Dietary Accommodations
UNI Dining accommodates a variety of diets and food intolerances. Whether you have food allergies, food sensitivities, gluten intolerance, are following a vegan/vegetarian diet, or other dietary restrictions and/or medical needs, UNI Dining is here to help you make safe and delicious choices.
At UNI, a team approach led by you, our informed customer, is the best preparation in assisting you to have enjoyable dining experiences. UNI Dining will provide you with the information needed to manage food allergies, food sensitivities and other medical needs. Here are some ways we make it easier for you to manage your meals:
- A Registered Dietitian is available for consultation to discuss various tools and resources available for your safe and healthy dining experience.
- Rialto and Piazza offer designated allergy areas in their dining facilities that serves one entrée that is free of the top eight allergens, one entrée that is gluten-free, and complementary sides that are free of the top eight allergens. Vegan items are available in designated areas as well. Additional items can be prepared to help meet students' individual needs.
- All management staff attend Allertrain U® training, an ANSI-accredited training available through MenuTrinfo® and taught by an on-campus Master Trainer. Managers and supervisors are required to be ServSafe® certified, a food safety program including food allergen management.
- Registered students for meal accommodations have access to ordering customizable entrées and sides prior to arriving in the dining center through the GET app.
- All culinary staff are trained in AllerTrain Lite®, available through MenuTrinfo® and taught on campus by a Master trainer. They are also required to be ServSafe® certified, which covers all aspects of food safety including food allergen management.
- Our interactive online menu site allows you to filter out the allergens you wish to avoid by using the Set Filter option on the menu pages.
- A food allergy policy to inform students of the options available through UNI Dining Services.
Meet Our Dietitian
Individual consultations are available with dietitian, Lisa Smith, MA, RDN, LDN on a variety of topics. She will help students find options that work for them and address questions and concerns regarding nutrition and dietary needs. She can provide:
- Consult to discuss and assist with issues such as food allergies and intolerances, vegetarian and vegan diets, weight management and modified diets.
- Education on ingredients, sourcing on foods and dining center tours, including help with locating healthy and food allergy specific items.
- Educational materials related to eating healthy on and off campus, as well as portion control.
Lisa is available to assist with dining options on campus and along with other accommodations. To schedule an appointment, call 319-273-6937 or email lisa.a.smith@uni.edu.
Register an Accommodation
Familiarize yourself with the Food Allergy and Food Sensitivity Dining Policy.
Complete the online Accessibility Accommodation Request through Student Accessibility Services.
UNI Dining’s dietitian will follow-up with an email to discuss next steps.
Tips for Students
- Be your own advocate.
- Inform UNI Dining of your needs.
- Know your allergy.
- Form relationships with UNI Dining staff.
- Notify Dining staff with any concerns related to ingredients and preparation methods.
- Utilize nutrition information available through the online menus.
- Review daily menu offerings.
- Carry a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.
- Let friends know about your allergies.
- Don't eat or drink anything with no ingredient information.
Good to Know
- Our on-campus bakery provides the majority of baked goods to our dining centers. Although we take great precautions to minimize cross contact with foods containing nuts, all are prepared in the same location.
- The dining centers use a blend of cottonseed oil and canola oil in the fryers.
- Many of the sauces on the wok or mixed dishes may contain oyster and fish sauce.
- Proteins can remain in the grooves of a wok's surface.
- Pesto can contain tree nuts.
- Many of the ice cream flavors in the hand-dipped area contain allergens.
