GFF College Dining Survey Submitted December 2022 (Scroll for Multiple Responses)
Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes
Gluten Intolerance, Milk Allergy, Wheat Allergy, Other (describe below)
Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions
B
Explain your rationale for that grade
I could usually find good food to eat, but I am not picky, so those who are picky may not like the choices. I could always find good choices. Most complaints I heard were for vegan, but there were still a lot of vegan options.
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.
Salicylate intolerance (no spinach, berries, some fruits), allergic to kiwi lemon and some citrus. No epi pen. Rashes and digestion issues.
If you indicated that you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, how sensitive are you to gluten?
Very: React to small amounts
Does your college handle food restrictions as you expected they would when you selected your school?
Totally yes, was 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 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.
Freshman full meal plan. First semester sophomore year partial meal plan and cook in apartment. Second semester of sophomore year will buy food in the dining hall as needed, but plan to cook all meals in my apartment or eating out.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
You just register with the dining services, not the disabilities office.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
Yes. Met with dining staff prior to starting school to go through everything.
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?
Keep gluten free pantry stocked with more leftover food or meal options and not just bread items.
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
If none of the meals worked because of all of my various food restrictions I would get food from the salad bar.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
Mojo dining hall had the best options, so getting a dorm close to mojo is good. I was accepted into a learning community at mojo, so it helped make sure I was near this dining hall.
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
Mojo best. Avoid Twigs. Can find things at the others, but mojo had better options. There are gluten free pantries at other dining halls too.
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Nothing additional.
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Get a tour of the dining hall with the dietician.
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Don’t eat the food at parties. Eat prior to going.
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?
No Thai, Detroit Filing Station, sushi.
Anything else you would like to add?
No.
Food Allergy and Celiac College Student Survey submitted October 2022
Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes
Gluten Intolerance, Milk Allergy
Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions
A-
Explain your rationale for that grade
Most dining halls have a gluten free and allergy free area. Some of them just the students with food restrictions have access and other ones everyone had access so can potentially have cross allergens
What stage are you in college?
Recent College Graduate
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.
Carry epi pen
If you indicated that you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, how sensitive are you to gluten?
Moderate: React sometimes
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 is fairly consistent across dining halls, I feel safe eating at any dining hall on campus, I have sufficient options at all 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?
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.
Dining hall buffet style
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?
Avoid any cross allergens and contamination
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
Options
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
No
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
South quad was best dining hall for allergens
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
All the allergens are listed for each food
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Contact the university
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Sometimes easier to just bring your own foods
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?
Many different small businesses that are conscious of allergies
Celiac College Student Survey completed March 2021 (Scroll for Multiple Responses)
Food Service Vendor
Unknown (to me)
What stage are you in college?
Recent Graduate
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.
I had a full meal plan freshman year and ate exclusively on campus. Sophomore-senior year I lived off campus and ate in the dining hall infrequently.
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Moderate: React sometimes
How would you describe the worst reaction you have had since diagnosis?
Bad
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
Only reason it wasn't an A+ is that there were occasionally times when we didn't get restocked with as much/what I would like in the gluten-free room.
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, I frequent certain dining halls because they have more options although all are safe, I have great options at some of the dining halls, Ability to eat well was a small part of my college selection process
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
Michigan has a lot of resources you can reach out to, however I never felt unsafe after one contact with dining and going through the dining hall/dining app labeling.
How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall?
NONE
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Mostly just affording the gluten free options I liked outside of school food - but outside expenditure on dining is probably a big cost for many students regardless of restrictions.
If you were in charge of your school's dining, what changes would you implement to better feed celiac students? Would your school be open to these suggestions?
I was very happy and almost never even had to think about safety or where/what I would eat.
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
Not much, I moved off-campus in part to get more variety, but I like to cook for fun. The dining hall was perfectly fine and even enjoyable most days.
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
SOUTH QUAD. get to know your chefs if they still have the feedback whiteboards in the gluten free room. don't be afraid to ask for something (we once got lobster tail, it was pretty amazing)
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Ann Arbor has incredible food options. It's a pretty crunchy, open-minded place. restaurants will be ready for it if you ask, and there are great options all over.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Email the dining services before orientation so they can describe the safety to you (for your reassurance). download the dining app and check the menus - everything will be labeled for allergies and restrictions
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
honestly, if you want to drink (and DO NOT if you don't want to - no one bothered me about it and I only drank once I was 21, and not much then. Just say, "no I'm good, thanks." Good people won't pressure you) – white claw is your friend. Very popular so no stigma, easy to find, sometimes frats will even sneak you one at a party where everyone else is drinking horrible cheap beer if you explain what you can have.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A+
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Shalimar, Ama's Bistro, Sava's, Cottage Inn, Pizza House
Anything else you would like to add?
Eating gluten free at Michigan is easy. I've been diagnosed for more than 14 years now, and in college it was incredibly easy to manage. A lot of people around you will have restrictions and dining services is ready for it. I even spent one summer at the biological station up north (less than 100 students there) and they have safe food available for me 24/7. I never felt like I was missing out.
Celiac College Student Survey completed January 2019
Food Service Vendor?
unknown
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
freshman year I ate in the dinning halls (some of the dinning halls had gf rooms and such), sophmore year I lived in the sorority house and they had a chef. Luckily many girls with celiac/gluten free came before me. Junior and senior year I lived in an apartment/house and cooked for myself (but still went out to eat on campus).
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Moderate: React sometimes
How would you describe the worst reaction you have had since diagnosis?
Really bad
Does your college handle celiac food restrictions as you expected they would when you selected your school?
Mostly what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
A-
Explain your rationale for that grade
Some nights in the dining halls there wasn't a ton of options but there was always something and some of the dining halls had a whole room only accessible to students with celiac (i got special permission). Overall the restaurants on campus are great about it and everywhere is pretty easy except 1 or 2 places.
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me is pretty consistent across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, I frequent certain dining halls because they have more options although all are safe, Ability to eat well was a critical part of my college selection process
Did you register with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe. no but i did contact the dining hall staff and dorms
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
i believe they do offer nutritionists and support for whatever you want to talk about but I did not attend based on having celiac
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
My biggest challenge is when friends order in late night eating or going to Chinese/cheaper "normal" college places to eat
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 make sure all items are marked with gf, df, etc. and have the ingredients listed
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
No. I would recommend living on central campus because easy access to all the dining halls (you can go to any) or somewhere on the hill (just not markley)
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
Don't be afraid to ask the staff questions or call before arriving to school. Many times they are more accommodating than you think, but you definitely have to stand up for yourself and ask. South quad and bursley both have gluten free rooms in the dining halls that you can get special access to. There they have all cereals, breads, a waffle maker and batter and so much more. However, I always really liked east quad and mojo as well because things are labeled pretty well. Plus east quad always had Audi’s chocolate chip cookies if you ask and I love those :) Markley is probably the worst but thats because the dorm is a million years old and they haven’t updated anything so barely anyone eats there even if they don’t have food allergies, celiac, etc.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Just be aware of what you can and cannot eat. Don't be embarrassed by it, many kids have food allergies and this is similar when talking to wait staff. Google is very helpful and it is not bad to have to look something up if you don't know if it is gluten free or not.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Ask on college tours how they accommodate food allergies and celiac. You can call the school before hand to see what they can do for you. It takes time to adjust to dinning halls even without having celiac so just be patient until you figure out all the best spots for you.
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Bring your own alcohol (it's safer that way anyway). Hard cider is very similar to beer so you don't have to feel left out. If you want to play beer games, have your close friend be your partner or someone else volunteer to drink it for you. Play with water in the cups and have your own drink on the side.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Pizza house is a HUGE late night and general yummy restaurant and they are known for their cheesy and feta bread. They do have a gluten free option for both that I LOVE (but of course it’s more expensive), we also have uber eats now so most places if they don’t deliver are on that. I am really into sushi and most places also have gluten free soy sauce (sadako is a good one). Amers is a classic here and has two locations. No gluten free bread but they have wraps which are good. The only place on campus I can’t really eat is mani (pizza and pasta, no GF option). Isalita is really good and so amazing about gluten free/celiac specific but i was stupid and didn’t say anything so I ate the regular chips and got really sick but that was completely my fault and to be honest I’m a little traumatized and will probably not go back soon. Doesn’t deliver but Juicy kitchen is my favorite brunch place (about a 10 min drive from campus) and they can make everything gf. Grocery stores include: kroger, trader joes, costco, whole foods, target I go to all of these places, depending on where my friends go because I don’t have a car so they drive me. Every place has incredible gluten free options and brands. Lucky’s market and plum market are a little more expensive and out of the way but have soooo many gluten free options and new things that I have never heard of. Also fun thing I found is an event on facebook about a 20 minute drive from campus is a gluten free expo event type thing. Its happening all day this coming Saturday. My friend who also has celiac, another friend who has crohns (so she eats gluten free) and I are going together. There are always events like these. Also my friend started a banana bread company and its entirely gluten free just because she likes to be healthy and she is super careful about cross contamination. They are mini breads and are now being sold all over campus. It’s called GoNanas
Anything else you would like to add?
Since being gluten free has become trendy, many of the restaurants and spots know what it is and are careful. However, it is important to specify that you have celiac (or an allergy if they don't know what celiac is) and you aren't just being picky. Overall, UofM has been a great place to be gluten free and has not been too difficult. I have also been extremely lucky with accommodating friends as well which has helped tremendously. They are always willing to share/order gluten free food (despite the added cost)