Celiac College Student Survey completed January 2019
Food Service Vendor?
I'm not sure
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
Unlimited meal plan freshman and sophomore year (required freshman year) junior and senior year no meal plan.
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Extremely: React to even small traces
How would you describe the worst reaction you have had since diagnosis?
Moderate
Does your college handle celiac food restrictions as you expected they would when you selected your school?
Totally yes, was what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
A-
Explain your rationale for that grade
It is mainly very easy to eat gluten free but there have been a couple incidents where some days when I had the meal plan where there were not so many options and two times I noticed grains that were mislabeled as gluten free when they were not gf.
Check all that apply
My school is small and has only a few dining halls, Ability to feed me is pretty consistent across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, I have great options at some of the dining halls, I have great options at all of the dining halls, 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.
No
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
Chefs at the dining hall are usually very knowledgeable.
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.
NONE
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Wanting to make my own eggs on the communal stovetop but having someone before me use it for pancakes.
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 switch all soy sauce to gluten free soy sauce because it literally tastes the same.
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)?
There is only one at Skidmore but my advice would be that certain food stations are better for celiac than others. For instance, the vegetarian food station often has gluten free options since its veggie heavy, whereas the global food station usually doesn't because everything is made with soy/tamari sauce.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
I always had protein bars, nuts, and roasted chickpea snacks on hand.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival
Check with the chefs to get a good idea of their knowledge, take advantage of the allergy kitchen, and stock up on dorm snacks just in case.
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Try your best to not kiss people that stink of beer (although admittedly it isn't always at the forefront of people's minds in the moment) if you go to bars always ask for tequila, certain brands of vodka, or wine, and in general know what alcohol you are consuming.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A-
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Tons of gf friendly restaurants all over Saratoga Springs. Grocery stores are also all pretty gf friendly. Ravenous has great gluten free crepes. Stay away from the Chinese and Japanese restaurants.
Anything else you would like to add?
Nope!