Dining Hall Wins
1. Solve for Specific Allergy Pain Points: Food allergies are not one size fits all. Find most wanted items specific to single allergens and provide safe options. Examples include sesame-free hamburger buns, dairy-free soft serve, gluten-free fried chicken and soy sauce, and nut-free protein powder.
2. Provide Dedicated Equipment: Open options to students by having equipment within stations that are only used for specific allergens, increasing their sense of safety. Examples include a wok only used for gluten-free items and blenders for smoothies or shakes that will only be used for nut-free or dairy-free ingredients.
3. Train All Food Station Staff: Students want to eat from every station and not be limited to a single allergy station.
4. Provide Full Ingredient Lists: Students want both allergens labeled but also full ingredient lists – increasingly important with allergies rising outside the top 9. Extend this beyond the dining halls to campus cafes, sports concessions, food trucks, and beyond.
5. Offer Options, Options, Options: Students want their safe standbys but regularly share that they eat the same meals on repeat and have limited choices.
Campus Events and Communication
6. Consider On-Campus Eventing: When hosting activities such as holidays or other campus activities that include food, ensure you have options for all students such as nut-free, gluten-free, and more.
7. Message in Advance: Share with all students when food will be offered at events so they have time to look into on their own, decide if they feel it is safe, and plan accordingly.
8. Make Allergy Disclosure Easy: Many students don’t disclose their allergy to the school simply because they don’t know where or when to do it. Make the process obvious and easy.
Tours, Open Houses, and Admitted Student Days
9. Ask ahead of time: Ask visiting students if they have food allergies at the point of signing up for a tour or school visit, to both indicate you acknowledge the need, and to gather insight on the special dietary needs of your guests
10. Communicate on Campus Tours: Most schools promote vegetarian or gluten-free options — go further. Highlight nut-free dining halls, gluten-free pantries, or dedicated allergy staff.
11. Provide Resources for Campus Visits: Refer families to Spokin’s Allergy-Friendly Campus Guides or the Spokin app that can provide allergy friendly dining options on or near campus.
12. Label Food and Snacks Available: If your school offers bagels, pastries, branded cookies, lunch, etc. providing ingredients labels is a great first impression that your school understands and welcomes students who need transparency.
13. Offer Specialized Dining Tours: Provide dining hall tours as an optional add-on for prospective students who manage specialized diets during their campus visits.
14. Share Food Details in Advance: When events include food, communicate what will be served, where it’s from, and confirm that ingredient info will be available.
Residence Life and Dorms
15. Include Allergies in Roommate Matching: Allow students to identify as having food allergies, as well as ask students if they are open (or not) to keeping allergens outside their dorm if their roommate requests. Treat it like sleep habits — a personal preference that can improve quality of life.
16. Train RAs: Events with food or treats are often hosted in dorms which with a small amount of training would allow them to consider their students with food allergies.
Retail, Classrooms, and Beyond
17. Stock Campus Retail: Provide allergy-friendly options of your top selling categories.
18. Educate Professors and TAs: Food often shows up in classrooms — for birthdays, celebrations, group snacks, or learning activities. Include guidance for faculty on safe practices and inclusive planning.
Make Students Feel Seen
19. Host Events Just for Them: Spokin hosts Allergy-Friendly College Campus Pop-Ups and brings snacks, merch and hosts giveaways. Students are shocked to not just be accommodated but celebrated. These events are also a fun way to support our college partners to get more reviews and drive their ranking in our Top 100 Most Allergy-Friendly College Guide.
20. Stock Epinephrine on Campus: Have it available in dining halls or carried by campus safety and security as an extra precaution. Our experience on many college campuses as we host events – many students, especially boys, do not carry their epinephrine when on campus. This is the ultimate way to win over a parent and a potential lifesaver.
The Bottom Line
Food allergy inclusion goes far beyond the dining hall. To create a truly allergy-friendly campus, think through every touchpoint — from classrooms and cafes to dorm events and dining halls. By embracing these 20 tips, you’ll not only make students feel safer, but you’ll also help them feel seen, included, and excited to call your campus home.
