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Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Aramark
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
Freshman year I was required to have a meal plan, so under the advisement of a fellow celiac who had also gone to my school, I did the smallest meal plan available (12 meals/week + $250 in flexible dining dollars per semester). I haven’t had a meal plan since freshman year.
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Very: React to small amounts
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 what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
C
Explain your rationale for that grade
The only guaranteed gluten free items were found in the “Simple Selections” stand. Our school only has 2 dining halls, and if my memory serves me correctly, the food was the same at both Simple Selections stations. Nothing else was guaranteed gf, but the pizza station would make you a gf pizza if you asked, and you could bring gluten free bread to the sandwich station.
Check all that apply
My school is medium sized and has a fair amount of dining halls, Ability to feed me is pretty consistent across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, 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
Did you register with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
No
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
Yes, but I didn’t find it helpful
How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall? If you didn't answer NONE, please explain what happened and how school responded.
2 I don’t really remember, I just know it happened once or twice. I didn’t complain about it.
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Lack of safe options. I just cook my own food now.
If you were in charge of dining, what changes would you implement to better feed celiac students? Would your school be open to these suggestions?
More pre-packaged options to ensure safety and variety.
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
No
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
They’re both fine. Just don’t be shy in asking the staff to change gloves and clean the preparation surface. Also, beware of the gluten free toaster. When I was there, it wasn’t marked as such and on a few occasions I saw folks using regular bread in the toaster.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Persimmon is usually great about cleaning the grill for gf folks if you tell them you’re celiac! Great sandwiches.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Stock up on snacks to keep in your dorm
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
I never drank at parties just because I couldn’t verify what was in the drinks. Do keep in mind that some alcohols contain gluten, too.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
B
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Walmart (James Island), Harris Teeter for groceries. Persimmon, Verde, Tasty Thai & Sushi, Basic Kitchen for restaurants
Anything else you would like to add?
n/a
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Unknown
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
I only had a meal plan freshman year because the food was so bad
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
3-5
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Very: React to small amounts
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?
Somewhat what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
D
Explain your rationale for that grade
The “allergen free” food section was genuinely terrible. I lost around 20lbs freshman year because I didn’t want to eat anything. They did offer gluten free pizza but there was no guarantee it wouldn’t have cross contamination and the workers were never pleasant about making it for you.
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't find any good options in the dining halls at all, 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.
I have ADD but they don’t have you register for food sensitivities
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
Maybe? I heard about it but never interacted with them
How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall? If you didn't answer NONE, please explain what happened and how school responded.
2 I got glutened and the school didn’t do anything
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Honestly it was just finding enough food to feed me. And I didn’t manage it well I lost a ton of weight
If you were in charge of dining, what changes would you implement to better feed celiac students? Would your school be open to these suggestions?
I would make sure the staff actually knows what gluten is, and what foods have it in it. And I would make sure they didn’t react so terribly when asked to make a gluten free pizza or sandwich. They might but I don’t think the changes would stick. I would also totally overhaul the menu and make it actually decent and not just over cooked meat and mushy vegetables
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
No
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
Honestly get the smallest meal plan you can and try to avoid eating there
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Get a freezer that can hold frozen meals
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Idk
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Bro bring your own
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
B+
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Caviar and bananas, co, brown dog deli
Anything else you would like to add?
Nope