The Woes of Gluten-Free Dining

Navigating Dartmouth Eating choices is usually a battle at the most effective of occasions, however for these with dietary restrictions, this problem can typically really feel like a near-impossible feat. Based on Dartmouth’s registered dietician for dietary points Elizabeth Rosenberger, roughly 30% of the campus adheres to a gluten-free weight loss plan — however how accessible is Dartmouth Eating for these college students? 

Eli Friedman ’25 is one such gluten-free diner. Friedman has celiac illness, which signifies that consuming gluten will trigger injury to his small gut, in accordance with the Celiac Illness Basis web site. Friedman expressed difficulties discovering enough gluten-free choices in campus eating halls. 

“We don’t have many constant choices obtainable [at Foco] … we don’t have a pizza station or pasta obtainable frequently,” Friedman mentioned.

That’s not to say, nonetheless, that DDS doesn’t provide gluten-free choices. Natalie Vann ’25, who’s gluten illiberal, mentioned that DDS does a “superb job” on the subject of offering gluten-free choices. 

“I can all the time discover one thing to eat, however typically the choices are very dismal. So, it’s loads of yogurt or salad,” Vann mentioned.  

At the moment, there’s a devoted gluten-free station at Foco, which Rosenberger mentioned presents an entree, a facet and a vegetable every single day for lunch and dinner, in addition to “seize and go” snacks. She additionally highlighted that college students can request that sure meals objects be current on the gluten-free station; one scholar requested for a sure kind of cereal they eat every single day at dwelling. 

Rosenberger additionally mentioned that six weeks in the past, the Board of Trustees authorized the thought for an allergy-friendly station in Foco — and development planning is at present underway. The station will include common meals, which means it is not going to include any of the highest 9 allergens. Nothing shall be eliminated in Foco, solely reorganized, with a view to accommodate this new addition, in accordance with Rosenberger, and it’ll tentatively open in winter or spring of subsequent yr.  

There have been blended emotions from college students upon listening to concerning the opening of an allergy-friendly station. Vann, for one, was excited concerning the addition of this allergy-friendly station. 

“I believe that seems like a good suggestion if it may be saved clear and separate … I hope that they’re profitable as a result of that might be helpful for me,” mentioned Vann. 

Nonetheless, not each scholar was as enthusiastic. Friedman frightened that the existence of a catch-all allergy-friendly station would lower the caliber of the meals choices. 

“I discover that very annoying,” Friedman mentioned. “Combining … is simpler for them as a result of they need to have much less choices, but it surely actually decreases the standard of meals. For instance, gluten-free baked items really style fairly comparable more often than not, however if you eliminate the eggs and butter, it turns into considerably worse.” 

When Foco stations serve gluten-free meals, the meals shall be labeled as such. Nonetheless, Vann famous that the provision of gluten-free meals at Foco’s main stations is at present inconsistent. 

“When the meals within the different areas just like the vegetarian part and Ma Thayer’s is gluten free, I really feel excellent as a result of I’ve loads of choices, however on the times when it’s not … it’s hit and miss at Foco,” Vann mentioned. 

Nonetheless, for some gluten-free diners, even meals that don’t technically include gluten as an ingredient can nonetheless trigger issues. Elaine Sarazen ’25 has celiac illness, and he or she careworn that cross contamination — that’s, when gluten touches one other dish or meal — is one other obstacle to having the ability to eat in campus eating halls. 

“For me, being gluten-free doesn’t imply that I simply can not eat bread. For instance, when you cook dinner a flour quesadilla on a pan, I shouldn’t be consuming one thing off that pan afterwards,” Sarazen mentioned. 

Threat of cross contamination with gluten-rich meals and lack of area are contributors to the restricted gluten-free choices, in accordance with Rosenberger. For instance, gluten-free bread can’t be supplied on the deli station as a result of it’s a small area, and there’s a threat of cross contact. 

There are additionally gluten-free choices in different eating halls, resembling Collis Cafe, the place college students can request gluten-free stir-fry and pasta, in accordance with Rosenberger. Smoothies can be made to be freed from gluten at Collis. Nonetheless, the Collis specials are often not freed from gluten, as Lina Klinkenberg ’25, who’s gluten illiberal, identified. 

“At Collis, usually the particular has gluten and all of the pastries have gluten as properly. They by no means make gluten-free pastries,” Klinkenberg mentioned.

At Novack Cafe, Ramekin and the Fern, there are some gluten-free sandwiches and salads, in accordance with Rosenberger. 

“Novack is the worst … I do know they’ve pre-made [gluten-free] sandwiches, however they’re merely not good,”  Friedman mentioned.

Klinkenberg expressed comparable sentiments regarding the campus cafes, resembling Novack — which turns into particularly irritating when one is within the library learning.

“Typically they’ve a pair salads, however actually nothing good,” she mentioned. 

Rosenberger added that Novack and Ramekin specifically “all the time hold some gluten-free muffins or bagels readily available,” however they don’t seem to be often displayed due to lack of area and demand. Nonetheless, this leads some gluten-free eaters to imagine there are not any gluten-free pastries supplied. 

“I didn’t know that. That’s superior,”  Klinkenberg mentioned, after studying concerning the gluten-free pastries.

Rosenberger mentioned that Dartmouth Eating tries to spotlight data concerning gluten-free choices on completely different platforms with a view to attain a large viewers, such because the DDS homepage. 

“We do strive, however we may all the time do higher,” mentioned Rosenberger. 

Based on Rosenberger, college students with allergic reactions even have entry to a meal order app, which accommodates a static menu of a wide range of gluten-free meals, resembling greens, breakfast choices and gluten-free pizza and pasta. The app additionally supplies an choice to pick that the meals be packaged or plated individually from different meals with a view to decrease cross contact, in accordance with Rosenberger. With the intention to have entry to the app, college students should attain out to Rosenberger to be entered into the database. 

Whereas gluten-free eating can typically be a battle, change is on the horizon. Though solely time will inform, maybe upcoming modifications can relieve the stress of discovering gluten-free choices on campus.