GFF College Dining Survey Responses

St. Olaf College

Northfield

Minnesota

Colleges

Survey Date:

Aug 13, 2019

Survey 1 of 1

Student:

Senior

With:

Celiac Disease

Student's Summary Assessment:

College Dining:

F

Surrounding Area:

B+

Rationale for Grades Given

There is only 1 dining hall and I was told that I could be accommodated. I got very sick eating in the cafeteria as they couldn't guarantee cross contamination.

Chapati Indian Food, Gran Plaza, Fielder's Choice, Tokyo Grill

Details About this Student's Food Restrictions

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

1-3

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)

Completed original celiac survey which did not ask about other food allergies

Details About this Student's College Dining Experience

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

Not at all what I expected

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

YES

If Yes, describe each incident and how your school responded

That I must be sensitive to cross contamination and I should go off the meal plan. However I wouldn't be able to get off the plan until the start of the new year, months later.

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

Yes I am registered. Because I kept getting sick and wasn't able to be released from my meal plan for the year, I received accommodations that I could leave the class to go the bathroom and miss class if I was exposed to gluten.

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

The chefs have you text them before going to the cafeteria so they could prepare a meal. However, they still took food from the serving areas, where cross contamination happened.

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

I would implement a gluten free station and make a dorm kitchen gluten free, so all food prepared in it would be safe, to avoid cross contamination

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

Getting off the meal plan and cooking for myself in my dorm room. I've become a pretty good cook and found meal delivery services to be useful (Freshly, GreenChef)

Advice for Incoming Students:

Housing:

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

All dorms have communal kitchens, all dorms are about the same for celiacs. All kitchens don't get cleaned enough so if you need to use some appliances, you need to clean it first.

Dining Halls:

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

Get off the meal plan as soon as possible

Meal Plans:

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

Residential campus that requires a meal plan all years. I had a meal plan for first 2 years, diagnosed after first year. Went off the meal plan after second year due to getting sick in cafeteria. Now I cook for myself in my dorm room.

Dorms:

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

My InstantPot has been amazing to cook GF meals. Not a lot of delivery options in Northfield but if you have a car, there are a lot of pickup options, my favorite is Fielder's Choice or Tokyo Grill

Getting Started:

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

Learn how to cook simple meals so you have some freedom. Work with your roommate to get your space safe for you..

Socializing:

Advice on managing parties or dinners out with friends?

Bring your own alcohol

Other:

Any other advice or comments?

Honestly if I would've been diagnosed with celiac before coming to St. Olaf, I would've decided against a residential campus like here.

Meal Plans: