GFF College Dining Survey Submitted October 2022

Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes

Peanut Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy

Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions

C

Explain your rationale for that grade

While the food is safe in the ‘MyZone’ allergy room, the quality of the food is subpar and frequently the same thing. It’s equivalent to what you’d feed a sick dog: rice and chicken most days

Food Service Vendor (if known)

Sodexo

What stage are you in college?

Sophomore

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.

I have a class four peanut allergy, and I am tactile to it. I will anaphylact if I consume peanuts. My treenut allergy is not as bad, and each nut varies with allergen severity. My worst is hazelnut. I carry multiple epipens as well as Benadryl everywhere I go. My throat will close, I’ll vomit, I’ll break out in hives- and this is just from the (luckily) only reaction I’ve ever personally had.

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

Mostly not 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 have at least one safe dining hall, but avoid some dining halls, I do not have sufficient options at any 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.

My freshmen year I had the unlimited plan, as all freshmen are required to be on that plan. This year (my sophomore year) if we live on campus we are required to have either an unlimited meal plan, or 14 meal a week plan. You cannot be on no meal plan if you live on campus.

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

Yes. It was an easy process, I just needed to fill out a form and have my doctor sign it.

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

We just changed to a new nutritionist a week or so ago, but our last nutritionist was a very poor advocate for everyone using the MyZone room (which is allergy friendly)

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?

Considering the fact that so many people having peanut/treenut intolerances, I would ensure every main dining option had no chance of contamination with those protects. For the MyZone room, I would exclude the top 8 allergens from coming in contact with anything, instead of picking and choosing when students come and go what’s a contaminant. My school wouldn’t be open to this because our chefs are lazy and cannot even cook chicken properly. Often times the chickens raw or over cooked, or somehow both.

Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it Salve in particular does not know how to handle feeding their students. It’s a rumor that they fired a ton of the chefs during Covid, but that’s just what I’ve heard. In general my concern doesn’t lie in my allergy right now- it’s the fact I am struggling to find edible food in my dining hall. It’s awful, and if I was given the chance to go off the meal plan to buy my own food I would.

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

It’s making me consider living off campus so I don’t have to deal with the meal plan. They don’t impact my housing decision otherwise.

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

Don’t go to Salve in general if you want to actually eat food. We have one main dining hall and it’s shit.

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

Fast food will save your life. Stock up on any snack you feel safe eating.

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

Stock up on safe foods, go to the store and pick up cold cuts, and buy pre-made meals you can toss in a microwave.

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

Salve isn’t a big party school and I personally don’t go to parties; in general though don’t eat at peoples homes if you don’t know what’s in their kitchen.

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?

Newport is a great town, and since it’s a tourist location most restaurants are well equipped to deal with allergies. Jo’s Bistro in particular is great if pricey.

Anything else you would like to add?

N/A