(Scroll for multiple responses)
GFF College Dining Survey submitted January 2023
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 were able to feed me but it was just the same thing over and over again and after my first semester there they changed all dining courts from being able to feed me to just two out of all of them.
What stage are you in college?
Senior
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.
Just wheat/gluten
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 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, 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’m not sure it’s been a few years but it was the meal track 15 I do believe
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Absolutely
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
Yes, i contacted the DRC and a nutritionist
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?
Make at least one of the dining courts entirely safe or at least a large part of it
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
It was trying to find a meal I actually wanted to eat that night
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
Yes I asked for a room with a bathroom
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
Earhart was the best out of the two I avoid hillenbrand
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Purdue has so many options around if you have a car there’s tons of places opening up plus grocery stores within a mile of each other
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Advocate for yourself
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Always advocate for yourself and don’t let peer pressure force you to drink or eat something you aren’t certain you can have
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?
Pizza uncommon, insomnia has really good gf cookies, download the find me gluten free app it will be your best friend
Anything else you would like to add?
N/A
Celiac College Student Survey completed August 2019
Food Service Vendor
College Chefs
What stage are you in college?
Junior
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 was in a dorm freshman year, diagnosed Celiac December of freshman year. I ate in the dining courts and frequently got sick even after talking to the Disability resource center and getting my food made by certain people. Sophomore year I lived in a sorority that used “college chefs” and they did an awful job of remembering to make me gluten free food and they neglected to avoid cross contamination. Junior year I am living in the sorority again and talked to the housing board so that I am not paying for a meal plan. I am cooking for myself in the sorority kitchenette.
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
1-3
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?
Somewhat what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
B
Explain your rationale for that grade
They are improving, but still not great at avoiding going contamination.
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 have great options at some of the dining halls, 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.
Yes, after getting diagnosed in college
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?
More than 3
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Being told something didn’t have gluten, taking a bite, and there being ingredients in it that the chef decided to add to the recipe
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?
A gluten free menu so Celiac’s know what their options are
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
I recommend Hillenbrand for Celiac’s because there are kitchenettes on every floor
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
Hillenbrand has gluten free fridays. Wylie has actual gf options, Ford is a mess and too busy to accommodate.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Popcorn and fruit. Places that deliver? None
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Bring a blender and make smoothies in your dorm
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Dont
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
B+
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Basil Thai
Anything else you would like to add?
Places are owned by families that don’t speak English so it’s hard to eat there
Celiac College Student Survey completed February 2019
Food Service Vendor?
Not sure
What stage are you in college?
Senior
Please describe your meal plan for each year there so far.
Freshman and sophomore year I was in student housing so I had a meal plan with the dining courts. That is required if living in campus housing. Junior and senior year I moved off campus in a house with roomates where we have our own kitchen- it is a shared kitchen though.
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
One of the dining courts had a great RD who had personal experiences with her son having allergies. There were incidences of getting cross contaminated.
Check all that apply
My school is large with many dining halls, Ability to feed me varies greatly 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, I asked alot of questions before I came but the reality was different
Did you register with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes. I registered and working with the DRC- who were very helpful.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
There are campus RDs.
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.
More than 3
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
Going to dining halls/on campus eating that aren't as familiar. I usually just eat at the places I know I do ok at. I also ask them to change gloves and tell them it's for gluten intolerance/allergy.
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 greatly improve the ingredient labels for each food item! Some things would be labeled, others would not be. I would also update the dininig court app so it would be more reliable with nutrition facts, ingredients and allergen information for each food item and dining hall. They might be depending on who I would speak with.
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
I have asthma so that impacted my housing decision more to ensure I got air conditioning. I knew 2 of the dining courts were better for gf and I was able to live in one of them. I recommend Wiley dining hall for eating gluten free.
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
Get in touch with the Registered Dietitian! They can be super helpful and should know which dining courts have better options.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
If able, have your separate microwave and refrigerator- don't share one with your roomate. Your doctor and DRC can work with you on that! Keep nonperishable snacks under your bed in a tote so you always have something!
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Do your research! Reach out to the college you're interested in and see how their dining courts are and if there are grocery stores/restaurants nearby that have gf options.
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Personally, I don't put myself in that environment. But, I have heard most wines are fine and some hard ciders are. I know beer is a no go- it contains gluten. Watch your drink-you should do this anyways.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Basil Thai
Anything else you would like to add?
It gets easier!