Nutrition

Welcome to Rutgers Dining Nutrition!

We understand the complexities of managing dietary restrictions while transitioning to university life and all the events in between that can impact your nutrition. Our expert registered dietitians, Peggy Policastro, Alison Brown, and Marina Vineis, are available to help students meet their dietary needs healthfully and safely while on campus.

Their assistance ranges from, but is not limited to:

• Providing general nutrition information and tools for eating healthfully on campus
• Monitoring online menu recipes and ingredients for nutritional accuracy
• Assisting with dietary restrictions, which may include:
  • Food allergies
  • Food intolerances
  • Celiac disease
  • Other medical conditions
  • Broken jaw
  • Dietary preferences (i.e. vegan, vegetarian)
  • Religious and cultural diets (i.e. kosher, halal)

Students requiring a specialized diet for medical needs such as celiac disease or food allergies can schedule a meeting with a dietitian to discuss an individualized nutrition care plan.

Dining Services will work with students who have dietary restrictions to ensure a medically appropriate and nutritionally sound diet. As a first step to initiate a professional review of your nutritional and dietary concerns, please complete the Medical and Dietary Consideration Form and submit by emailing the form to nutrition@dining.rutgers.edu.

Please explore the valuable nutrition resources on this website. For further nutrition questions, please contact our dietitians at nutrition@dining.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers Dining Nutrition Health and Safety Plan

Our Dietitians

Nutrition News

2024

Rutgers Dining Services was ranked among one of the top 100 food allergy friendly universities in 2024 by Spokin, a popular lifestyle app which aims to help individuals managing food allergies. Out of the hundreds of colleges and universities reviewed on the Spokin app, Rutgers Dining Services ranks top of its class when it comes to knowledgable staff, food allergen accommodations, and dining inclusivity. Rutgers Dining Services has a sophisticated system in place to provide individually prepared, allergen-free meals to students across all four campuses. To learn more about how we accommodate students with dietary restrictions, please contact our nutritionists at nutrition@dining.rutgers.edu.

May 2022

Dr. Peggy Policastro, RDN (Dining Services) was recently quoted in the May 2022 issue of Total Food Service on the topic of Let’s Grow! Experts Share Plant-Based Cooking Tips. Dr. Policastro provided tips for expanding plant-based menu options. Click here to read the full article.

July 2020

Dr. Peggy Policastro, RDN (Dining Services) was an invited speaker at the 2020 Menus of Change Leadership (Virtual) Summit where she spoke about her recently published study, Faith in Fat: A Multisite Examination of University Students’ Perceptions of Fat in the Diet. In addition to Peggy, three student members of the RU Healthy Dining Team were invited to present research posters based on studies using the dining halls as living laboratories. Portion Prejudice: Assessing College Students’ Ability to Visually Identify One Standard Portion of Plant-Base Foods vs. Non-Plant-Based Foods presented by Gabby Harrison (SEBS’ 2021), Sneaky Sweetened Beverages: Assessing College Students Knowledge of Sugar Content in Popular Beverages presented by Tiffany Chen (SEBS’21) and Around the World in 8 Plates: Assessing College Students’ Understanding of Cultural Cuisine presented by Jessica Van Wie (SEBS’ 2022).   

Testimonials from Parents and Students

“…the life of a food allergy mom is a scary one because one mistake can have devastating results therefore complicating the college search process. Finding a college that is extremely knowledgeable, has a viable plan that is truly safe and is expertly executed and also clearly cares for its food allergic students is what we found in Rutgers during our meeting… I thank you again because I wasn’t sure that a program such as yours could be a reality.”

“I just wanted to let you know that my son is having a very positive experience with the Rutgers Dining Services. He almost exclusively eats at Brower Commons, and the chefs and staff there have been very kind and accommodating.

His gluten-free dietary restrictions require a great deal of diligence on his part and the Rutgers staff. We appreciate all that you have done to make his food safe and his transition to college a smooth one (not only for him, but for my husband and me too).”

“I’ve been having a great experience with the Rutgers Dining Services thus far. The [individualized meal preparation] program has made gluten-free eating much easier and has taken out much of the dietary guesswork. Everyone with the Dining Services team is lovely and always makes sure my needs are met. Thank you for all of your help!”