in the roommate selection process, as I wanted to make sure that my future roommate would be understanding and willing to accommodate by not eating certain foods in the dorm or being sure to avoid any cross-contamination incidents! It would be helpful to teach them where you keep your epinephrine and how to administer in case of emergencies. Of course, it will take some time to get comfortable and get to know each other better, but finding someone who is able to understand is really a game changer!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @audreycha + on Insta @allaboutallergies
Katie
Manages: Peanut, tree nut (except almonds!), and sesame seed allergies
School: Loyola Marymount University
Where did you live at school? Dorm and an off-Campus House
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Asked them to minimize the amount they ate my allergens.
How did you ask? When reaching out to potential roommates I let all of them know about my allergens up front. I said they could have them on their side of the room, but avoid bringing it into my area and common areas.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, my roommates were great about keeping peanut butter and all other allergens in their respective cabinets. We never left dishes in the sink so I never had to handle dishes with my allergen on them. We always washed dishes and pans well so I never had an issue with using the same utensils either. We were committed to keeping the kitchen clean regardless of allergens, and I was lucky to have such clean roommates.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? During my freshman year, I shared a small dorm room. She was aware of my allergies and agreed to respect my space and avoid bringing my allergen into our dorm as much as possible. As the year went on, we didn’t have the best relationship and she started bringing in larger and larger tubs of peanut butter, eating it by the spoonful on her bed across from me. I didn’t feel safe confronting her and spent most of my time outside my dorm room as a result. I probably should have reached out to an RA (they can really help in these situations) but it was the end of the year and I had close friends that were more than happy to have me over. Never had an issue with roommates after that.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I think it’s really important to get a roommate who has a similar lifestyle as you, and who you can see easily becoming a friend. In college, everyone is kind of in their own world, and if someone doesn’t like you they can respond in really strange and immature ways. After my difficult experience freshman year, I made sure I only roomed with friends who I knew cared about me. As a result, they went out of their way to make sure I felt safe in our shared spaces.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Kqwright5 + on Insta @Katie_wrong
Carlin
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, dairy, and sesame allergies
School: Syracuse University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus house
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only nuts
How did you ask? I had a random roommate my freshman year and just asked her very clearly when we first started talking if she would mind not eating nuts in our room and it turned out that she didn’t like nuts so it worked out great! My sophomore year, I lived in a split double with one of my best friends, so my roommate ate nuts on her side of the room, but did not keep them in our shared fridge.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? I lived off-campus my junior and senior years and shared a kitchen with 4 other people. I had my own cabinet, counter space, and sponge for cleaning my dishes. I asked that they use plastic silverware if they were going to eat something with nuts and most dishes would go through the dishwasher after use to ensure they were clean. I was also proactive about changing our sponges out very, very often, which made me feel a lot better. There were certain things we shared, like butter and milk, that we actually all agreed to use the dairy-free version of, which was great! There were certain things that I chose to have my own of, like a blender cup for smoothies.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be honest about your boundaries up front. If you’re living with friends, they should want to keep you safe in your shared space so feel free to share exactly how they can help you. Above all else, just remember you are not an inconvenience for wanting to keep yourself safe in a shared space!
Follow me: @carlinhanley on the Spokin app + @sweetlifeofcarlin on Insta
Rachel
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, egg, and dairy (EoE) allergies
School: Howard University
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only some of my allergens
How did you ask? For peanuts which I’m anaphylactic to, I shared that having them in any form in the room were a threat to my life and would be a non-negotiable for my health. Luckily she shared the peanut and tree nut allergy, and she just kept her other food items in a bin under her bed.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, we have different plates, sponges and utensils. No nuts were prepared or stored in our kitchen. My roommate only cooks with eggs when I’m out of town and deep cleans the kitchen afterwards.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Always lookout for yourself. Homemade treats can be dangerous, read the ingredients yourself!
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Luckily all of my roommates were understanding of the severity of my allergies. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, so don’t feel afraid to involve your RA or administration if you feel you aren’t being heard. At the end of the day it’s your wellbeing and livelihood that needs to be safeguarded.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Remember that most people haven’t had to grow up with your eating needs and habits. It could be nice to bring a safe snack to share to break the ice! You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person, and you want it to be a positive experience.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @rachelmccain
Maria
Manages: Dairy, gluten, peanut, tree nut, egg, pea, sesame, chicken, turkey, oat, and shellfish allergies
School: Ball State University
Where did you live at school? Dorm and an Off-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only some of my allergens
How did you ask? I told her about my long list of allergies and the severity of them early on. The respectful and caring response back made me reassured that it would be a good fit. I told her that steamy gluten in the air will cause an allergic reaction. And asked her if it was okay that she did not eat foods like pasta or mac n cheese in the room. Addressing it early on and making sure your roommate is aware and respectful of it in advance helps a lot.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, my roommate was aware of my allergies before living together in an apartment. She was very cautious and we came up with ideas of what utensils we will share and ones that we will not. We discussed the foods that we need to be most cautious with in the kitchen.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Inform and educate your roommate in advance. Sometimes the uncomfortable conversations can make the future a lot more comfortable. Do not be afraid to speak up for your safety.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @maria04 + on Insta @allergy.with.me04
Empress
Manages: a peanut allergy and a gluten intolerance
School: California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo
Where did you live at school? On-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only peanuts
How did you ask? My roommate actually also has a severe peanut allergy so neither of us have to worry about peanuts being in our shared areas. However I’m not severely allergic to gluten so I don’t mind that being brought into our apartment.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I brought my own utensils and cookware, anticipating three other roommates who did not have allergies but I ended up with only one roommate who also shared my allergy. I plan to use mostly my own things still but we can share appliances if we want.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Cal Poly’s campus and disability staff were much more aware about allergies than I expected. However, I don’t think that my representative understood the severity of my allergy and the anxiety it brought me. After reviewing all the housing options Cal Poly offered, my family and I agreed that the most comfortable housing would be in the on-campus apartments where I have my own room in a suite and share a kitchen with only three people (as opposed to an entire dorm building). Especially since I am in the Food Allergy Institute’s Tolerance Induction Program, I am required to do a lot of meal prep in the kitchen and don’t have the time to transfer my cooking utensils/appliances and deep clean the area every time I need to use it. They originally guaranteed me a single but after some back and forth, I believe they finally understood the depth of my concerns and placed me in an on-campus apartment.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Even if you have a hard time advocating for yourself in other situations, this is the one time where you absolutely should. It’s a life or death situation for some people and can determine how the rest of your year(s) at school will go. Academics in college is the highest priority and it would be really unfortunate if something like this got in the way and prevented you from focusing and being comfortable. Also don’t be afraid to remind them! It can be hard for others since it’s almost like a lifestyle change for some people.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @emerkins + on Insta @emer.kins
Parker
Manages: Peanut, tree nuts, soy, and corn allergies
School: Washington and Lee University
Where did you live at school? Dorm, Off-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only nuts
How did you ask? I was matched with a roommate who also had nut allergies, so we kept the room nut-free and we discussed and agreed on her having soy and corn on her half of the room.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I had my own dishes and sponge, and I informed my roommates of my allergies and they were sure that when using shared utensils they were thoroughly washed each time. I kept all of my food and ingredients in a separate cabinet, and if a roommate did eat anything containing my allergens (especially nuts) they were cautious about cleaning it up.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I would be clear from the start about what is going to make you feel the most comfortable with friends and roommates. I found that my friends naturally became more eager to accommodate me after we knew each other longer, but at the beginning it is important to make sure that they understand the situation and what you need to stay safe.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @parkersparkss + on Insta @parkersallergyadventures
Elyssa
Manages: Tree nuts, sesame, and banana allergies
School: Emory University
Where did you live at school? Dorm, Off-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only some of my allergens
How did you ask? While we never specifically discussed not eating my allergens in the room, my roommate never brought these foods into our space. Since we did have a shared sink, we always got products that did not contain my allergens (soap, lotion, etc.).
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, this will be my first year sharing a kitchen with two other girls. While I have not experienced a shared kitchen yet, I got my own toaster/air fryer to avoid cross-contamination. We also already decided to use the dishwasher for shared silverware that has touched my allergens. I am excited to have my own kitchen, but this will be a new experience for me to navigate.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Luckily, I have never been in a challenging situation with my roommate. She is so kind and thoughtful about my allergies.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Stick up for yourself as best you can. Try to pick a roommate(s) that is understanding of your allergies and wants to help you feel comfortable. Since being away from home for the first time is already a challenge, I would try to surround myself with people who support me and do not make me feel like a burden. A true friend does not make you feel bad about having allergies and will stand up for you too.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Elyssa17
Emma
Manages: Tree nut and sesame allergies
School: University of Vermont
Where did you live at school? Dorm, Off-Campus Apartment
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, my roommate and I never had any issues sharing a kitchen! We’re very good about keeping any potential allergy foods separate and keeping our space clean. For shared appliances like our toaster (bread is a major concern for me), we bought a 4 slice toaster that is separate in the middle and designated a side for each of us, and bought toaster covers to keep any crumbs out. Overall having a roommate who really gets my allergies and is so respectful of my boundaries is a huge plus!
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be very careful about who you choose as a roommate! I would recommend making sure that they know about your allergies in advance and what boundaries you will have regarding them, and then gauge their responses to determine if they’re the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries, you deserve a safe and respectful living environment!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @emmadins23 + on Insta @emmallergy
Ellie
Manages: A peanut allergy
School: Wake Forest
Where did you live at school? Dorm, Off-Campus House, In a single
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? I asked nicely and she completely understood that it would be for the best for her to just avoid peanuts in the room.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, again, I asked for them to not have peanuts in the house in order to be the most safe I could be!
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? One of my roommates sophomore year was not that respectful and still had peanut butter in her separate room, but it was still an issue due to the shared nature of our kitchen at the time and shared dishes. I ended up having a minor reaction from her using the dishes with her peanut butter.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Just to have open communication! The only way for others to understand the severity of allergies is to explain it to them and to make sure that they know how serious it can be.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @ellie.gust + on Insta @ellie.gust
Allie
Manages: Peanuts and tree nut allergies
School: University of San Francisco
Where did you live at school? Dorm, Off-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? I was lucky enough to room with someone who I went to high school with. We were friends in high school but later on became best friends/inseparable once living together in college. We actually roomed together all 4 years of college! We lived together in a dorm freshman and sophomore year and then shared a bedroom in an apartment that we lived in with 2 other girls our junior and senior year. I was very up front in explaining how serious my allergy was and explained that I can’t have nuts in the room at all, and asked if she would be ok with it. She had no problem with it and completely avoided them our whole time living together. During our junior and senior year, we lived with several other girls. Luckily I was friends with these girls from my sorority. They already knew about my allergy and so it wasn’t an issue explaining to them that we couldn’t have any nuts in the house. They completely respected it.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I shared a kitchen my junior and senior year with 3 other girls. Like I said above, the girls I lived with knew about my allergy and knew I couldn’t have any nuts in the house. Since we were friends, they had been around me so much and knew what my allergy was like. It didn’t seem like a big deal to them at all. However, I did have a set of my own plates, bowls, and silverware just in case. I also had my own toaster that the rest of the roomies knew not to use. If they ever ate/cooked anything that was “may contain” nuts, we had 2 different sponges to wash dishes with, just so we didn’t risk anything.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? Not in college. However, my first year out of college it was my first time living with people that I wasn’t previously friends with. It was a lot harder navigating my allergy with people who hadn’t been around me previously/didn’t consider me a friend. I had asked these girls not to eat nuts in the house, however they didn’t always respect it. I remember one time, one of my roommates sat down right next to me with a pb and j. I had to ask her if she or I should move to the other room. She told me she “forgot.” Luckily after that she never ate nuts again directly next to me but definitely still did when I wasn’t right next to her. My husband (boyfriend at the time) had to clean the kitchen table a lot so I’d feel safe to sit there and eat. During this time, I also made it very clear that we would all be using different plates, silverware, pots/pans, etc. I didn’t want to risk anything. We also had different sponges and I told them they couldn’t use mine for my safety. We also had different toasters. Another time I remember coming home and the entire house reeked of peanut because they were cooking a Thai dish. One of my friends that I was with ended up going to talk to them to explain how serious my allergy was and that even the smell was making me sick and finally I think it clicked for them and they didn’t eat nuts around me again. This was a very scary experience and the best thing I could do was continuing to remind them and stand up for myself when I needed to. I know most people would have been more respectful and I was lucky enough to live with people for 5 years prior that cared about and respected me.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be honest! I know it may be intimidating to have to tell someone about your allergies and expect them to refrain from them but it’s for your safety. People are more understanding than you think. My roommates would often ask questions or want to hear stories about my allergy experiences. I think this made them take it more serious after hearing of past reactions I’ve had. Many of them didn’t know how serious allergies could be and sharing stories was eye-opening for them. Not everyone will be as accommodating as my college roommates were. If that’s the case, don’t be afraid to do what you need to do to keep yourself safe. Have your own plates, silverware, toaster, etc. My roommates and I each had our own cupboard and our own shelf in the fridge. This way nothing ever got mixed up. Or if your roommate is eating something unsafe for you, you know it’s in a separate place of the fridge/kitchen. Lastly, don’t be afraid to give reminders. Most people haven’t lived with an allergy their whole life and may forget. It was nice to see who was willing to give up my allergens for me. It shows who really cares about you!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @allieparks22 + on Insta @allieparks22
Natale
Manages: Peanut, tree nuts, strawberry, and chickpea allergies
School: University of Virginia
Where did you live at school? Dorm
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Only peanuts and tree nuts
How did you ask? My roommate was my friend before college so when we were agreeing to room together I asked her if she would be alright with not eating anything with peanuts or tree nuts in our room.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? There was one time where she forgot about my allergies and ate a bar that had almonds in it, but once she was done eating it she immediately washed her hands in the bathroom and only ate the bars outside of our dorm from then on.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? My best advice is to talk about it before agreeing to room with someone if you can so you will know if they will respect your needs or not. If you can’t choose a roommate or speak to them before choosing them as a roommate, then explain to them about your allergens and your needs for you to be safe as soon as possible so they know ahead of time.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @lemon
Niko
Manages: Cashew, Pistachio, and pine nut allergies
School: DePaul University
Where did you live at school? In an off-campus apartment and an on-Campus Apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? I did not have a roommate
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I have had both vegetarian and vegan roommates in the past. They often cooked with my allergen since many dairy-free foods are made with cashews. I asked them to let me know which dishes they used and what parts of the counter were contaminated so I would know which places to avoid until they cleaned. For dirty dishes, I had my roommates wash them and then put the sponge and scrubber they used in the dishwasher before I used those items myself.
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? I once had a very challenging situation when I was at a vegan restaurant with my friends celebrating a birthday party. When making the reservation, I asked if they used any of my allergens and, if so, whether it would be possible to avoid them. They assured me it wouldn’t be a problem to prepare a special meal without my allergens and said they would make a note of it on our reservation. Everything was perfect throughout the meal, except for the dessert. They had told me there were no allergens in any course, including the dessert, but they were mistaken. There were pistachios in the dessert, and I noticed immediately. I asked the staff if there were any allergens in the dessert, and they insisted there weren’t. However, I knew I had eaten something I was allergic to. A few minutes later, they returned and confirmed that there were pistachios in the dessert. They immediately offered to get me some Benadryl. I ran with the staff to the nearest Walgreens and quickly took a double dose. I should have had my EpiPen with me, but I didn’t. I also should have called an ambulance, but I didn’t. They went ahead and comped our entire meal as an apology. Even though this should never have happened, I’m glad they owned up to it and comped the meal.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Be upfront and honest with them about any of your allergies—it’s better to be safe than sorry! It may be scary to be direct about your allergies with someone new, but it’s better to feel a little shy now than to regret it later. If your roommate doesn’t respect your allergies, talk to them. Let them know how you feel and what you would like them to do differently next time.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @nikosarles
Amanda
Manages: Dairy, egg, peanut, tree nuts (except almonds), fish, and shellfish allergies
School: Washington University in St. Louis
Where did you live at school? In a dorm, an off-Campus Apartment and in a single
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? I did not have a roommate
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, I had my own set of dishes, utensils, pots/pans, measuring cups, cutting board, etc. and my own sponge to wash dishes. When we cooked together, we used my kitchen supplies. I am grateful that my allergies are not airborne so that was not an issue for me, and I just asked them to wipe down surfaces that had touched my other allergens.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I started college in Fall 2021, so there were still some COVID-19 protocols in place and it was fairly easy for me to request a single room. When I studied abroad, I had to request a formal accommodation. I chose to have a single to give me more peace-of-mind—I knew that moving across the country and transitioning to college (or going abroad) would be enough for me! I’ve always lived with other people in a suite or apartment but had my own room, and that has been really nice.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @amandayoung03 + on Insta @youngnwanderlust
Olivia
Manages: Milk and eggs allergies with sensitivity to some soy products and nuts
School: Thomas Jefferson University East Falls Campus
Where did you live at school? In a single and an off-campus apartment
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? I did not have a roommate
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? After living in a single dorm in freshman year, I requested to share an on-campus apartment with two of my trusted friends. However, Res Life stated I could not “reserve” a triple (even though there were triple apartments!) and had to settle for a quad with a random roommate if I couldn’t find another trusted friend. I did not feel safe with a random roommate, even if she was informed about my food allergies. After multiple meetings with the Dean, Res Life, and Student Accessibility Services, I finally received my accommodation – a single on-campus apartment. Without Student Accessibility Services (shoutout to Ms. Gingold!) and relentless advocating for myself with the help of my mom and knowledgeable mentors, this would not have happened. I did not have roommates for my time living on campus, and I have a studio now, off campus.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Don’t be afraid of communicating your food allergies! This is not a preference; it is your safety. If people do not understand that at first, do not give up! However, you should be communicating this EARLY to make it as easy as possible for your college to ensure your accommodations. Get in touch with student accessibility services well-before the school year starts. I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to have a single because I could more easily monitor the food that was coming into my room. If people came over, I made sure that they brought their own utensils and dishes, or I gave them a paper plate. This was to limit the exposure of allergens in my kitchen and living area, which would have been a lot more difficult if I did have a roommate using the same facilities as me. Since my allergies can result in reactions through contact AND ingestion, I felt so much more safe not having a roommate. I also did not want to put the burden of deep cleaning everything on a potential roommate, even though I had friends that would do that for me.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @livwong + on Insta @liv.ingwithallergies
Hannah
Manages: Peanut, tree nut, legume, and melon allergies with a gluten sensitivity
School: Emory & Henry University
Where did you live at school? In a single and in townhouse-style dorms
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? I asked my housemates to keep their food containing my allergens in their rooms!
How did you ask? Being upfront is always the best! I explained the severity of my allergens to my housemates before we all agreed to live together. I was thankfully blessed with a great group of girls who were very understanding and very willing to keep any food containing my allergens in their room. We keep a post-it note on the fridge of my allergens and everyone does a great job of cleaning down countertops.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, a few of my best tips are to always have your own kitchen supplies that are easily identifiable, keep cleaning supplies nearby, label everything, and keep your items separated in their own cabinet if possible!
Did you ever have a challenging situation you had to manage? In one of my past housing situations I lived with housemates who disregarded my request for not using my appliances, eating my food, and removing my labels from my cabinet. I first sent messages to our house group chat but these events kept occurring, so I reached out to our dean of students to help mitigate the problems. I also worked with disability services to get a full size fridge added to my accommodations for my room.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? I personally chose not to have a roommate because I know trying to consistently control what someone else brings into a shared space can be difficult, create added stress, and create an unsafe environment. In order to have a single room in my accommodation plan, I reached out to disability services for forms for my provider to complete stating my situation and needs. There are many pros to having your own space, but there can also be a few cons. I felt a little isolated at the beginning of my freshman year since I was in a housing residence that was on the opposite side of campus of the freshman housing and did not have a roommate who I could immediately begin to make friends with. However, not long after classes started and sports picked up I quickly made friends! Weighing the pros and cons of having a roommate vs a single is the best first step to making your decision!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @hannahsmelcer + on Insta @breakingoutblog
Josh
Manages: Peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies
School: University of Michigan
Where did you live at school? In a dorm and an off-Campus House
Did you ask your roommates not to have allergens in your dorm room? Yes
How did you ask? You have to be forthright with them about the severity. It’s a give and take, in exchange for being so considerate of food allergies, I would offer to cook sometimes or do something to offset their kindness.
Did you ever have to share a kitchen with roommates and how did you navigate that? Yes, if I could not eat something, I asked they did not purchase it or kept it in their room.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone going to college? Always lookout for yourself. Homemade treats can be dangerous, read the ingredients yourself!
