GFF College Dining Survey Responses

James Madison University

Harrisonburg

Pennsylvania

Colleges

Survey Date:

Feb 10, 2026

Survey 1 of 2

Student:

Senior

With:

Celiac Disease, Peanut Allergy, Sesame Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy

Student's Summary Assessment:

College Dining:

A+

Surrounding Area:

A-

Rationale for Grades Given

When I came to JMU in the fall of 2022 I was given the option to have special meals prepared by a chef, or I could eat the meals offered to the general public from stations like true balance, stirfry,the salad station, and the special allergy free room. This allergy free space contained lots of packaged foods ranging from full meals to grab and go snack snacks like granola bars. It included True balance, which is one of the stations does not contain any gluten on the premise. They offer healthy meal options, which for me was ideal. Each day I could expect a different protein, vegetable and a starch or grain. The stirfry station is also entirely gluten-free. While the salad station is never guaranteed to be safe I never had an issue.

There’s so many restaurants that I’ve found in Harrisonburg that really are hidden gems in terms of gluten-free availability. My favorite restaurant in all of Harrisonburg for gluten-free is Rocktown kitchen. Though my other favorites for safety, variety and taste are capital alehouse, Clementine Café, first watch brunch and the typical players like chipotle and Jersey Mike’s. There’s an abundance of options for me, considering the amount of restrictions that I have and for those that are strictly gluten-free, there are so many more than what I listed.

Details About this Student's Food Restrictions

How many years ago were you diagnosed with food allergies or celiac disease?

5+

If you indicated celiac or gluten intolerance, how sensitive are you to gluten?

Extremely: React to even small traces

Add details to help us better understand your food restrictions (e.g. sensitivity level, potential reaction, need for EPI pen)

I am extremely allergic (anaphylactic) to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas. I have had these allergies since I was 3 years old. At 10, I was diagnosed with severe celiac disease and have severe vomiting episodes and neurological symptoms if I ingest trace amounts of gluten.

Details About this Student's College Dining Experience

Does your college handle food restrictions as you expected when you decided to attend?

Mostly what I expected

Have you had a reation from eating in your dining hall?

NO

If Yes, describe each incident and how your school responded

Did you register your food restriction with the disabilities office? If yes, describe

I reached out to the dietitian before I moved in and they were able to register my JAC card with the allergy free space so that I could swipe in and out and grab quick meals.

Are there resources to help with nutritious, safe dining (e.g. dietician)? If yes, describe

Yes, there is a dietician who is always reachable, and the chefs in the dining hall are extremely knowledgeable, you just have to ask! If you do not advocate for yourself (which you should be doing if you need any accommodations, you will not be successful anywhere.) you will not get the best experience you could possibly have.

If you were in charge of dining, what would you change? Would your school be open to suggestions?

I would encourage JMU to include more options for gluten free desserts outside of the allergy free space. I would also encourage them to make the taco station gluten free, because it is an easy fix! I think they would be receptive to change as our director of student affairs, Tim Miller is very in tune with students needs.

Describe your biggest challenge managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it

My biggest challenge honestly came the first few weeks of my freshman year in 2022. The only reason that I struggled was that I did not know all of the options available to me at the time, and I was nervous to advocate once I started advocating for myself. All of my options opened up, and I was able to find that I could also eat at multiple other stations not just at D Hall. I discovered that I could eat in Duke’s dining at Tacodillo, Blue ridge bowls, and elsewhere over at EHALL.

Advice for Incoming Students:

Housing:

Did your food restrictions impact your housing decisions? Any dorm recommendations

No, but I did live in the village and loved its proximity to DHALL and Dukes Dining!

Dining Halls:

Any advice for managing dining halls? Favorite dining halls? Any to avoid?

My favorite dining hall was DHALL, with Duke’s being a close second. Both had an abundance of options where I felt safe and comfortable. The only station I could eat at EHALL was true balance, so the variety was limited.

Meal Plans:

Describe your meal plans over the year(s). What's mandatory? Any suggestions?

Your first year and any subsequent years living on campus, you are required to have a meal plan my freshman year I had the 14 punch meal plan and it was more than enough.

Dorms:

Any advice for eating in the dorms? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?

DoorDash is super easy to use when living in a dorm and sometimes I would DoorDash snacks from local stores and I would keep some of those things in my fridge if I just needed a quick snack, but I did not snack a lot during my freshman year. If you are in need of a snack on campus, there is Mr. chips which is a small corner store as well as pod markets which are on East campus.

Getting Started:

What should students do before school starts or when they first arrive?

My biggest advice prior to moving in and school starting is to meet with a dietitian whether that’s in person or online to get a lay of the land and see what you’re comfortable with. Once you’re on campus, It is easy to go on a tour with the dietitian where they will take you around to all of the places that you can eat at. This is especially helpful at Duke‘s dining where there’s an abundance of small restaurants

Socializing:

Advice on managing parties or dinners out with friends?

I was lucky enough to have lots of friends that were very considerate of my allergies to this day. They still allow me to pick where we’re going, and I often give them options. My favorite app called FINDMEGLUTENFREE shows great information about the safety and real time reviews about people’s experience at specific restaurants that cater to being gluten-free.

Other:

Any other advice or comments?

Meal Plans:

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GFF College Dining Survey Responses

James Madison University

Harrisonburg

Pennsylvania

Survey Date:

Feb 10, 2026

Survey 1 of 2

Student:

Senior

With:

Celiac Disease, Peanut Allergy, Sesame Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy

Student's Summary Assessment:

College Dining:

A+

Surrounding Area:

A-

Rationale for Grades Given

Details About this Student's Food Restrictions

How many years ago were you diagnosed with food allergies or celiac disease?

5+

If you indicated celiac or gluten intolerance, how sensitive are you to gluten?

Extremely: React to even small traces

Add details to help us better understand your food restrictions (e.g. sensitivity level, potential reaction, need for EPI pen)

I am extremely allergic (anaphylactic) to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas. I have had these allergies since I was 3 years old. At 10, I was diagnosed with severe celiac disease and have severe vomiting episodes and neurological symptoms if I ingest trace amounts of gluten.

Details About this Student's College Dining Experience

Does your college handle food restrictions as you expected when you decided to attend?

Mostly what I expected

Have you had a reation from eating in your dining hall?

NO

If Yes, describe each incident and how your school responded

​

Did you register your food restriction with the disabilities office? If yes, describe

I reached out to the dietitian before I moved in and they were able to register my JAC card with the allergy free space so that I could swipe in and out and grab quick meals.

Are there resources to help with nutritious, safe dining (e.g. dietician)? If yes, describe

If you were in charge of dining, what would you change? Would your school be open to suggestions?

Describe your biggest challenge managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it

Advice for Incoming Students:

Housing:

Did your food restrictions impact your housing decisions? Any dorm recommendations

No, but I did live in the village and loved its proximity to DHALL and Dukes Dining!

Dining Halls:

Any advice for managing dining halls? Favorite dining halls? Any to avoid?

My favorite dining hall was DHALL, with Duke’s being a close second. Both had an abundance of options where I felt safe and comfortable. The only station I could eat at EHALL was true balance, so the variety was limited.

Meal Plans:

Describe your meal plans over the year(s). What's mandatory? Any suggestions?

Your first year and any subsequent years living on campus, you are required to have a meal plan my freshman year I had the 14 punch meal plan and it was more than enough.

Dorms:

Any advice for eating in the dorms? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?

Getting Started:

What should students do before school starts or when they first arrive?

Socializing:

Advice on managing parties or dinners out with friends?

Other:

Any other advice or comments?

​

Meal Plans: