Hi!
I have Celiac disease and was wondering about the different options at boarding schools (specifically Hotchkiss, Taft, Choate, Groton, Deerfield and Lawrenceville, but any other schools would be awesome too!). I looked in the cafeteria and saw some form of allergy labeling in most schools, but am more concerned about the less structured/more spontaneous aspects like dorm feeds.
Seriously ANY info would be so appreciated!
Thanks!
In case any one else is using this thread for research, here is some information I have gathered so far.
Hotchkiss had amazing labeling for every diet possible, along with a fridge and food storage station for people with special diets to use.
Choate, Lawrenceville and Taft had labeling throughout their dining halls (still amazing!)
My Groton interviewer said they had gluten free options in the back
Didn’t see/can’t remember Deerfield options (interview was too rushed to ask)
Funnily enough, my Interviewers at both Hotchkiss and Groton were gluten free!
Not trying to be insensitive (I have a son with a peanut allergy) but shouldn’t you be able to handle your allergy by now by knowing the foods that trigger you? In regards to dorm feeds, most of the BS we toured (none on your list) had areas for students to store foods from home or purchased at the store. So you stock up on stuff you can eat, and when the pizza comes, you go get your allowed food. In my sons experience, people were respectful of his allergy.
@VACAlover first of all, I’m sure you have way more authority than me seeing as peanut allergies are usually very severe, and I’m sorry that your son has to deal with that. But even though I know what I can’t eat, it is important to make sure that I have some type of option if the school is my main source of food, and though peanut allergies can usually be very severe, peanuts are not typically in every meal/snack as gluten is, so the issues are a little bit different. Just as you would ask questions about weekend activities or sports, having Celiac is an important part of my life so I am simply seeking some more information about the subject.
Here’s the message I sent to the OP:
You will be more than fine. The menus are labelled with common allergens, and above all, the dining hall staff are incredibly accommodating. They’re amazing. There are comment cards, and the head of food services holds meetings every once in a while to hear suggestions. They’ll even get to know you and your allergens so that they can catch you if you put something on your plate that might make you sick! (I accidentally put the meat dumplings on my plate last week and one of the chefs told me before trouble ensued.) A girl in my dorm is gluten-free and as far as I know, she has no problem finding food.
And if gluten-free bread is your thing, it’s always available. 
@zeebee619 talk directly to the dining staff head. that person should be understanding to your dietary needs and offer alternatives for your meals.
Choate is very diet-sensitive. We are across the country and confident that our son’s food allergy is not an issue.
I have celiac and I have noticed pretty good labeling and tons of options including vegan at NMH and other schools. Although it is trendy to be gluten free, I think celiac disease, which is an auto-immune disorder, is still widely misunderstood. When someone with celiac eats gluten, it causes more than just temporary - and usually severe- digestive issues, it actually makes it difficult for our bodies to absorb nutrients in any food we eat, whether it has gluten or not, and one mistake can cause set backs that last for weeks. Although it is not a challenge to know the lasagna is off-limits, gluten can also be hidden in items like soy sauce (some has gluten, some doesn’t), soups, sauces, “rice” noodles, granola, and a ton of other BS staples. Eyeballing the buffet is not sufficient, you really do need a school that is at least a little attentive. Luckily, most schools seem to do a reasonably good job. When it comes to dorm feeds, I think sadly the separate but kinda equal rule is your best bet i.e. have a GF frozen pizza in the dorm freezer and a box of GF cookies for birthdays etc. that you can access so you don’t feel left out.
Anyone who could tell me about special diets at Hotchkiss?