Picky Eaters with Dietary Restriction Problems

 

I seriously dislike the food selection at UTM. Not only do I dislike it, I am downright annoyed by it.  I live two hours away, so when I forget my food at home – which happens more than it should – I am mortally screwed. Sure, I could just take the bus and get food, except I don’t want to leave campus to eat, endure the bus wait, the walking, the walking back, and the bussing back. But I’m also not one to go hours without eating – waiting three hours to eat is stretch, I get hangry (the combination of hungry and angry).

One might say: “Hungry? But UTM has a diverse variety of foods. They cater to everyone. There’s Tandoori Cuisine, Subway, Tim Horton’s, Second cup, International Kitchen, Cafeteria food, Pizza Pizza, Starbucks, Mikes Hot Dogs, Oscar Peterson Hall, and the Blind Duck. Jackie, you ninny!” Yes, yes, yes, we do have quite the diverse selection, especially for such a small campus. The only thing is, I’m a picky eater you ninny (not to be mistaken with a fussy eater*)! I can’t eat wheat, nor gluten for that matter, and I’m lactose intolerant, so thank you for providing a list of the many places I can’t/won’t eat at.

Now, again, I forget my food at home sometimes, so that’s when I start scouring the campus to find anything, anything I can eat!

Oh, and did I mention I’m a broke student? I will not pay eight dollars for a Caesar salad. I also don’t eat salad, so you could see how that would be a waste. The options this cruel school gives a person like me, I tell ya! Luckily for you, my fellow picky eaters, I explore the food options on campus on a regular basis, so other than salad, I have recently found a few options:

When I said anything, I meant it, because apparently this is my safest bet for a completely gluten-free, dairy-free snack:

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Tim Horton’s Gluten Free Macaroons. Personally, I don’t like them, but they are gluten-free and 90% sugar.

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The chips in the vending machine. Most are gluten-free, but sometimes say that they may contain wheat or dairy. My personal favourite are the Plantain chips in the green package in both salt and the spicy flavour.

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Also, I know I mention these food options before, but just in case you’re new to UTM and haven’t stepped foot in the cafeteria, here are some places you must avoid, not because you’re a picky eater – no – but because this is actual poison to your body. I envy those who buy pizza for lunch. Then again, I envy those who can eat anything for lunch.

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Note: Not actual poison. They don’t put poison in the pizza. I’m not trying to say they poison your food here, so hold back on the angry letters Pizza Pizza, you multi-million dollar company. Cool it.

That’s about it for our sad, pathetic, picky eating, gluten-intolerant/celiac and lactose-intolerant selves. If somebody could actually find me a dairy-free and gluten-free meal on campus, that would be great.

-xoxo Hungry girl

*A fussy eater is one who complains about their food all the time. I know, I know I’m complaining about the food at UTM BUT the difference is I still find SOMETHING to eat. Thus, not a fussy eater. I am NOT a fussy eater, OK?!

The Tragic History of William Shakespeare and I

 

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When I came to university, one of my main goals was to avoid the whole “talking” thing. I know, I know, it’s anti-social  but that’s why tutorials terrified me. My voice isn’t loud, I’m alone, and sometimes you get one of those crazy tutorials where everyone is super, duper passionate and, well, you’re not.

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Gonna be honest, I didn’t go into my Shakespeare class loving Shakespeare. Not at all. Shakespeare and I actually have a very complicated, long relationship dating back to grade 9 where we first locked eyes. Ever since then, he’s been my enemy and I’ve avoided his work like the plague (even as an English student).

So why did I take a Shakespeare course? Well, I wanted to be BFFs with Old Will and I thought this would be a good way of going about it.

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Catching Zzz’s at UTM

 

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When I started attending UTM, one of the first things I noticed was that it was normal to see students sleeping. Since I’ve been going here for quite some time now, and have experienced sleep deprivation myself, I’ve come to understand other students’ need to accommodate ‘naptime’ during their stay.

I’m a fellow Z-z-z-catcher myself and I believe it’s my duty to credit the Z-hot spots around campus.

The Library Cubicles

There are three floors of cubicles in the library.  Although these areas are meant to provide silent study space for students (hence the name ‘Silent Study Zone’), I’ve experienced some of the most glorious sleeps here.  Even though I initially come here to study, its silence provides such tranquillity, and most of the time, it tempts me to rest my head on my books, close my eyes, and drift away into dreamland.

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But there is a disadvantage when it comes to sleeping at the library cubicles.

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Yes, SNORING.

If you’re a heavy snorer, your snoring will probably be heard throughout the Silent Study Zone. Trust me, I’ve heard some.

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I’m a Raving Bore

 

Let’s rewind to my freshman year – September 5th 2012 to be precise. It was the busiest day of Frosh week and I had attended a whopping half an hour out of the entire eleven-hour schedule.

Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy meeting new people – just not in forced program-specific groups, exchanging information about our hobbies and home countries. Unlike my enthusiastic fellow-froshies, I was the perfect blend of awkward and lazy. Group workshops, icebreakers and cheer competitions? I’ll pass.

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For this reason, I decided to go only to the last event of the night – Apocalypta Pub or First Pub (which ever one it was called). Apart from the fact that I had friends attending, a party is, in my opinion, a better way to socialize.

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Spotted! A New Way of Communication

 

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Spotted at UTM is strange. There. I’ve said it.

For some context, Spotted at UTM is a Facebook group students can join to anonymously shout out random people at UTM. Most posts are about unrequited love, although you can pretty much say anything you want as long as it’s not incredibly rude.

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