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Food Allergy and Celiac College Student Survey submitted January 2020
Describe your food restrictions by checking all relevant boxes
Egg Allergy, Fish Allergy, Peanut Allergy, Shellfish Allergy, Sesame Allergy, Soy Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy, Other (describe below)
Grade your college on feeding students with your food restrictions
A
Explain your rationale for that grade
Overall, my school was super accommodating, although there were a few roadblocks that I had to overcome at various points.
What stage are you in college?
Recent College Graduate
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 large number of food allergies, and the severity of my reaction varies based on the allergen. I do carry an epi-pen at all times.
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, 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?
YES
Describe each incident. How did your school respond?
I had one reaction during my sophomore year due to an unexpected allergen. I had several meetings with the dining department and chefs after this incident to determine how this had happened and to adjust my plan for eating safely in the dining halls from that point on.
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 year I had 10 meals/week and 500 "BRBs." Sophomore year I was required to have a full meal plan based on my housing situation. At first, I was under-utilizing these, but worked out a plan so that it would be worth it. Junior and senior year, I lived off campus and was not on meal plan at all.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes, I had a meeting to register for accommodations, which put me in touch with dining department.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
I met with the dining department nutritionist frequently throughout my time there which was absolutely critical. Because of my numerous allergies, she helped coordinate for meals to be made specifically for me in certain dining halls, and ensured that all of the chefs knew exactly what my allergies were and what they should be making me.
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 think my school was very receptive to any suggestions I had throughout my time there.
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
I think my biggest challenge was just the timing of everything - because I was having separate meals made, sometimes I would have to wait for my meals to be made or go to dinner at specific times without my friends. I was able to adjust this as time went on though.
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?
I ate mostly at Appel freshman year because it was smaller and more manageable. I think the most important thing was building relationships with the chefs so that we had open communication about what my needs were and what was safe for me.
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
No particular advice, although having a microwave was very helpful.
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Definitely meet with the nutritionist. She's extremely knowledgeable about all of the dining menus and what ingredients are commonly used in different dishes.
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
No particular advice.
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?
Ithaca is a pretty great place for eating out with allergies! I never had a bad reaction from any restaurants. I love Ciao, Souvlaki House, and Just a Taste!
Anything else you would like to add?
No.
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Cornell Dining
What stage are you in college?
Freshman
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
First semester: 10 swipes (all you can eat) a week and 500BRBs (basically cash) for the semester. Semester 2: joining fraternity so on fraternity meal plan and also 7 swipes a semester and 500BRBs
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Very: React to small amounts
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?
Mostly what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
A
Explain your rationale for that grade
Lots of good labeling and options.
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I am only comfortable eating in a few dining halls, I have great options at some of the dining halls, 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.
Yes, just a meeting.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? DescribeYes
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
Greek life and managing meal plans to allow me to still go to risley
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?
Work with Greek life to better accommodate those with both meal plans
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)?RISLEY!!!!! Same as above. Use BRBs (Big Red Bucks) at Risley.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?Collegetown Pizza has good gf pizza. Not the best at delivery
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?Explore as many dining locations as you can and ask questions so you know what everything has to offer
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Maybe consider investing in a flask to bring safe alcohol. Otherwise, wine, hard liquor, and hard ciders are pretty easy to acquire. Most people are 100% understanding when you tell them you can’t drink beer.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendlinessA-Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Lots of options in town. Get the find me gluten free app
Anything else you would like to add?
Explore and don’t be afraid to ask questions. But risley dining hall is amazing.
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
General food across campus
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
I ate in my Greek sorority and also on campus, college town, and campus dining halls
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?
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
B+
Explain your rationale for that grade
Basically all of the dining facilities have gluten free options, but if the dining areas are not campus dining halls, then many places assume that a viable gluten free option for lunch and dinner is a salad. I’ve have no issue with cross contamination. However, I would like to eat a real meal sometimes and not just a salad. I wish there were totally gluten free vendors in the campus dining buffet areas.
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I avoid certain dining halls that I don't think are safe, 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, 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.
I did. I talked to the chefs at each of the dining halls at the beginning of freshman year and they told me what was safe and what wasn’t. They were very knowledgeable about the subject of cross contamination with gluten free food
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
No
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.
2 I didn’t bring it up to the people in charge
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Just that many of the dining areas allow salad to be their only gluten free option. I would just go to another place when this happened
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?
More completely gluten free vendors that serve food that has been altered to be gluten free...not just veggies or sushi for gluten free option
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)?
Appel was much better. Risley was awesome
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Nope
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Talk to the Head chefs
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Don’t drink beer. Ask someone you know to provide seltzer or something. Otherwise just don’t drink while you are out.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
B+
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
CTB
Anything else you would like to add?
No
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Cornell Dining
What stage are you in college?
Freshman
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
Freshmen are required to have a meal plan. First semester I had 14 swipes a week and this semester (second) I have decided to go down to 10 swipes a week, and this is working well for me.
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?
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
Cornell is amazing at accommodating gluten free diets (for celiacs). All dining halls have little food labels that say if they contain any allergens. One of the dinning halls I go to (Appel) has a full gluten free section. The Risley dinning hall is a 100% gluten free dinning hall, where I eat almost every day. It is amazing!!
Check all that apply
My school is medium sized and has a fair amount of dining halls, Ability to feed me is pretty consistent across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, I avoid certain dining halls that I don't think are safe, I frequent certain dining halls because they have more options although all are safe, I have great options at all of the dining halls, 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.
Yes, I registered as celiac.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
Yes, there is a nutritionist on campus (Michele Lefebvre) who was SUPER helpful in trying to accommodate my food restrictions. She helped me plan out where I could eat every day based on my schedule before even starting my first semester. She is great!
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
Some dining halls don't have much gluten free options (like RPCC) but the rest are great.
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?
The gluten free station at Appel dining hall very rarely has warm food, so possibly more of that! They had warm dishes there at the start of last semester but not anymore.
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
All dorms are very close to Risley (which is where I normally eat), so that wasn't really a problem for me
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
Risley hall is a blessing!! Definitely go there!
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?plum tree delivers sushi and they are good with gluten free stuff, and CTB is great too but specify that you are allergic and they will be extra careful.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
go talk to Michele, she is SO GREAT
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Everyone does their own thing. If you don't want to drink then hold one so no-one offers you one
Grade your college town area for celiac friendlinessA+Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Ciao (wood fired Italian food), plum tree, CTB
Anything else you would like to add?
Cornell is great with gluten free food!!
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Cornell Dining
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
10 meals per week+$500 (Freshman/Soph), 45 meals+$150bucks/semester(Junior/Senior)
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
3-5
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Moderate: React sometimes
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?
Mostly what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
A+
Explain your rationale for that grade
I mostly eat at the kosher dining hall and they always have special GF bread and desserts for me! Cornell is excellent at labeling and they even have their own Gluten free/nut free dining hall!
Check all that apply
My school is medium sized and has a fair amount of dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I feel comfortable eating at any dining hall on campus, 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.
Yes, filled out and form and SDS connected me with the dining nutritionist
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
nutritionist and chefs
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
Can't always eat the same food as my friends, but the kosher dining hall makes me special food so I can eat with my friends anyway
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?
Increasing the availability of gluten free pastas and muffins
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
Yes, I asked for a kitchen and they gave me a special suite with a full size kitchen for 5 people to share
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
It is helpful that Cornell labels all its dishes with top food allergens as well as vegan, vegetarian, contains alcohol/pork. Take advantage of Risley, the GF dining hall!
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
I like Kind bars, RXbars and GF pretzels
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival
Keep your room stocked with GF snacks, in case the dining has no food for you that day
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
most alc aside from beer is GF
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A+
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Wegmans has a great GF selection!
Anything else you would like to add?
The Cornell dining nutrition program is great and they run great nutrition events!
Celiac College Student Survey completed January 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Sysco (at fraternity)
What stage are you in college?
Sophomore
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
unlimited freshman year and a meal plan at chi psi for my sophomore year
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
5+
How sensitive to gluten are you?
Not Very: Usually can't tell if I have gluten
How would you describe the worst reaction you have had since diagnosis?
Mild
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
We have a dedicated GF dining hall and gluten free sandwiches and other individually packaged snacks available across campus
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies somewhat across dining halls, I avoid certain dining halls that I don't think are safe, I can find some but not enough food in any of the dining halls, 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
yes there are chefs and nutritionists but i don't usually use them
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. i selected none but i don't have symptoms
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
making sure i eat enough
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 don't really know
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
nope
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
risley is gluten free
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
i order gf pizza from dominos but its not technically gf safe it really depends on how sensitive you are
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
go to wegmans and pick up gf food in bulk to save money
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
hard alcohol
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
college town bagels has gf bagels also sushi and poke bowls. Waffle Frolic in Ithaca Commons has gf waffles and fried chicken
Anything else you would like to add?
I'm not very symptomatic so if you are more symptomatic your experience will likely be very different
See our related blog post about Cornell University's valiant efforts to meet the gluten-free and food allergy challenge with style, resulting in being named 2018 #1 Food Allergy Program for Universities by AllerTrain.