<p>Does anyone have any feedback, positive or negative, about their college experience with special dietary needs? We have a son with several food allergies, which is going to make eating in a cafeteria-style food-service environment very difficult.</p>
<p>In particular, we're trying to identify colleges that have unique dining plans, freshman kitchen facilities or extreme flexibility in accommodating food allergies. We're already seeing lots of disclaimers on college web sites saying food service won't be responsible for severe allergic reactions - never a good sign.</p>
<p>Ideally, he's looking for a small, not-very-competitive liberal arts school in the midwest (high ACT/low grade point), but he would be flexible if he found a fit in another part of the country where he feels secure.</p>
<p>College food has really changed in a generation. When I was in school, the dinner menu was a choice of Mystery Meat A or Mystery Meat B, with a starch and an overcooked vegetable. Colleges now are using food service as a selling point; this ain’t your momma’s dining hall!</p>
<p>My D’s LAC has an amazing array of selections every meal, every day. The food service area is almost like a little neighborhood – besides the main “hometown” standard entree, there are sections for soup/stew/chili, deli, main-dish salad, pizza, ethnic, and veggie including vegan. </p>
<p>I’d recommend that you email your concerns to the various schools. They should be able to give you the info you need.</p>
<p>I would highly encourage your son to investigate Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster, PA.
The Sodexo dining service manager there is very attuned to the complexities of food allergy management. My child attended a CTY summer camp at that location specifically because of their ability to accomodate him. The main dining hall does not serve products containing nuts or peanuts. They have a Kosher line which does not ever include dairy. There is a refrigerator in the main kitchen for students to store their own special foods. Servers change gloves for fa students and understand cross contamination issues. This is a small school and the cafeteria staff does get to know the special needs students. They are willing to prepare special meals and have a number of food allergic students.</p>