Why Meal Plans Matter for Students with Dietary Restrictions
Here, we’ll discuss affordable college meal plans for students with dietary restrictions. This is a timely article, too, because many college students have dietary restrictions.
In a 2024 Statista survey, 43% of respondents reported dietary restrictions. The low-carb or no-carb diet (16%) was the most common, followed by lactose-free (10%). Other dietary restrictions were gluten-free (9%), vegetarian (5%), and vegan (3%).
There isn’t much information about the number of students with dietary restrictions. But we can assume that college students also have them. Their common reasons include personal beliefs, weight loss, and medical conditions.
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Why do meal plans for students with dietary restrictions matter in the first place? College dining halls serve thousands of students every day. Preparing two different types of food – regular food and food for students with dietary restrictions – isn’t time- and cost-efficient.
Despite the extra time, effort, and money, here are the reasons why these matter.
- Inclusivity matters in college culture and life. Students with dietary restrictions see these meal plans as crucial for their health. You’ll appreciate that the dining hall culture promotes an inclusive environment.
- Affordability matters, too, for students with dietary restrictions. On average, a college student spends $570/month on food or 20% of their monthly budget. However, dietary restrictions can increase your food budget. Affordable meal plans with dietary restrictions in mind can address it.
Other reasons why meal plans for students with dietary restrictions matter include:
- These enable students to manage their health conditions and their associated risks. Avoid foods that can trigger your symptoms, such as allergic reactions. This way, there are fewer disruptions in your studies.
- These ensure that students have access to delicious food that meets their dietary needs. You have the right to eat food that boosts your physical and mental energy.
When you have access to food that feeds your mind and body, you experience less stress and anxiety, too. You can then focus on your studies and enjoy your extracurriculars. Indeed, food is a vital aspect of your success as a college student.
What to Look for in a Meal Plan for Dietary Restrictions
Look for these key factors in meal plans for students with dietary restrictions.
Ingredient Transparency
If you have dietary restrictions, you’re adept at reading the ingredients list on food items. You can then decide whether the ingredients are good for you or not.
This also applies to college meal plans but in a different way. Ask the cafeteria staff about the specific ingredients in the dishes and drinks. Tell them about your dietary restrictions as it applies to your questions.
Check if your college offers digital tools, such as mobile apps, for this purpose. These digital tools usually provide real-time information about the dishes’ ingredients and nutritional value. University of California Berkeley and Stanford University have these mobile apps.
Variety of Options
The only thing worse than bland cafeteria food is repetitive cafeteria food. College meal plans that offer a wide range of dishes, drinks, and desserts are the best. You will appreciate several options during meal times, too, alongside fresh and seasonal offerings.
Customization Options
Giving students customization options also increases the variety of dishes they can enjoy. For example, you can mix and match the ingredients in your salad (i.e., salad bar). Colleges may also offer a wide range of protein and carbohydrates.
Affordability
Again, affordability is key in choosing your meal plan. While meal plans usually have a fixed cost, there are more flexible options. Pay-per-use, credit-based, and flex dollars are a few examples.
Don’t hesitate to explore your financial aid options to cover your meal plan, too. Federal and state aid, scholarships, and work-study are great examples.
We can’t overemphasize the importance of supportive staff members too. Ask about the availability of a nutritionist-dietitian for consultations. Be friendly with the cafeteria staff, too, because they handle and serve your food.
Top Colleges Offering Affordable Meal Plans for Dietary Restrictions
University of Michigan
U-M offers a wide range of vegan, keto, and gluten-free college meal plans, among others. There’s a “24 Carrots” section for vegan and vegetarian dishes. Gluten-free food items, such as breads, pasta, and wraps, are available. Halal food options are also offered.
Students can submit their special meal request order form, too. Upon approval, their food will be prepared separately to avoid allergens and other food restrictions. Registered dietitians also provide guidance and referrals to resources for students with dietary restrictions.
Dining halls usually provide the nutrition information for their dishes and drinks. Students must read the menu where serving size, nutrition information, and ingredients are listed.
University of California Berkeley
UC Berkeley offers on-campus and off-campus meal plans for its undergraduate students. Most of these meal plans combine meal swipes and flex dollars for greater flexibility.
Registered dietitians and chefs create the menus to ensure quality, flavor, and nutrition. Berkeley Dining offers vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free meal plans for students, too. The menus feature ingredient lists and nutrition facts, among other information. Students can then decide if the dishes align with their dietary needs.
Dietary-related requests are welcome, too. Students in the residence halls have access to common kitchens. This way, they can prepare their food based on their dietary needs.
Stanford University
R&DE Stanford Dining offers a wide range of dishes for students with dietary restrictions. Students must meet with the registered nutritionists to discuss their specific dietary needs. Stanford will also place students in the best possible housing accommodations.
Besides allergen-free college dining options, R&DE Stanford Dining also offers:
- Vegetarian and vegan dishes
- Gluten-free options
- Kosher diet-based dishes
- Halal food
Students have easy access to dining halls for their food-related needs. Breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner are served daily, too.
University of Vermont
Students with special dietary needs must meet with the registered dietitian for guidance. UVM also has a menu system that provides extensive information about food allergens. Students can use the free everyday app for this purpose.
UVM has several dedicated stations for special dietary needs, too.
- Harris Mills, Central Campus, and Redstone, all dining halls, feature dedicated plant-based dishes.
- Simple Zone offers students gluten-free, peanut-free, and tree nut-free dishes. Harris Millis, Redstone, Central Campus, and Northside Dining offer the dedicated space.
- Simple Servings is a dedicated space for students with Celiac disease and other food intolerances/allergies.
Plus, UVM offers budget-friendly meal plans for college students. Prices range from $2,364 to $2,641/semester. These combine retail points and meal swipes; unlimited meal swipes are available.
Bates College
The private liberal arts college only has about 1,800 students. But it’s among the best small colleges with customizable meal plans. Students must meet with Commons Dining officials for their specific dietary restrictions.
Bates College allows unlimited access to Commons during open hours. Students with dietary restrictions, such as vegan, halal, and kosher, have a wide variety to choose from. Clear labels for allergens found in the dishes are always in sight. There are also Adventures in Dining events offered.
Students can also look forward to the dishes available for the week. The Commons Dining posts weekly menus. Students also have access to Net Nutrition for menu and allergen information.
University of California Los Angeles
UCLA offers many healthy and affordable student meal plans, too. There’s greater flexibility, too, such as meal plans for students who skip breakfast or go home on weekends.
Furthermore, UCLA offers meal plans for students with dietary restrictions, such as:
- Residential Dining Dietary Support Program. This provides students with alternative meals that address their special dietary needs. Students troop to the Segundo, Tercero, and Cuarto DC facilities.
- Gluten-free pantry. Students with Celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance can access the gluten-free pantry.
De Neve Residential Restaurant offers kosher and halal dining options. These are available during lunch and dinner only.
University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin offers among the best college meal plans for special diets, thanks to these features.
- Menu transparency. Students can access online dining menus with real-time information about ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Dishes are also labeled with symbols for gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
- Access to registered dietitians. Students can consult with registered dietitians to plan their menu items.
- Friendly dining hall staff. Students can ask relevant questions about the menu offerings, such as ingredients.
The Food Allergy Support Team (FAST) offers guidance and support for students with food allergies. There are also Fresh and Simple Tastes (FAST) Lines that offer gluten-free food.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC-Chapel Hill’s affordable tuition extends to its affordable meal plans, too. Block Plans start at $1,795, while the Unlimited Plan is at $3,080 (2024-2025).
Furthermore, UNC dining halls offer a wide range of options for students with dietary restrictions.
- The Chase Dining Hall has a Simply Prepared station that serves allergen-free foods. These allergens are milk, eggs, soy, wheat, and tree nuts, among others.
- The Stress Less Cabinets and Freezers have items in individual wrappers to prevent cross-contamination. These food items don’t have peanuts, tree nuts, and gluten.
Plus, peanuts and peanut oil are excluded from all food items served in the dining halls.
University of Florida
UF is among the top online colleges with meal plans for dietary restrictions for these reasons.
- One-on-one consultations with a full-time registered dietitian to discuss your dietary restrictions and viable accommodations
- Flexible meal plans for students on vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. Students also enjoy allergen-free options.
- Menus feature allergen, ingredients, and nutrition information
- Dining halls have dedicated stations for students with dietary preferences
- Staff members in dining halls answer relevant questions and enable students to understand their choices
Best of all, UF has an online ordering system for meals.
Ohio State University
With more than 45,700 undergraduates, it can be a challenge to keep track of students’ dietary preferences. But OSU rises to the challenges through its Dining Services. Students with dietary restrictions can meet with registered dietitians for guidance and support.
Other notable features include:
- Menus that display information about ingredients, allergens, and nutritional value
- Mobile Ordering App enables students to declare their food allergies
- Solution Station offers plant-based, nut-free, and gluten-free options
- Dining halls usually offer vegetarian, halal, and kosher food
All-you-care-to-eat options are available, too.
Online Colleges and Meal Plan Accessibility
Online colleges usually don’t provide their students with on-campus meal plans. This is true even for online colleges with on-campus facilities. Online students can access on-campus dining facilities as walk-in customers.
Many online colleges offer meal plans for their students through meal delivery services.
Ask your online college about the availability of meal delivery services. Among the most popular services catering to individuals with dietary restrictions include:
- Freshly (dairy-free, low-carb, keto, and gluten-free options)
- Green Chef (paleo, keto, Mediterranean, and gluten-free options)
- Sunbasket (Organic, vegetarian, keto, and paleo diets)
- Snap Kitchen (keto, low-carb, and gluten-free options)
- Purple Carrot (vegan and plant-based meals)
Many online colleges also provide their students with effective access to nutritional resources. Virtual nutrition counseling, nutrition webinars, and nutritional apps are common.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Health and Budget
In conclusion, making the right choice in a college meal plan boils down to:
- Ingredient transparency so that you can determine if the food aligns with your dietary preferences
- Wide range of options in dishes, desserts, and drinks
- Opportunity to customize your food according to your dietary restrictions
- Affordability since food inflation and insecurity among college students are real
So, take your time and think it through when you’re choosing a meal plan. Keep in mind that your food must feed your mind and body, not make you sick. Delicious and healthy food, after all, boosts your academic and personal success in college.