Researching Colleges for Students with Food Allergies
Eating with friends in the dining hall and having a roommate are typical college experiences that can be complicated for students who have food allergies. As the parent of a student with food allergies and an independent college consultant, I know that choosing the right college for students with food allergies (or other disabilities) involves the usual criteria: academics, size, location, clubs and organizations, plus the additional concerns about whether the college will provide a safe environment for the student. Here are some strategies for researching colleges and their accommodations for food allergies.
Decide Whether the Student Should Live at Home or at College
The student and family must decide if the student feels comfortable living away from home and independently managing their food allergies. Some students choose to commute to a college while living at home because of their food allergies. If you choose to live away at college, you need to learn how to manage your food allergies while on campus.
Research Colleges’ Policies on Food Allergies
It is important to research each college’s policy on food allergies as you make your college list. Here are some resources to help your search.
FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) has a college search tool that helps students learn about allergy and celiac accommodations on campus. Find Food Allergy Info for U.S. Colleges
In addition, Allergic Living provides a list of 126 colleges and describes their food allergy accommodations. This list is from 2017-18 so students should confirm the information listed. Allergic Living's US Colleges Directory: Comparing Allergy and Gluten-Free Policies Allergic Living’s US Colleges Directory: Comparing Allergy and Gluten-Free Policies
Spokin, an app that focuses on managing food allergies and celiac, also has a list of the top 20 allergy-friendly colleges. 2019 Top Rated Allergy-Friendly Colleges — SPOKIN 2019 Top Rated Allergy-Friendly Colleges-SPOKIN
If you are interested in a college that does not appear on these lists, research the college’s website to find information on how food allergies are handled. Often, this information is on the dining services webpage and can be accessed by googling the name of the college and “food allergies”.
Many colleges now publish their dining services menus online (sometimes even a week in advance) so students can plan their meals. As part of your research, check each college’s policy on menus.
If you have any further questions, there are three main offices on college campuses that handle issues related to students with food allergies: the office of disabilities, dining services and residential life. Reach out to one of these offices with specific questions or concerns.
Strategies for Visiting College Campuses
When touring a campus, ask if they stop at the dining hall. If not, ask if you can see the regular or food allergy dining hall either before or after the tour. When visiting the dining halls, check if they label ingredients.
Pay attention to dining options in the area surrounding the college as well.
Research and consider whether students are given single rooms if they have food allergies and whether there are accommodations where students can prepare their own meals.
Determine where the nearest hospital is in case of emergency. Many families have a rule that any college the student attends must be within a certain distance of a hospital.
Determine what the policies are for treating food allergies at the campus health services facility and check availability of EpiPens, hours of operation etc.
Advice for Parents
It can be especially stressful to navigate the college process with a child who has food allergies. When your child is in high school, allow them to begin to take ownership of managing their food allergies whether that be advocating at school, calling ahead to restaurants or informing coaches or teachers about their allergies.
Try to let your child take the lead on researching how each college handles food allergies so they can determine if they feel comfortable. Students should also try to take the lead on asking questions of dining services or other offices.
There are many food allergy support groups available to parents, you may want to see if there is one for parents of college students that you would like to join. They often offer good strategies for how to support your child with food allergies.
Discuss the plan for managing your child’s food allergies at college with their physician.
Before your child enrolls at a specific college, make sure that your questions have been answered.
The good news is that more and more institutions are recognizing the importance of providing safe dining and living environments for students with food allergies. With planning and communication, students can find a college where they will be safe and happy.
Do you need help in the college application process? Click here to visit the Excelsior Admissions Consulting website or here to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.
