UNI Dining Services 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.
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 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.
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.
UNI Dining’s Registered Dietitian is available to assist with dining options on campus and other accommodations. To schedule an appointment with the Registered Dietitian call: 319-273-6937 or email at lisa.a.smith@uni.edu.
Dining Services offers consultations with dietitian, Lisa Smith, MA, RDN, LDN on a variety of topics - including healthy eating, vegan/vegetarian eating, food allergies, and health concerns like gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, disordered eating and more.
Lisa is available on-campus as well as online to help students find healthier options that work for them and to address questions and concerns regarding your nutrition and dietary needs. She can provide:
Individual consultations to discuss and assist with issues including, but not limited to, food allergies and intolerances, vegetarian and vegan diets, weight management and modified diets.
Education on ingredients, sourcing on foods served in UNI dining centers, dining center tours, including help with location healthy and food allergy specific items.
Education materials related to eating healthy on and off campus as well as portion control.
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.
Be your own advocate.
Inform UNI Dining of your needs to help you stay healthy while dining.
Know your allergy. Choose menu items that you know are safe with your specific food restriction. If in doubt, ask! We are always happy to show you labels or recipes.
Don’t be shy to create relationships with UNI Dining Services staff. This will help make your dining experience less stressful. We are here to help you and we look forward to working with you. We believe that by working together we can help you develop your knowledge about the menu items that fit your food restriction.
Notify Dining staff with any concerns related to ingredients and preparation methods.
Utilize nutrition information available through the online menus.
Review daily menu offerings to become familiar with foods being served.
Carry a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector at all times.
Communicate with UNI Dining. Let us know what is working and when you experience challenges.
Let friends you dine with frequently know about your allergies so they can get help if needed.
Avoid areas such as fryers, woks and bakery items since those items have a higher level of cross contact.
Do not eat or drink anything with no ingredient information. Ask staff questions about what you can and cannot eat.
Our on-campus bakery provides the majority of baked goods to our dining centers. Although we take great precautions to minimize cross contact with those foods containing nuts, all are prepared in the same location.
Rialto and Piazza uses a blend of cottonseed oil and canola oil in the fryers. However, due to the potential of cross-contact of other foods, those with allergies and sensitivities should avoid items produced in the fryer.
Many of the Asian sauces on the wok or mixed dishes may contain oyster sauce and fish sauce. Students with shellfish and fish allergies will want to check the menus for the full ingredient listing.
Even with multiple cleanings, studies have shown that proteins can remain in the grooves of a wok's surface. Those with allergies and sensitivities should avoid those venues due to cross-contact.
Pesto can contain tree nuts. Those with a tree nut allergy should avoid items containing pesto.
Not every ice cream in the hand-dipped area contains allergens. However, many of them do. While the ice cream scoop is rinsed under water, it is not sanitized. Those with allergies and sensitivities should avoid the hand-dipped ice cream based on the potential of cross-contact.
