GFF College Dining Survey Submitted January 2023 (Scroll for Multiple Responses)
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
They have an allergy friendly station in the main dining hall, but it is the ONLY place that is 100% safe
What stage are you in college?
Freshman
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.
I don’t carry an epi-pen. I have celiac disease, so my symptoms vary. Sometimes stomachaches, nausea, diarrhea, exhaustion, headaches
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 not 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 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.
I have an unlimited meal plan plus dining dollars. Pitt required it.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes, they let me meet with a dietician. I am currently in the process of getting my own kitchen for next year.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
Yes, there are chefs and dietitians to meet with.
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 be more clear about where gluten cross contamination may occur, and be more specific in my labeling. They might be open to this.
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
I can never be 100% sure if what I’m eating is ok, so I always carry around medications in case I get sick.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
not this year, but I’m trying to get a kitchen next year
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
Only eat at flourish in the eatery, special order meals at the perch, and chick fil a. Everywhere else has cross contamination
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Make peanut butter bananas! Always keep fruit and frozen meals on hand for in a pinch.
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Ask your dietician lots of questions
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Eat beforehand
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?
I love chipotle, roots, Piada, noodles and co, cafe Raymond, and more
Anything else you would like to add?
N/a
GFF College Dining Survey submitted October 2022
Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes
Celiac Disease
Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions
A
Explain your rationale for that grade
Lots of options! Dining hall is great and there is dedicated space for gluten-free food. Many off-campus dining options that are safe!
What stage are you in college?
Sophomore
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.
Digestive discomfort, fatigue, and trouble focusing
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?
Totally yes, was 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, 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.
For freshman year, I had an unlimited meal plan. The food was fine but I prefer my own cooking so I did not get a meal plan sophomore year.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes, Pitt is very accommodating.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
Yes, I have contact with the campus dietician and one of the dining hall’s chefs. I was able to text the chef to request specific meals.
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?
A gluten-free dining section in the other dining hall on upper campus.
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
The dining hall is on lower campus and I lived on upper campus. It was inconvenient to walk down the hill for food from the safe dining hall. The other dining hall was located in my dorm but had limited options and most of the time they weren’t safe options. I dealt with this by using to go containers and transporting food from lower campus back to upper campus.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
It did not impact my housing decision. I would recommend those with gluten allergies to live on the lower campus to be closer to the safe dining hall and closer to classes in general.
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
The best dining hall is the Eatery. Avoid the Perch because of limited gluten-free options.
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Talk with your roommate to keep your foods separated. Pastoli’s is a gluten-free pizza restaurant that is safe and delivers!
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Register with DRS and talk to the campus dietician.
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Eat before or bring your own snacks.
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 options! Favorite places on campus are Colombian Spot, Roots, and Eat Unique. I like food shopping at Target, Aldi, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s.
Anything else you would like to add?
Pitt is an amazing school with many options for gluten-free foods that are safe!