How To Talk to Dining Hall Staff

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How To Tell Potential Roommates about Your Food Allergies How To Talk to Your Resident Advisor How To Talk to Dining Hall Staff How To Talk to Your Professors How To Talk to Friends About Food Allergies How To Talk to Dates About Food Allergies How To Navigate Alcohol at a Party

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FAACT's College Toolkit - How to talk to dining hall staff with two lunch servers

How To Talk to Dining Staff

Talking to the staff at your dining hall is a CRITICAL part of your college choice. It is your time to shine and have these conversations on your own behalf. (Your parents/guardians will be there to back you up.)

Download FAACT's How To Talk to Dining Hall Staff Checklist

Here are some example questions to ask:

Is there an allergen-friendly station in the dining hall?
Can meals be chosen ahead of time to ensure an allergen-free entree is available ?
Can I meet with the college registered dietitian to get allergen-free alternatives ordered?
Are the dining hall staff professionally trained in managing food allergies through a program such as AllerTrain™ Food Service Training?
Are the dining hall staff trained in epinephrine administration, and is an epinephrine auto-injector kept in the dining hall area?
How are ingredients labeled in the dining hall? How will I know what safe food choices are available?
Are there dedicated pots and pans at food stations to be used for students with food allergies to ensure no risk of cross-contact (e.g., at the omelet station or stir fry station)?
When the university has events at which food is served, will allergen-friendly options be made available so I can safely participate?
Do ALL dining halls on campus offer allergen-free meals for me or only certain ones?
Can I get a tour of the dining facility/facilities when I visit?

Example Conversation Starters

When calling the Dining Services main office:

“Good morning! My name is [name]. I will be a freshman this fall at [college/university]. I have severe food allergies to [allergen(s)]. I am hoping to connect with someone that I can speak to about your dining facilities.”

When emailing the school dietitian:

Dear [School Dietitian Name],

My name is [name]. I will be a freshman this fall at [college/university]. I have severe food allergies to [allergen(s)]. I am hoping to connect with someone to speak to about your dining facilities. If possible, I would love to see the dining facilities before move-in day. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
[Name]