If you're a high school senior deciding what college to attend in the fall, you're probably focusing more on academic offerings and finances than on what's for lunch. But it's worth taking a close look at schools' food offerings: For better or worse, college food will soon be an important part of your daily life. Don't wait until you land on campus to figure out whether the dining-hall scene is a good fit for you.

Here are a few questions to ask if you're choosing among eight of the major universities in the greater D.C. area — or anywhere else, for that matter.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm excited about the attention that Oprah's Tuesday show is bringing to veganism, a lifestyle to which I'm passionately committed. And I'm equally excited to do my part to support anyone eager to consider making this life-affirming, health-affirming, planet-saving change! So here, in no particular order, are six things you need to know about veganism.

The average college student is often pressed for time, under a lot of stress and eating on the go. You may find it difficult to avoid bad habits like skipping meals or frequenting fast food restaurants. But eating a healthy diet can help you feel better, cope with stress and perform better in the class-room and on the athletic field. It really isn't that hard to get started.

Lots of college students don't eat well, but some don't eat much at all.

A shaky economy with an uncertain job market is the reason more and more students say they're coming to the aid of their peers by setting up campus "food pantries," which are surging in popularity. This week alone, two pantries are opening, at Iowa State University and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; another opened about four weeks ago at the University of California at Davis. At some universities that already have food banks, grad students are prominent among those who use the services.

GlutenFreeTravelSite today announces the addition of a feature on its site that enables the gluten-free community to review colleges and universities for their degree of "gluten-free friendliness."

GlutenFreeTravelSite is a website that helps people following gluten-free diets find "safe" places to eat, whether they are looking for a restaurant in their town or searching for suitable places to eat or stay when traveling. The site contains a database of thousands of reviews of restaurants, hotels/resorts, cruises, and grocery stores throughout the world -- submitted by people following gluten-free diets.

So. You're trying to lose weight ... join the club. (No, seriously -- find weight-loss support among more than 120 other people in EatingWell's Losing Well online community group.) Wouldn't it be great if you could just turn a knob and rev up your metabolism, your calorie burn, just like that? (Imagine me snapping my fingers here.) Well ... we all hear about diet and exercise strategies that supposedly do just that. But do they work? Yes -- and no. Read on for the skinny on strategies to outsmart your metabolism.

What if I'm a vegetarian?

Most colleges offer vegetarian entrees at all meals such as veggie burgers, stir fries, and pasta dishes. Create your own vegetarian meal at the salad or sandwich bar by adding protein-rich ingredients like cheese, eggs, hummus, beans, or peanut butter.

These college housemates enjoy one roommate's cooking and communal (mostly vegetarian) meals together SOMERVILLE — When I moved into off-campus housing for the first time with five friends, there were many unfortunate relics left from other roommates who had lived there the semester before. Most resided in the fridge. Without getting too specific, they included Indian takeout, unrecognizable vegetables past their prime, almost antique bottles of condiments relegated to a back shelf, and other, less identifiable substances.