GFF College Dining Survey submitted November 2022

Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes

Celiac Disease

Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions

B-

Explain your rationale for that grade

As someone with Celiac disease, it's often very hard for me to get a healthy balanced meal from the available options in our campus dining hall.

What stage are you in college?

Senior

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

5+

Please use this space to provide details that would help us better understand your food restrictions. Include your reaction if exposed to the foods you are avoiding. Please mention if you carry an epi-pen.

If i consume gluten, I throw up for 24+ hours and it takes me a week+ to recover from that exposure.

If you indicated that you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, how sensitive are you to gluten?

Extremely: React to even small traces

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

Somewhat what I expected

Check all boxes that apply to your college experience

My school has only a few dining halls, Ability to feed me varies significantly across dining halls, I feel safe eating at any dining hall on campus, I have sufficient options at some of the dining halls, Ability to eat well was a critical part of my college selection process, I asked alot of questions before I came but the reality was different

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

NO

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.

As a first year, I was required to use any-20 (20 meal swipes a week), and any semester after that I used FlexBoard 1 or 2 because any-20 only allowed me to eat at certain places, some of which I couldn't get gf food. Flex allowed me to buy snacks that are gluten free from our on campus convenience shop.

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

Yes, I got a single dorm so that I wouldn't have to worry about a roommate bringing gluten into my room.

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

Not anyone who takes the time to ensure my safety.

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

I would offer more plant-based and gluten free options in the main line, so that people with food allergies wouldn't have to build their meals from extra options around the dining hall.

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

I don't always have the option to eat the quick grab and go options, which is limiting in when I can actually eat on busy days.

Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?

Yes, I recommend a single because otherwise you have to deal with a roommate bringing gluten into your room.

What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?

We only have 1 dining hall.

What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?

There's a few good gluten free restaurant options in town such as the Thai restaurant "Tawan", "Yak and Yeti", "Playa Bowls", "Veggie Hunter", "The Grazery".

What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?

Talk with the dining hall staff.

What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?

Eat a snack before you go out for the night. Some people will offer gluten free chips, but the cross contamination risk is pretty high.

Grade your college town area for feeding people with your food restrictions

A

Explain your grade. What are your favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?

We have a surprisingly high number of gluten free restaurants within walking distance of campus.

Anything else you would like to add?

Make connections with upperclassmen who have allergies so that they can show you where is safe to eat and where isn't.