Celiac illness is an immune response to consuming gluten. Over time, the immune response causes irritation within the small gut’s lining, which might result in severe medical situations.
Whereas the college does have some lodging for college students with dietary restrictions, it needs to be doing extra.
As a frequent customer of the 459 eating corridor, I by no means observed how slim the gluten-free meals part was, however, after I started paying consideration, I spotted how few choices are given to college students with gluten intolerances or allergic reactions.
My roommate was lately identified with celiac illness, and he or she needed to give up consuming gluten altogether. Attempting to navigate the 459 eating corridor along with her new dietary restrictions has been troublesome, as there will not be many choices she will be able to eat.
Whereas the 459 could lack decisions for my roommate and different college students with gluten intolerances, the 5 presents a Pure Eats station, which presents alternate options for frequent meals allergic reactions.
“The each day menu at this station is made avoiding every of the highest 8 allergens (milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and eggs) in addition to gluten, however at each eating amenities we really abide by the ‘Don’t Be Shy, Self Determine’ program,” mentioned Catherine Bowie, the college’s campus dietitian.
The Do not Be Shy, Self Determine program permits “any pupil with particular dietary wants to satisfy with us one-on-one and permit us to debate the methods during which we are able to accommodate and tailor a plan to suit their particular person wants,” mentioned Bowie.
Although this program is accessible to all college students, the Pure Eats station is simply within the 5 eating corridor.
It’s unfair to solely supply this helpful meals menu to 1 facet of campus. For somebody residing on the east-side of campus, the stroll to the 5 eating corridor is just too lengthy for a number of meals a day.
The Don’t Be Shy, Self Determine program is a good various for college students with allergic reactions, however a program like Pure Eats can be far more helpful to the scholars with dietary points residing on East campus.
The 459 eating corridor ought to have extra gluten-free choices available and guarantee there isn’t a cross-contamination within the making of these meals.
Several types of milk are continually supplied to college students within the 459 eating corridor, giving alternate options to college students with lactose intolerances or vegan diets. Why do gluten-free college students not get the identical therapy?
College students with dietary points residing on East campus ought to have extra meals readily accessible to them in an effort to get a fuller faculty expertise. There isn’t any motive that an on-campus pupil with dietary points ought to should really feel any totally different than these with none.
Bowie, who’s new to LSU eating, presents hope that strides are being made to provide college students equal high quality meals regardless of their well being restrictions.
“It’s my purpose to constantly enhance our program and higher talk every little thing we’ve got to supply college students who’ve any allergic reactions in addition to these with celiac or gluten intolerance,” mentioned Bowie.
Whereas assets can be found for gluten-free college students, it is essential that the college ensures choices can be found throughout campus. Increasing the Pure Eats station to the 459 can be a superb begin.
Kate Beske is a 19-year-old journalism freshman from Destrehan, LA.