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Can you imagine having food allergies so severe that you can’t even eat in your own schools cafeteria? Grand View student Karina Johnson has had food allergies for half of her life, and that is exactly what happened to her. 

“I came to college thinking it would be OK and that I could eat in the cafeteria because there’s really only one option on campus,” Johnson said.

But that wasn’t the case. Her freshmen year, Johnson ended up in the emergency room three times after eating food in the cafeteria.

“I talked to the people upstairs (who run the cafeteria),” Johnson said. “They basically couldn’t offer much help to me because I guess they don’t really understand what it’s like to have food allergies.”

Johnson said she doesn’t deal with the cafeteria anymore and just cooks for herself.

The company who is responsible for GV dining services is Aramark. Deandrea Halbur is the retail and catering manager at GV. Halbur said there are many things they can do to accommodate those with allergies depending on how severe they are. 

There is a cooler behind the counter in the cafeteria that has things like gluten-free bread, soy milk and almond milk available. 

“If a student has a special dietary request, we try to accommodate them and make it work out,” Halbur said.

GV student Lexi Woods is a member of the food committee and suffers from Celiac’s disease.

As vice president of student life, she sits on three committees, one being the food committee. 

The food committee is a voice for the students. Anything that has to do with the cafeteria such as needs, suggestions or complaints is welcomed. It is open to anyone. 

“The committee also is involved with Einstein’s and GV Express,” Woods said. 

Woods said right now they are trying to get a freezer at the GV Express.

 “When a new idea comes, we bring it to the meeting and talk logistics,” Woods said. 

Woods said one of their main focuses this year is food allergies. 

“There have been a few changes so far in the cafeteria this year,” Woods said. 

The mac and cheese bar is one result of the food committee’s work. Another change on campus the food committee has accomplished was adding Caribou coffee to Einstein’s. 

“That’s something that we brought student input into before making the change,” Woods said. 

The executive chef as well as Halbur are a part of committee meetings as well. This is where the ideas of students are discussed. 

 “If you bring something to our attention, we will bring it to the meeting as long as those students are comfortable with it,” Woods said. “Students can always email me or Robbie Patterson personally. Something I’ve been trying to push for this year is having individual meetings with students to talk about allergy concerns or suggestions for the committee.”

Johnson said when she came to the cafeteria with her allergies, the staff was not willing to put in the extra work.

The committee’s biggest concern is when they don’t know what students want. 

If you don’t want to or you are unable to sit in on the meetings, you can always knock on Halbur’s office door, which is right next to the cafeteria. 

The food committee is always thinking of new ideas to make the college experience here at GV better for all students, faculty and staff.