As someone with specific dietary needs, I can absolutely identify with those who often face challenges on a campus meal plan. In case you do not know exactly what “being gluten-free” means, I’ll fill you in.
First of all, gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains. Gluten is present in more foods than you would think—sometimes even in soup! So people who are gluten-free have to make sure what they are eating definitely does not contain gluten. On campus, this is accomplished either by asking a campus cook or reading the ingredient list on the back of a food label. Some people are gluten-free because of an allergy to gluten called Celiac Disease, while others are gluten-free for health reasons or because they simply feel better when they do not eat gluten.
Getting the Scoop!
In order to get the scoop on whether the “new” gluten-free options at Brandeis are really what the school claims them to be, I interviewed fellow Brandeisian, Sarah Minkoff ’14:
Her Campus: What meal plan are you on this year, and where do you live on campus?
Sarah Minkoff: I live in Ziv Quad, and I am on the 10-meal plan.
HC: How long have you been gluten-free?
SM: I have been gluten-free since November of my senior year in high school, so I guess three years come this Nov. 18.
HC: Do you have a gluten allergy, or do you choose to be gluten-free for health reasons?
SM: I have Celiac Disease, so I am gluten intolerant.
HC: Which dining hall offers the best options for gluten-free students, and what are the other dining halls like in terms of gluten-free options?
SM: That’s difficult. Lower Usdan has better options in terms of real meals because the food at the station is definitely gluten-free, and the Balance station is generally gluten-free, as well. Unfortunately, the meals are often too complicated and catered towards very specific tastes. I would prefer it to have something as simple as plain pasta with choices of sauce, or maybe pizza every once in a while. This past week, the meal was grilled chicken with brown rice and vegetables almost every day…. Usdan isn’t as accessible in terms of bread products (sandwich bread, bagels, etc.). There used to be a labeled fridge behind the sandwich station, and now I’m not quite sure where the fridge is.
Upper Usdan is even harder; there is contamination in most things, but the nachos are fine. It would be nice if they had corn taco shells or something so we could have tacos too, since often Upper is the only thing open.
Sherman has a lot of choices in terms of bread and bagels, but the meal food is usually questionable in terms of gluten-freeness, as well as edibleness in general.
Also, labeling in both dining halls is terrible; I never know what I’m actually eating anywhere. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if I had anaphylactic reactions to gluten or peanuts, for example. It wouldn’t be safe to eat anywhere on campus, because of that lack of labeling.
Einstein’s doesn’t have much that I can eat. They have salads, but a lot of them have croutons already on them. I wish they had gluten-free bagels so that I could get a bagel from there every once in a while. The new café in the library has mostly drinks, so it’s fine; I haven’t really looked at the food there at all.
HC: Do gluten-free foods cost more?
SM: Yes! Not so much in the dining halls, but they do in the C-Store and the V-Store and in real stores, as well. It’s really frustrating that I have to pay more for food that usually tastes worse and that I have to eat. Also, a lot of the gluten-free meals in the C-Store don’t go on a meal, so I end up using points just to eat something when everywhere else is closed on the weekends. The C-Store is definitely improving on their variety of gluten-free food and snacks, but their prepared food is lacking a lot. There is nothing that I can grab quickly to eat. Everything needs to be cooked.
HC: What advice would you give prospective gluten-free Brandeis students?
SM: Talk to Laura the nutritionist, and get a gluten-free sticker, and learn about the options. Also, do everything in your power to get a Ridgewood junior year and either a Ridgewood or a Mod senior year. These have kitchens, and you can actually cook food. Also, stock up on gluten-free food to keep in your suite, and make sure you have a freezer, because most gluten-free stuff is frozen.
HC: How are the new gluten-free options in Usdan (the station) and Sherman (the designated area)?
SM: It definitely makes my life a lot easier now that I know I can trust at least the station in Usdan to be gluten-free. But I still wish the choices were a little better sometimes. The first week they had a lot of great choices, but they’re not always very healthy.
Gluten Free Options on Campus: Improved?
Not so much, as Sarah has explained. There are small steps in the right direction being made with the new gluten-free food, but like the vegan food on campus, it is definitely not what is promised.