Food Allergy and Celiac College Student Survey submitted August 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

Sometimes their options are a bit limited but their PURE station is awesome! Would be great if they had an allergen-safe kitchen at each of the dorm’s dining halls.

What stage are you in college?

Senior

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

1-3

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.

N/A

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 many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies significantly across dining halls, I have at least one safe dining hall, but avoid some dining halls, I have sufficient options at some of the dining halls, Ability to eat well was a small part of my college selection process

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

YES

Describe each incident. How did your school respond?

Occasionally reacted from the buffet options, definitely just cross-contamination.

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.

Meal plan is required

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

Yes.

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

Yes

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?

More options at each dining hall, not sure if they would be open.

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

Limited options- if PURE is open, I walk there, but it is about a 15 minute walk from my dorm which is not realistic when it is extremely cold in the winter.

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

East Halls dining hall has PURE which is a top 8 allergen free serving station.

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

East is great, the others vary day to day. Sometimes the only option at the buffet is grilled chicken but if you register with the dietician you can order food to be made separately. Unfortunately the few times I tried this they lost my order or did not have it prepared or started at the pickup time.

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

They have fried chicken at PURE. Tons of awesome safe restaurants nearby- Yallah Taco, Sher Halal, Plaza Mexican, El Jefe’s, any of the Thai restaurants.

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

Definitely contact the dietitian before arrival and introduce yourself to the chefs at your dorm when you arrive (they are extremely knowledgeable about allergies)

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

Know what you can drink before you arrive to a party, bring your own drinks if necessary. In my experience, people have been extremely willing to accommodate me.

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?

Plaza Mexican, Trader Joe’s, Weis, Giant, Walmart. (Not a lot of options at the downtown Target though).

Anything else you would like to add?

N/A