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
C-
Explain your rationale for that grade
I have been glutened multiple times a week here. I have tried to work with the dietitian but it is helpless, she blames me when she is mislabeling the menu and won’t provide ingredients lists. Nothing has been done to accommodate students with celiac.
What stage are you in college?
Freshman
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.
I have celiac disease and will get sick off of cross contamination as well.
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?
Not at all what I expected
Check all boxes that apply to your college experience
My school has only a few dining halls, Ability to feed me is fairly consistent across dining halls, I cannot eat safely at any 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 asked alot of questions before I came but the reality was different
Have you had a reaction from eating in your dining hall?
YES
Describe each incident. How did your school respond?
The dietitian blew me off and told me not to eat dining hall food. I have no choice since the meal plan is mandatory and the school won’t let me out of it. I also don’t have a kitchen.
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 are required to have the unlimited meals plan which costs around $3500/semester.
Did you register your food restrictions with your students disabilities office for accommodations? If yes, describe.
Yes, registered before I started with our accommodations office
Are there resources (nutritionists, chefs, peer support groups) to help ensure you are receiving safe nutritious food? If yes, describe.
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 a gluten free dining hall. Most meals could also be swapped to feed students with allergies more safely. If all of our dining halls can be peanut free, there should at least be options for those with celiac
Describe your biggest challenge with managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
The reactions. It’s frustrating and sets me back because of how sick I get.
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decision? How? Is there a certain dorm you recommend for those with food restrictions? Why?
No, but if you are an incoming freshman with celiac disease, request Cale and Irani or Webb to have a kitchen.
What's your advice for managing the dining halls with your food restrictions? Favorite dining hall(s)? Any dining halls to avoid?
EVK has a couple gluten free frozen meals. The village is the best since it’s self serve but cc can happen easily. Parkside doesn’t usually have safe options but they have more cereals and drink options.
What's your advice for eating in the dorm with your food restrictions? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Target and Trader Joe’s are on campus with Ralph’s around the corner, if you can afford to buy groceries on top of a meal plan, do it!
What do you recommend new students with food restrictions do before school starts? Or when they first arrive?
Register with OSAS and meet with the chefs and dietitian.
What's your advice on managing the party scene with your food restrictions?
Not hard. Just be cognizant of which alcohols are safe to drink if you are going to partake.
Grade your college town area for feeding people with your food restrictions
B-
Explain your grade. What are your favorite places to eat in town or foodshop?
Not aware of too many that are accessible without a car. Chipotle, cava, and sun life are the ones i know of.
Anything else you would like to add?
I love USC, but the food issues have really put a damper on my freshman year. Make the right decision for you but be aware that this school doesn’t care if you have safe foods to eat.