Supporting students with food allergies and special diets: 花季传媒 is here to serve

For many people, a can be frightening and even life-threatening. With more than , and the , how food is prepared and served is a serious public health concern.

花季传媒 Culinary Services is committed to providing exceptional service in an inclusive and caring environment that always takes the severity of food allergies and special diets into account. Culinary Services staff work one-on-one with students who have food allergies and special dietary needs to provide them with the finest quality food to meet their nutritional needs.

Through its dining services, OHIO is equipped to provide balanced diets for students who are vegetarian, vegan, allergic to one of the 鈥淏ig Nine鈥� allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, crustacean shellfish and sesame), as well as those who are gluten intolerant. Religious accommodations are also offered for students who are not permitted to eat certain foods due to their beliefs.

鈥淧roviding all students and guests with the finest, freshest meals that meet their needs and preferences is always our top priority,鈥� said Executive Director of Culinary Services Frank Pazzanese. 鈥淲e have a diverse student body with a variety of dietary needs, so we have designed our meal plans and dining venues to offer flexibility, exceptional value and convenience for all students, including those who have food allergies and dietary restrictions. We have also taken extra care to educate our dedicated staff and anyone who visits a dining court about food allergies and restrictive diets.鈥�

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花季传媒 provides several resources to help ensure that students with food allergies and dietary restrictions are always accommodated. All students have access to one-on-one counseling with a registered dietician who can provide individualized recommendations to meet their nutritional needs and goals. This service is open to anyone and OHIO students can schedule a meeting at any time by going to ohio.edu/food/health/special-diets.

鈥淲e account for students with diet restrictions and allergies by always maintaining an open line of communication and encouraging students to reach out whenever they need guidance or support,鈥� said OHIO Culinary Services鈥� Registered Dietitian Kari Saunders. 鈥淚f their needs cannot be met through navigating our regular menu offerings at any location, they can work directly with me to develop individualized solutions. The aim is to provide support and resources to help students gain confidence and independence navigating campus dining during this important transition.鈥�

When meeting with students, Saunders discusses dietary needs, individual health and nutrition goals, how to locate menu items online and at the different dining venues, introduces them to cooks and management, provides referrals when needed and sets goals or recommend follow ups.

In addition to the personalized support she provides, Saunders also recommends that students utilize Culinary Service鈥檚 online menu database. Menus are available at ohio.edu/food/menus and via the Go OHIO app.

鈥淎ll menu offerings are submitted into an online database prior to being served, and all items put on the menu have been approved by a dietitian for ingredient accuracy,鈥� explained Saunders. 鈥淪tudents can see what options are currently available or available up to three weeks in advance. Items are also labeled with common allergens, vegetarian, or vegan and the student can select any items for full nutritional and ingredient information.鈥�

Students are also able to order specialized options ahead of time on the OHIO EATS app.

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花季传媒鈥檚 dining courts each offer meals to support those with common dietary restrictions, food allergies and other accommodations. The District on West Green offers an entirely nut-free menu, providing a safe dining environment for those with nut sensitivities.

The District also features Margaret鈥檚 Made for You鈥攁 dedicated concept offering freshly prepared, made-to-order meals for students with special dietary needs. Margaret鈥檚 offers proteins, vegetables, and sauces to create unique dishes as well as daily specials to provide further variety and options. Meals are crafted by trained staff to ensure both safety and satisfaction.

鈥淢argaret鈥檚 is an allergen-friendly kitchen that provides protein-rich, options made without the nine major allergens or gluten such as chicken, beef pork, whole grains and legumes,鈥� said Saunders. 鈥淢argaret's workers receive special training to work at the concept. This includes additional training concerning food allergens and gluten, cross-contact, checking ingredients and labels, communicating food allergens and storage and transport of gluten-friendly products. At Margaret鈥檚 we can also work with individuals to create custom dishes that meet their needs and preferences, upon request.鈥�

Cooks at Margaret鈥檚 also receive training on specific procedures such as changing aprons, washing hands and changing gloves before entering the area and between tasks, not bringing unapproved items or ingredients into the area and cleaning work surfaces. All-staff training is done on an annual basis.

鈥淚n addition to current training and policy, we will be enhancing the training our cooks receive this summer at all our Culinary Services locations on campus. We will be using the accredited program which is regarded in the industry as the Gold Standard in allergen training,鈥� emphasized Saunders. 鈥淎ll cooks who work at Margaret's will be required to receive this training. Select cook staff across all Culinary locations will also receive this training to ensure a point-person is available to direct inquiries or accommodate requests.鈥�

If students can鈥檛 make it to the District, Nelson Court also offers meals for those with dietary needs. Nelson provides custom meals made to order鈥攑repared only by the senior-most staff鈥攁s well as an order-ahead system.

鈥淭here are also allergy friendly, gluten-friendly, vegetarian and vegan options and items to cater to special diets at Nelson Commons,鈥� said Saunders. 鈥淪tudents requiring dietary accommodations will meet with me to obtain access to online ordering at Nelson through the OHIO EATS App. They will be able to make their selections through the App and discreetly pick up their meal to dine-in with friends or carry-out.

Nelson Court also has a designated area to prepare items for students with special diets or food allergies and use specific equipment. This designated allergen-friendly and non-gluten area includes an air-fryer, as well as various utensils. The area is routinely cleaned to ensure that there is no cross-contact.

To provide those with gluten intolerance with additional options, there is a gluten-free bakery and at Central Food Facility. Items prepared at this location are individually wrapped and available at special areas or upon request at dining locations on campus. Gluten ingredients are never brought into this bakery, and bi-weekly testing is conducted as additional assurance that standards are met to label these items as gluten-free.

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花季传媒 Culinary Services is constantly re-evaluating current practices and exploring the latest science, research and trends to provide variety, options, and an inclusive experience for all students. Student feedback is always valued and welcome. Students can provide feedback by filling out a comment form or through Culinary Services Development Committee (CSDC) monthly meetings. They can also attend a monthly drop-in Teams call with the Registered Dietitian. These student-led meetings are instrumental in gathering feedback that lead to improvements in dining facilities and menu options.

Culinary Services also provides food options and accommodations for religious dietary restrictions, such as halal and kosher meals, in the dining halls. Students can request religious accommodations through the Civil Rights Compliance website.

Curious about how Culinary Services supports Bobcats with food allergies and special dietary needs? Visit /food/health/special-diets.