Celiac College Student Survey completed December 2019

Food Service Vendor

Dining Hall

What stage are you in college?

Freshman

Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far. Include if your school required any of these decisions. If you are eating in a greek house or other club type arrangement include that as well.

Unlimited swipes into dining hall

How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?

3-5

How sensitive to gluten are you?

Extremely: React to even small traces

How would you describe the worst reaction you have had since diagnosis?

Really bad

Does your college handle celiac food restrictions as you expected they would when you selected your school?

Mostly not what I expected

Grade your college on feeding celiac students

C-

Explain your rationale for that grade

Do not have a designated area for gluten free "hot food". Has a small fridge with Amy's prepackaged gluten free food and a microwave for gluten free. But does not ensure no cross contamination on eggs for example in the morning. Have gotten sick most likely due to cross contamination during breakfast time.

Check all that apply

My school is small and has only a few dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I can find some but not enough food in any of the dining halls, Ability to eat well was a small part of my college selection process, I assumed they could feed me and didn't think about it before I arrived

Did you register with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.

Yes, provided documentation of celiac to accommodations office.

Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe

There is a nutritionist, but even she admits that the school does not have a good system for celiac students, and cannot guarantee no cross contamination.

How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall?

2

Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it

The lack of variety and lack of healthy options that are guaranteed to not be cross contaminated

If you were in charge of your school's dining, what changes would you implement to better feed celiac students? Would your school be open to these suggestions?

I would add a section to the dining hall that had things like hot gluten free pasta, sushi, gluten free sandwiches, etc. There should be a part of the dining hall that has a variety of gluten free and other allergen free hot foods. These foods should be prepared in their own space as well.

Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?

I asked the accommodations officer for housing with a kitchen, but they did not provide me with that. The freshman dorm I live in only has a microwave, no stove top.

Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?

Get to know the people serving the food and they will grab you some hot food that was not put on the line yet. While inconvenient, this is the only way to make sure you dont get glutenized

Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?

You really need to have a car on campus. Get from whole foods, pulse cafe, have plenty of GF protein bars and snacks in your dorm.

Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?

Buy lots of snacks, get accommodations for a car.

Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?

Just stay strong and tell people that you have celiac and cannot drink beer.

Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness

A

Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?

Bistro 63, 110 grill, whole foods

Anything else you would like to add?

The dining hall staff is very nice!! They are wonderful people but the dining hall system they are a part of does not provide them with the setup they need to ensure a convenient, safe, and enjoyable dining hall experience for celiac students. Again, there really needs to be a hot food section dedicated to making food for people with allergies who get sick when food is cross contaminated. The lack of variety is also one of the biggest problems. It's also a very bad sign if the school feels that they need to have a little fridge with gluten free TV type dinners for celiac students.