(Scroll for multiple responses)
GFF College Dining Survey submitted December 2022
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
Not too many options.
Food Service Vendor (if known)
Aramark
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
Extremely sensitive to 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?
Somewhat what I expected
Check all boxes that apply to your college experience
My school has only a few dining halls, I have sufficient options at some of the dining halls, I do not have sufficient options at any 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
Have you had a reaction from eating in your dining hall?
YES
Describe each incident. How did your school respond?
They have a True Balance station for all 8 allergens. However' 9/10 times I would get fairly sick or have negative reactions to consuming their food from that station.
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.
Unlimited and completely regret it.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes. Accomodations for a gluten-fdee diet.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
I still have yet to meet with the referred college 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?
Have a small dining hall completely free of the nine allergens and especially away from gluten so no cross contamination
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
Purchase food from local grocery stores.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
My food restrictions did not impact housing decisions.
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
Cover all counters with paper towels to be safe from cross contamination
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Use community resources rooms and stack up on cheap snacks.
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Do NOT buy the unlimited plan and discuss things if needed with food director.
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
I don't party. Don't think I can.
Grade your college town area for feeding people with your food restrictions
C
Explain your grade. What are your favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
One really good poké place and that's pretty much it.
Anything else you would like to add?
I lost 21 pounds in one semester and really struggled to eat.
Celiac College Student Survey submitted April 2019
Food Service Vendor
Aramark
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.
On campus dining, required to buy a meal plan
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?
Not at all what I expected
Grade your college on feeding celiac students
C+
Explain your rationale for that grade
Sometimes things are mislabeled, for example, brown rice soup will have barley. Ingredients not listed. Impossible to really know what is in things at school. Some people are really helpful and want to make food safe for me that work there which is really helpful but other people do not care
Check all that apply
My school is small and has only a few 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, 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 but that really did not change anything for me at school.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
There is a nutritionist who really wants to help, but she does more teaching for people who do not understand what they should be eating. The nutritionist expresses that she cannot help to have the ingredients listed because the head chef in the dining hall are too arrogant to care about people's needs
How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall?
More than 3
If you didn't select NONE, what happened and how did school respond?
They basically told me that there is no way to cook for me without risk of cross contamination
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
I never know what is really safe for me to eat. I manage it relatively poorly
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 would require that all ingredients in things be listed. I would not put croutons or pasta on the salad bar. I would have a designated room for gluten free options
Did celiac impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for celiacs? Why?
Yes. I moved where I could elect not to have a meal plan because it is impossible for me to not get sick eating at school
Your advice to new celiac kids for managing the dining halls? Favorite dining hall(s)?
I would advise them that eating on academic campus is better than res campus at Simmons for people trying to avoid gluten. Seek out Andrea and Stella, both are awesome and I would not be able to eat at Simmons without them.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
El pelon taqueria has great gluten free options! Always keep frozen gluten free pizzas on hand.
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
I would advise you really communicate and have realistic expectations about what you're going to be able to eat.
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Always bring your own drinks. Vodka at parties is almost always not gluten free. This was so hard for me at first.
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
B
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
El pelon taqueria, Stoked Pizza, Neighborhoods Cafe, Oath pizza, Love Art Sushi, Blackbird Doughnuts
Anything else you would like to add?
Never let your guard down and always keep your head up!!
Celiac College Student Survey submitted April, 2019
Vendor
ARAMARK
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 live off campus so I have been buying my groceries, I do find it hard to get good options (that I trust are GF) when I eat in the schools cafeteria
How many years ago were you diagnosed with celiac?
Less than 1
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
C
Explain your rationale for that grade
The ability for cross contamination is huge, I see them putting the beef hash over a stack of bread (soak up the water) and then getting the eggs with that same spoon. Sushi is pretty much the only food I can eat there because it is hard to trust.
Check all that apply
My school is small and has only a few 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, 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 I havent, I was thinking about doing it but I control what I eat so well at this point I rarely get sick unless its the weekend and I go out for dinner, I usually just take my Gluten ease pill even if I am sure there is no gluten.
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? Describe
Not really..
How many times have you been glutenized in your dining hall?
1
If you didn't select NONE, what happened and how did school respond?
The sushi I bought was labeled as raw when it was tempura.
Describe your biggest celiac challenge at college and how you manage it
The amount of sleep I get when I am glutened, I need at least 12 hrs of sleep the day after I get glutened. The constant stomach cramps are very have to control and effects my sleep. The only thing I can do to manage it is take Gluten Ease and CBD (to treat the inflammation) and lots of water and sleep.
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?
Ensure every employee knows about what gluten is, seems simple but I once had a worker ask me if I can have cream cheese. They should be educated because most of the time when I get glutened it is because people are poorly preparing my food.
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)?
Bartol and the Fens are the only dining areas at my school. I honestly would recommend to them to cook for themselves as much as they can.
Your advice to new celiac kids for eating in the dorm? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?Otto, Penguin Pizza, UberEats has some good restaurants, Monte Cristo. Also there is an app called "Find Me GF" where people review the restaurants they visit and if they got sick or not. VERY helpful!
Your advice to new celiac kids on preparing before they come? Or doing upon first arrival?
Make sure you have food available incase there are no GF options at bartol.
Your advice to new celiac kids on managing keg parties and alcohol scene?
Lol. Wine, Tito's to be prepared if you are planning on drinking, if you cant access it, I find Corona and Bud light Lime totally GF at "keg parties" and I don't get sick from it. Also maybe just don't drink from the keg. Most frat parties around here have mixed vodka and juice, wine, and beer available..
Grade your college town area for celiac friendliness
A
Favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Barcelona Wine Bar, Mexican foods (anywhere)
Anything else you would like to add?
Hope this helps out !
Regarding beers that have low parts per million (ppm) like Corona or Bud Light Lime, please note that they are still not gluten-free and there is debate about their safety for people with celiac. It is safer to stick to the truly gluten free beers and hard ciders on the market. Not having symptoms doesn't necessarily mean no gluten exposure. The vendors don't label their beers gluten-free for a reason.