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GFF College Dining Survey Responses
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie
Wisconsin
Survey Date:
Apr 17, 2025
Survey 1 of 1
Student:
Senior
With:
Celiac Disease
Student's Summary Assessment:
College Dining:
C
Surrounding Area:
C
Rationale for Grades Given
The dining hall attempted to provide safe foods at stations with allergies labeled. However, the workers were foreign students and many didn’t understand my simple requests like changing gloves. I got cross contaminated numerous times. There is a diet pantry free of common allergens. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always stocked. I’m a student athlete and would go to eat dinner at 7 and the pantry would be empty.
It’s a constant struggle but they do have options. Cross contamination is really common though.
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)
If I eat a full plate of gluten I will be throwing up in two hours. If I get cross contaminated I get very nauseous and then have an upset stomach
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
I reached out to the dietitian and she couldn’t help me. She said I need to eat in the diet pantry at an earlier time which simply wasn’t possible for me. So then I went to disability services.
Did you register your food restriction with the disabilities office? If yes, describe
Yes, disability services tried to offer another fridge and have me cook my own food. The issue was that I still would have to rent all the cookware from the front desk or bring my own which I didn’t have space for. They then gave me an exemption to live off campus after my doctor provided a note.
Are there resources to help with nutritious, safe dining (e.g. dietician)? If yes, describe
There is a diet pantry free of common allergens and a campus dietitian
If you were in charge of dining, what would you change? Would your school be open to suggestions?
The current dietitian would now be open to my suggestions. The previous dietitian that worked here when I was eating on campus isn’t there anymore. However, the new dietitian needs education. I had to tell her that Rice Krispies are top 7 allergen free but aren’t gluten free. She didn’t understand that there is malt flavoring which is barley. She assumed because it was wheat free she could offer it to me and then insisted it was gluten free and I had to tell her it wasn’t to the point where she pulled out her phone to look it up because she didn’t believe me.
Describe your biggest challenge managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
Educating people on cross-contamination is the biggest struggle. You really have to tell them everything they need to do such as switching gloves grabbing different ingredients from the back before even telling them your order, and sometimes they still go through and do it wrong and then you have to ask them to make you a new one
Advice for Incoming Students:
Housing:
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decisions? Any dorm recommendations
Yes, live in AFM. Mcalmont has a kitchen on every floor. After freshman year move off campus
Dining Halls:
Any advice for managing dining halls? Favorite dining halls? Any to avoid?
South commons and the fireside cafe in the student center have options the others do not
Meal Plans:
Describe your meal plans over the year(s). What's mandatory? Any suggestions?
When living on campus meal plans are mandatory but you can choose a level and dining money rolls over each semester
Dorms:
Any advice for eating in the dorms? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Dominos delivers and I have never had an issue. Toppers gas gf cauliflower crust, but they got me sick. There are a lot of restaurants that have gluten free options
Getting Started:
What should students do before school starts or when they first arrive?
Reach out to the campus dietitian
Socializing:
Advice on managing parties or dinners out with friends?
There are many restaurants in town you can eat at. If you are eating dinner at a friends house I would make and bring your own food unless you trust your friend
Other:
Any other advice or comments?
No, I hope this helps :)
Meal Plans:
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