Gluten-Free Diet Creates Challenges For College Students
Pullman, Wash is located in the heart of the rolling hills of the Palouse, surrounded by wheat fields and bountiful harvests. One might find it hard to forget that they are located in one of the highest wheat-producing regions in the world.
However, Ashley M. Rockwell and Kevin C. Rinker received news right after their freshman year at Washington State University that would change their lifestyles forever. They can not consume products made from wheat.
When it comes to fluffy rolls, pastas and cakes, these two students pass. Instead they enjoy tasty foods such as polenta and quinoa, and beverages such as hemp or rice milk.
Rockwell said that she and Rinker are highly allergic to gluten, a protein found in wheat. This means that they are unable to consume a lot of the foods that are common to many Americans. They do not eat cookies, pizza or bread made from wheat and even certain medications and vitamins. Rockwell said that although they have not been tested, there is a strong chance that she and Rinker have Celiac Disease.
Celiac Disease is a digestive disease in which people cannot consume gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse’s website, http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm#what. In the United States alone, 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease. Some symptoms include vomiting, abdominal bloating and constipation. The only known cure for Celiac Disease is a gluten-free diet.
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Avoiding foods with gluten presents unique challenges for these two college students. Yet, their diet is even further restricted, which adds to these challenges.
In addition to their intolerance to gluten, both Rockwell and Rinker are also allergic to dairy and eggs. They made the decision to adopt a vegan diet after they stopped eating meat at the dining centers. Many lunch meats are made with wheat fillers and to avoid getting sick it just made sense to stop eating meat, said Rockwell.
Dining at the dining centers on campus was extremely difficult, said Rockwell. There were three different food items at the dining centers that they could eat. These included hash browns, vegetables and rice noodles. The foods all had to be made in separate pans, to avoid contact with the grill, which serves omelets and eggs. “Some of the student workers were frustrated; they didn’t understand that we weren’t being picky,” Rockwell said.
This year, Rinker and Rockwell live off campus. They are able to shop for themselves, but shopping for gluten-free foods takes a lot of time. They can not just call for a pizza or grab a frozen dinner.
Making meals takes a lot of planning and can be frustrating, said Rockwell. “Everyday it’s like, what are we eating for dinner?” There are no quick foods. Even for a sandwich the gluten-free bread is so dense that it has to be toasted. Many students might order a pizza on a week day night but to make a pizza with no dairy, wheat or meat takes some planning. A homemade gluten-free pizza crust calls for four different flours, said Rockwell.
Gluten-free foods, which are often found in specialty stores, cost more. It takes a large amount of a college student’s budget.
The Moscow Food Co-op (Co-op) is a store which sells gluten-free products. “The Co-op
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is really special, we’re so lucky,” Rockwell said. The store has a large selection of gluten-free foods. However, shopping is not cheap, said Rinker. A loaf of gluten-free bread is barely less than $5.00, while at WinCo Foods a loaf sells for $.80. The Co-op also sells gluten-free pretzels for $6.85. A regular bag of pretzels costs $2.50 at WinCo Foods.
But the diet does not just affect food products and budgets, it also affects activities many might take for granted.
Eating out is not possible without a considerable amount of forethought. Mexican restaurants offer a lot of vegetables, beans and rice. But it is necessary to double check that dairy products, lard and even enchilada sauce are not used in the preparation of the food. Rinker said that he believes a lot of restaurants are becoming more aware. They are working to provide people with food allergies and Celiac Disease with options.
Rockwell said that she feels fortunate to be living in today’s world because Celiac Disease and wheat allergies are gaining awareness and there are more products than in the past.
Both Rockwell and Rinker are surprised at the amount of people who know a family member or friend who have the same intolerance to gluten. It actually is really surprising at the amount of people who understand, Rockwell said.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Graduates and the United States Job Market
WSU Graduates Look Abroad for Opportunities
The economic downturn is causing Washington State University (WSU) students to evaluate what exactly the future holds, for some this means considering options abroad after graduation.
Mary Ward, a career counselor at the Center for Advising and Career Development, said there is urgency among students who come into the center when it comes to the job search. “With the state of the economy there is a lot of competition in the job market.” Last year students were defeated before they had even started the search. This year they seem more proactive, she said.
The economic downturn is causing Washington State University (WSU) students to evaluate what exactly the future holds, for some this means considering options abroad after graduation.
Mary Ward, a career counselor at the Center for Advising and Career Development, said there is urgency among students who come into the center when it comes to the job search. “With the state of the economy there is a lot of competition in the job market.” Last year students were defeated before they had even started the search. This year they seem more proactive, she said.
Some WSU graduates choose not to enter into the job market, but instead look for opportunities abroad.
Breanna N. Bart is a WSU graduate who chose to go abroad after she left Pullman. “I was excited but also nervous to enter the real world. I knew right away that I didn’t want to sit at a desk in an office all day typing on a computer,” Bart said.
Bart, a 2008 graduate of WSU, is currently teaching abroad in Chile through a program called TeachingChile. Bart said while abroad, she has gained experience that she does not believe would have been possible at home. She applied for jobs in the United States but did not want to go straight into a career right after WSU. “I was 21 and couldn´t see doing the same thing for the next fifty years, I needed an adventure.”
Allison M. Fischer, a WSU senior double majoring in Spanish and dietetics, is currently considering volunteering abroad through the Peace Corps after graduation. “I started thinking about joining the Peace Corps after I came back [in December 2007] from studying abroad in Chile.” Fischer said she grew so much during that time and would love to give something back. If she could redo one thing about her experience it would be to involve herself more in the community, she said.
Ward said when students have diverse experiences, including international experiences, it shows they can communicate and handle high pressure situations, which is important to employers. Bart added: “Living abroad regardless of whether someone is working or studying is extremely beneficial to a person’s sense of adaptability and their intercultural communication skills.”
Dru R. Olson, a recruiter for the Peace Corps, said while volunteers are abroad they develop skills that can be used in global or local settings. Olson said, “There was a 16 percent increase in applicants to the Peace Corps in 2008 and we anticipate that increase to continue through 2009.” Being flexible and adaptable are necessary characteristics for volunteers in the Peace Corps, said Olson. There is a very careful application process and it is usually 9-12 months between when an applicant starts the application and when he or she leaves for their destination, Olson said.
According to the Peace Corps’ website, www.peacecorps.gov, volunteers can qualify for deferment of student loans, student loan cancellation and other financial benefits. However, the Peace Corps is not a program for people with financial motives. There are many other great programs out there to consider if a reason behind the volunteer work is financial, Olson said.
Bart said through TeachingChile she has a year-long contract with a guaranteed salary. Teaching is very affordable, there are a lot of teaching opportunities and many people just buy a plane ticket and show up looking for work, she said.
Both Fischer and Bart have their families to support them, but it took some convincing.
When Fischer told her family she was going to apply to the Peace Corps they thought it was only a passing phase, she said. “But as I talked about it more and more I think they learned that this is one place my heart is really at and that I could be really good at it.”
Bart also had difficulties, especially when convincing her father that going abroad was a good choice. “He was raised to believe that when someone graduates from college, they find a secure job, buy a house, put together a retirement fund, etc. Eventually he saw the benefits of international experience and he’s very supportive now,” she said.
There are many options out there and students deciding what to do after they leave Pullman should remember that.
“Students need to examine the reasons why they would want to go abroad,” Ward said, “For some people, it [going abroad] is very enriching and when you enter the job market you are that much more competent.” However, for some fields it is very beneficial to enter directly into the job market after school and get that entry level position, she said. “It depends on you.”
Bart said, “A lot of people have preconceived notions about what the real world should be but I´m realizing more and more that the “real world” is whatever we create for ourselves.”
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Breanna N. Bart is a WSU graduate who chose to go abroad after she left Pullman. “I was excited but also nervous to enter the real world. I knew right away that I didn’t want to sit at a desk in an office all day typing on a computer,” Bart said.
Bart, a 2008 graduate of WSU, is currently teaching abroad in Chile through a program called TeachingChile. Bart said while abroad, she has gained experience that she does not believe would have been possible at home. She applied for jobs in the United States but did not want to go straight into a career right after WSU. “I was 21 and couldn´t see doing the same thing for the next fifty years, I needed an adventure.”
Allison M. Fischer, a WSU senior double majoring in Spanish and dietetics, is currently considering volunteering abroad through the Peace Corps after graduation. “I started thinking about joining the Peace Corps after I came back [in December 2007] from studying abroad in Chile.” Fischer said she grew so much during that time and would love to give something back. If she could redo one thing about her experience it would be to involve herself more in the community, she said.
Ward said when students have diverse experiences, including international experiences, it shows they can communicate and handle high pressure situations, which is important to employers. Bart added: “Living abroad regardless of whether someone is working or studying is extremely beneficial to a person’s sense of adaptability and their intercultural communication skills.”
Dru R. Olson, a recruiter for the Peace Corps, said while volunteers are abroad they develop skills that can be used in global or local settings. Olson said, “There was a 16 percent increase in applicants to the Peace Corps in 2008 and we anticipate that increase to continue through 2009.” Being flexible and adaptable are necessary characteristics for volunteers in the Peace Corps, said Olson. There is a very careful application process and it is usually 9-12 months between when an applicant starts the application and when he or she leaves for their destination, Olson said.
According to the Peace Corps’ website, www.peacecorps.gov, volunteers can qualify for deferment of student loans, student loan cancellation and other financial benefits. However, the Peace Corps is not a program for people with financial motives. There are many other great programs out there to consider if a reason behind the volunteer work is financial, Olson said.
Bart said through TeachingChile she has a year-long contract with a guaranteed salary. Teaching is very affordable, there are a lot of teaching opportunities and many people just buy a plane ticket and show up looking for work, she said.
Both Fischer and Bart have their families to support them, but it took some convincing.
When Fischer told her family she was going to apply to the Peace Corps they thought it was only a passing phase, she said. “But as I talked about it more and more I think they learned that this is one place my heart is really at and that I could be really good at it.”
Bart also had difficulties, especially when convincing her father that going abroad was a good choice. “He was raised to believe that when someone graduates from college, they find a secure job, buy a house, put together a retirement fund, etc. Eventually he saw the benefits of international experience and he’s very supportive now,” she said.
There are many options out there and students deciding what to do after they leave Pullman should remember that.
“Students need to examine the reasons why they would want to go abroad,” Ward said, “For some people, it [going abroad] is very enriching and when you enter the job market you are that much more competent.” However, for some fields it is very beneficial to enter directly into the job market after school and get that entry level position, she said. “It depends on you.”
Bart said, “A lot of people have preconceived notions about what the real world should be but I´m realizing more and more that the “real world” is whatever we create for ourselves.”
###
Monday, October 5, 2009
Special Leads
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/10/05/olympics.vacation.planning/index.html
Rio's Olympic bid coup on Friday may have the lyrics to "Copacabana" playing on a loop in your head, but it's still too early to squeeze into a Brazilian bikini -- you can't even book a flight to the 2012 Olympic Games in London yet.
Rio's Olympic bid coup on Friday may have the lyrics to "Copacabana" playing on a loop in your head, but it's still too early to squeeze into a Brazilian bikini -- you can't even book a flight to the 2012 Olympic Games in London yet.
This is a direct address lead and I think it works well with this particular story. This article really is directed to us, the readers. I think the headline does grab your attention even if it slightly ridiculous. The writer writes in such a way that they directly address the reader throughout the article so I thought the lead prepared the reader for that. The lead could have been improved slightly in its opening because the important part is "you can't even book...." The reporter could have used anything they wanted before that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/nyregion/05mcmahon.html?ref=us
She emerges from an apparent coma and kicks her cheating husband in the groin. In a showdown with her daughter, she goes flying to the mat after her daughter smacks her in the face. And, after a black-booted bald man hoists her feet-first in the air, she falls on her back, bouncing slightly in her business suit before splaying helplessly on the ground.
This narrative lead for this article is appropriate because it introduces Linda McMahon, who is the subject of the article. The lead definitely catches the readers attention and also, because it is a blind lead, makes them want to know who exactly this woman is. McMahon has built World Wrestling Entertainment and after reading a bit of the article, you can see how the lead ties in well with who she is. In this situation I thought the lead was really good, because the article is pretty much a feature piece on McMahon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/nyregion/05mcmahon.html?ref=us
She emerges from an apparent coma and kicks her cheating husband in the groin. In a showdown with her daughter, she goes flying to the mat after her daughter smacks her in the face. And, after a black-booted bald man hoists her feet-first in the air, she falls on her back, bouncing slightly in her business suit before splaying helplessly on the ground.
This narrative lead for this article is appropriate because it introduces Linda McMahon, who is the subject of the article. The lead definitely catches the readers attention and also, because it is a blind lead, makes them want to know who exactly this woman is. McMahon has built World Wrestling Entertainment and after reading a bit of the article, you can see how the lead ties in well with who she is. In this situation I thought the lead was really good, because the article is pretty much a feature piece on McMahon.
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