I don't know where to post this. This entire forum may be wrong, but I have a question regarding food intolerances.

First off, I do not have celiac disease. I am a college student that lives on campus at school. I am on a school meal plan, as I do not have access to a kitchen, so every term I pay 1100 dollars to eat the school food, the food that seems to be making me sick. I believe that I am intolerant to some type of food additive or preservative that is in the foods they serve. All those foods are bought precooked and frozen, loaded in sauces and preservatives. After I eat them, I have abdominal pain and diarrhea occasionally. After a bad weekend I visited the health center and was told to go on a BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) diet for A FEW WEEKS to see if my symptoms clear. I have modified this a little to include plain grilled chicken, cucumbers, rice cakes, sandwiches (turkey/chicken only) with lettuce and tomato (no dressings) and plain pasta. I have also cut out milk and grease.

Does anyone know what could be in the prepared foods that I can't stand?

I grew up on food made from scratch for the most part, so this may play a factor in my situation.

Melissa,

You aren't the first student to run back to the dorms after eating in the dining hall and you most likely won't be the last. I swear, there IS something in that food.

But, on a more serious note...you may be reacting to MSG which is often in prepared foods. I would think, some of the foods a cafeteria would serve. Many people here are sensitive to MSG.

Have you had an allergy testing done??? Granted that will not rule out intolerances.

Also have you tried a food diary??? That helps alot...you would need to get a list of ingredients of whta you eat from teh school though! Which I would do anyway.

"But, on a more serious note...you may be reacting to MSG which is often in prepared foods. I would think, some of the foods a cafeteria would serve. Many people here are sensitive to MSG"

I didn't even think of MSG. That would actually make a lot of sense.

"Have you had an allergy testing done??? Granted that will not rule out intolerances.

Also have you tried a food diary??? That helps alot...you would need to get a list of ingredients of what you eat from the school though! Which I would do anyway."

Getting a list of ingredients may be difficult, but I could try that.

I have had allergy testing for environmental allergies

At the highest levels of the allergens I reacted to Bermuda, Timothy, and June (Blue) grasses, Ragweed English Plaintain, Lamb's Quarter, all weeds, Birch,Oak and Cottonwood trees, Cottonwood, Cats, Penicillium Notatum and Hormodendrum Cladosporioides molds, and 2 types of mites...all mild allergies.

I was slightly more reactive to Maple trees.

I'm not taking allergy meds at this moment.

How do they test for food allergies? Is it the same thing as for environmental ones (I had intradermal testing)?