Food Allergies

Food Allergies, Intolerances and Medical Needs

We are here to help!

We want to meet one-on-one with anyone who has individual dining needs to ensure that your dining experience is safe, delicious, and social. For students with medical conditions that impact their ability to dine well on campus, we strongly encourage a conversation with our Registered Dietitian, Executive Chef, and/or General Manager. In many instances, our dining team can easily assist with special needs. Occasionally, Dining Services cannot meet a student’s medical needs within normal service. We may require additional medical documentation to enable us to develop a more specific meal plan accommodation. In this situation, please visit the SDSU Housing and Residential Life Department (sdsu.reslife@sdstate.edu or call 605-688-5148) for details and instructions on how to submit a meal plan accommodation request. This process is for those with medically documented diagnosis/-es that need to request special dining accommodations or have medically prescribed diet plans for the treatment of a medical condition. Together, our departments work to serve our students with medical needs related to dining on campus.

If there are further questions regarding accommodations offered on campus, contact SDSU Office of Disability Services at 605-688-4504.

Dining Menus and Allergen Labeling

Our menus provide contains statements specifically highlighting the big nine allergens (milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame) and gluten. Guests may check on the presence of allergens prior to planning their meals using the online menu or Everyday app. The information is also posted on menu boards in the dining center. The absence of an allergen listed on posted or electronic signage is not a guarantee that the product is free of that allergen as other recipes are prepared in the kitchen that do contain food allergens. The guest is responsible for communicating their allergy to a manager to ensure safety.

Simple Servings at Larson Commons

The Simple Servings station at Larson Commons provides safe and appetizing food choices for our customers with food allergies, gluten intolerance, and those who prefer simple food. All foods served at this station are prepared with ingredients that do not contain milk, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, or gluten. The station uses separate equipment/utensils, preparation areas, and storage areas to minimize the potential of allergens or gluten in our Simple Servings foods. The menu rotates daily and includes a variety of protein (i.e., chicken, beef, lentils), vegetables (i.e., broccoli, carrots, green beans), and starches (i.e., rice, potato, quinoa). There is a salad option available too. The station is incorporated into the servery to allow students, even those without allergy or gluten concerns, to enjoy the wholesome food selections. We ask that guests do not bring food from other stations and only use the plates provided by our servers at Simple Servings. Simple Servings team members are carefully trained to prepare and serve safe food. We provide training throughout the year for all employees and our managers and supervisors also hold AllerTrainU™ certificates. While the Simple Servings station is designed to allow customers an easy way to avoid allergens and gluten, we encourage our customers with special dietary needs to connect with our chef, registered dietitian, and general manager to ensure an enjoyable dining experience. Please contact us here https://sdstatedining.sodexomyway.com/contact/index.

Simple Zone at Larson Commons

Simple Zone is our campus dining “pantry” where food items needed by students with Celiac disease or food allergies are housed with precautions against cross-contact. It is located at Larson Commons and gives students the ability to be involved in their own allergen-safe meal preparation. There are a variety of items made without gluten, peanuts, tree-nuts, and dairy such as cereals, breads, bagels, and more each day. Simple Zone features a designated toaster, refrigerator, and microwave for student convenience.

Meet the Dietitian

Our Registered Dietitian, Eric Finley, MS, RD brings a wealth of experience in sports nutrition, performance coaching, and community-based wellness to our campus dining program. A St. Louis native, Eric discovered his passion for nutrition through soccer, earning a degree in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from the University of Missouri before completing his Master’s in Dietetics at the University of Utah. His career has taken him from working with student-athletes at Utah and Olympic athletes in Park City to providing one-on-one counseling and group education in campus dining. Eric is dedicated to helping students navigate their nutrition, ensuring diverse and healthy dining options, and supporting the campus community with expert guidance. Whether you have a quick question or need personalized nutrition advice, Eric is here to help—making balanced eating easier and more accessible for all.

To get in touch with Eric, you can use the Meet the Team or Feedback forms to request a consultation, or email him directly at eric.finley@sodexo.com. Eric also suggests you check out our daily menus Locations & Map also available by downloading the free Everyday App.