Support for BU Students with Food-Related Medical Conditions

The True Balance Station is designed specifically for guests who are allergic to one or more of the most common foods allergens or gluten. Located at West Campus Dining Hall, the True Balance Station is physically separated from the other stations and contains its own food prep space in order to reduce the risk of cross contact with allergens. At the station you will find meals made from ingredients without:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Milk
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Gluten
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Sesame

The Gluten-Free Kitchens are located in Warren Towers and Marciano Dining Halls. All foods served are prepped with ingredients that do not contain gluten and foods are prepped in a dedicated area to reduce the risk of cross contact with gluten.

For more information about gluten-free dining on campus please click here.

The Gluten and Nut-Free Pantry is designed to supplement the other foods available in the dining halls for students with gluten, peanut, and tree nut-free dining requirements. The pantries also contain individually packaged foods and condiments that are useful for students managing severe food allergies. Students do not have to pay a fee to gain access to the pantry. To prevent cross contact:

• Access to the pantry is limited to students who complete a virtual training. Upon successful completion of the training, access is granted via the student’s BU Terrier Card.
• Students are required to complete a re-training session each year to renew their access to the pantry.

Students will find a Gluten and Nut-Free Pantry at three Fresh Food Company dining locations:

• West Campus
• Warren Towers
• Marciano Commons

Gluten and Nut-Free Pantry Access Request
If you are a BU student and require access to the Gluten and Nut-Free Pantries, please apply using our secure form linked below. A dietitian will contact you as soon as possible to schedule your pantry training.

Apply for Gluten and Nut-Free Pantry Access

Students with certain food allergies or multiple food restrictions may require special meal accommodations. All students requesting special meal accommodations for food-related medical conditions must register with Disability & Access Services and provide medical documentation. A SCNC RDN and a BU Dining Services Food Service Director are available to:

• Meet one-on-one with students to evaluate individual needs and provide student specific instructions for ordering special meals at each dining room.
• Provide individual guidance on food options that are readily available.
• Meet regularly to ensure that the student’s nutrition needs are being met.

For more information about dining on campus with food allergies, please visit BU Dining Services’ “Guide to Managing Food Allergies”

Daily Menus and Ingredient Lists
http://www.bu.edu/dining/

Daily menus for the residential dining rooms are available online.

• Charles River Campus: https://www.bu.edu/dining/where-to-eat/
• Fenway Campus: https://bufenway.sodexomyway.com/dining-near-me/campus-center-dining-room
• PLEASE NOTE:
  • While menus list ingredients and/or allergens, substitutions can be made at any time. Students with allergies or severe food-related medical conditions should exercise caution and follow-up with a manager to check most up-to-date ingredient labels.
  • Nutrition and portion information displayed on dining room signage and the online menus are not necessarily reflective of the amount being served in the dining rooms. Please review the full online nutrition facts label, and if you require specific portions or nutrition information before consuming, request to speak to a manager on duty.
• We request that you notify a dining room manager immediately if you have any concerns about cross contact or have questions about whether you can safely eat a food item.

To contact the General Manager for each residential dining room, please follow the links below:

• Rob Luther, General Manager, Fresh Food Co. at Marciano Commons
• Stephen Baldwin, General Manager, Fresh Food Co. at West Campus
• Mark Yates, General Manager, Fresh Food Co. at Warren Towers
• Mark Fichtner, General Manager, Fenway Campus Center Dining Room

Housing and Dining Plans
http://www.bu.edu/housing/

http://www.bu.edu/dining/plans-points/

Students assigned to dormitory-style residences are required to choose one of five dining plans. This policy is firm.

Students living in off-campus or on-campus apartment-style residences may choose a dining plan or apartment plan.

To review dining plan options and frequently asked questions please refer to the following Dining  website.

SCNC RDNs are available to:

• Provide education and support for a newly diagnosed food-related medical condition.
• Provide support to students managing an existing condition at Boston University.
• Liaise between students and Dining Services to ensure that students’ dietary needs are met on campus.
• Provide training and access to the Gluten and Nut-Free Pantry.

Students with food-related medical conditions or other nutritional risk factors are eligible for up to three nutrition counseling sessions per academic year (July 1 – June 30) at no charge. Students requiring more than three visits per academic year may continue to work with their SCNC RDN on a fee-for-service basis. Students may be eligible for health insurance coverage for these visits, depending on their healthcare plan. Deductibles, copayments, and/or coinsurance may apply.  SCNC RDNs are participating providers for:

• Aetna
• Aetna Student Health
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• Cigna Healthcare
• Tufts Health Plan
• United Healthcare

Register

BU Disability & Access Services
25 Buick Street Suite 300
617-353-3658
access@bu.edu
www.bu.edu/disability

Some students with food-related medical conditions may require academic, residential, or dining accommodations. Staff members are available to meet with students to discuss the impact of their conditions on their academic and student life and suggest resources and accommodations if appropriate.

• Please note that Disability & Access Services will require you to send supporting medical documentation from your physician in order to obtain accommodations through their center.
• Students are encouraged to begin the registration process as soon as they decide they will enroll as a student at Boston University.
• We encourage all students that obtain access into the Gluten & Nut-Free Pantries to consider registering with Disability & Access Services. We also recommend all students with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, severe irritable bowel syndrome and severe food allergies register.

All students requesting special meal accommodations for food-related medical conditions must register with Disability & Access Services.

BU Student Health Services
881 Commonwealth Ave, 1st Floor
617-353-3575
http://www.bu.edu/shs/
Medical providers are available to:
1. Provide medical care for students with food-related medical conditions
2. Provide referrals for specialty care as needed

BU Behavioral Medicine
881 Commonwealth Ave, 1st Floor
617-353-3569
http://www.bu.edu/shs/behavioral/
It can be challenging to cope with a condition that limits your ability to consume certain foods. Behavioral medicine practitioners are available to provide support and resources to students with food-related medical conditions.

BU Orientation
775 Commonwealth Avenue, B-01
617-353-3555
oocs@bu.edu
http://www.bu.edu/orientation/

The SCNC recommends incoming BU students attending Orientation contact the Orientation Office to notify them about your food-related medical conditions and any special meal accommodations that you may require.

BU First Year Student Outreach Program (FYSOP)
775 Commonwealth Avenue, 4th floor
617-353-4710
fysop@bu.edu
http://www.bu.edu/csc/community-service-center-programs/fysop/

The SCNC recommends FYSOP participants contact the FYSOP office to notify them about your food-related medical condition and any special meal accommodations that you may require.