Food Allergy and Celiac College Student Survey submitted March 2021
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
While they provide some great gluten free options, like grilled chicken, french fries, and main dishes they could improve on training about cross contamination. For example they have gluten free pizza dough, but it is cooked in a pizza oven with wheat. They could also improve on labeling gluten free food.
Food Service Vendor (if known)
Sodexo
What stage are you in college?
Freshman
How many years ago were you diagnosed with food allergies or celiac disease?
3-5
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.
Need gluten free and try to avoid dairy. I do not carry an epi-pen.
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?
Mostly what I expected
Check all boxes that apply to your college experience
My school has only a few dining halls, Ability to feed me is fairly consistent across dining halls, I have sufficient options at some of the dining halls, Ability to eat well was a critical part of my college selection process
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.
My meal plan consists of "swipes" and "dollars". The swipes are used for meals at the dinning hall. Here they have a grill, pizza, and various meal options . The dollars can be spent through your ID on NMSU outside the dining hall to buy coffee or other food on campus. The school required a large meal plan for freshman year, but after that there are smaller options that are available.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes, it took a while and I did not end up using it, but I was able to register which would allow me to get out of the standard meal plan or the first year housing requirement.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
Yes, the chefs are attentive to my requests and try their best. Sometimes there is confusion about what gluten free means, but for the most part they have been great.
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 label all foods with allergens and wheat. I would provide more healthy gluten free options.
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
The biggest challenge is going out with friends. There are not a lot of gluten free resturants in Las Cruces so it can be difficult to navigate that.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
No, I was able to eat enough in the dining hall to live in the dorms. If I needed a kitchen they would allow me to move into an apartment on campus.
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
My advice is to ask questions because the staff are helpful. In Toas the grilled chicken and fries are great options.
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Eating in the dorm can be difficult, but if you bring a fridge and microwave there are a lot of simple recipes you can make like oatmeal, pasta, of microwave meals. It is easy to make smoothies or salads in the dorm as well.
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
I would recommend bringing a mircowave and fridge, most students do anyways. It is also good to meet with someone in food service to talk about gluten free options
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
I would recommend eating and drinking before social events so that you don't have to navigate food there. Bring your own drinks that you know are okay.
Grade your college town area for feeding people with your food restrictions
C+
Explain your grade. What are your favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
There are only a few places with gluten free options, but a lot of the New Mexican food does not have wheat. I would recommend tacos at Chalas would fire grill. The ice cream at Caleches good if you avoid the ones with wheat. St. Clare's winery and Bistro has some options. K-Bowl on university across from Starbucks makes really great healthy bowls that are great for lunch or dinner. Sprouts is the grocery store I go to most often.
Anything else you would like to add?
No.