Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions
- Can Rutgers Dining Services accommodate my dietary restrictions?
Yes. There will be a variety of balanced food options to choose from, making it easy to customize each meal to meet your dietary preferences. Dining Services has sophisticated programs in place to help ensure that students with food allergies, intolerances, or specific medical diets have appropriate, safe, and delicious food options. Our two expert registered dietitians, Peggy Policastro and Marina Vineis, are available to help students meet their dietary medical needs while on campus. To speak with one of our dietitians, please email nutrition@dining.rutgers.edu.
- Do the dining halls provide vegetarian and/or vegan food options?
Rutgers Dining Services offers a variety of food items which are naturally vegan and vegetarian as well as specialty vegan and vegetarian items in all of their dining operations. Stop by any dining hall and try the pasta bar, the stir fry station or Mongolian Grill, the salad bar and various vegan and vegetarian hot entrees.
If you need assistance finding a vegan or vegetarian item (i.e. meat and dairy alternatives) or have questions about the ingredients in a food item, please ask for a manager in the dining hall and they will be happy to assist you.
Know before you go. You can access our online menu for daily food offerings with nutritional information and ingredients. To access the online menu, visit our website at http://food.rutgers.edu/ then choose your location and click the “daily menu” button.
Having difficulties finding food options that meet your dietary needs? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to discuss your options further.
- How do I get information about healthy eating?
For the average college student, it may be difficult to balance a stressful lifestyle along with a nutritious diet. The RU Healthy Dining Team (RU HDT) is here to help!
GOAL: The Healthy Dining Team aims to educate students about nutrition and to provide the necessary tools to adopt healthy eating and lifestyle habits while dining on campus.
READ ONE: The team writes weekly nutrition newsletters that can be found in all four campus dining halls. Access copies of nutrition newsletters on our website
STOP BY: Every three weeks, the Healthy Dining Team brings a creative and interactive nutrition booth to the dining halls.
HAVE FUN: The Healthy Dining Team hosts many exciting programs through Dining Services. Check out our Facebook page for upcoming events such as Cooking Demonstrations, Scarlet Chef competitions, and Evening of Healthy Indulgences in the dining halls.
KNOW US: The eight-member team consists of nutritional sciences majors under the tutelage and guidance of Nutrition Director, Dr. Peggy Policastro, RDN.
Have a nutrition question? Stop by one of the booths, send an email, tweet, or write on the team’s Facebook wall. The RU Healthy Dining Team can be found on Twitter (@RUHDT), Facebook (search “RU Healthy Dining Team”), and Instagram (@RU_HDT).
Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
- Do the dining halls offer gluten free options?
Rutgers Dining Services offers a variety of foods which are naturally gluten free and specialty gluten free options for students with a documented medical need.
If you have questions regarding ingredients in a food item, please ask for a dining hall Manager upon entering the dining hall and they will be happy to assist you. Remember to always “ask before you eat”.
Know before you go. You can access our online menu for daily food offerings with nutritional information and ingredients. To access the online menu, visit our website at http://food.rutgers.edu/ then choose your location and click the “daily menu” button.
Do you have a medical need for a gluten free diet, such as a gluten allergy, gluten intolerance, or celiac disease?
Dining Services has sophisticated programs in place to help ensure that students with a medical need for gluten free diets have appropriate, safe, and delicious food options.
The first step is to fill out a Medical and Dietary Consideration Form. This form will help us better clarify your dietary restrictions and any doctor recommendations. Please follow the directions on the form for completion and submission.
After submitting the form, you will be contacted by one of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to schedule a dietary meeting and discuss your options further.
Question for the Nutritionist? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
- How are religious dietary needs accommodated in the dining halls?
Religious dietary needs such as kosher and halal diets can be accommodated by asking to speak with a Dining Hall Manager upon entering the dining hall.
Although Rutgers Dining Services is not a kosher or halal facility, each dining hall offers select pre-made certified kosher meals and halal meats upon request.
Having difficulties finding food options that meet your religious dietary needs? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists below to discuss your options further.
- How do I avoid my food allergy or intolerance in the dining halls?
Dining Services has sophisticated programs in place to help ensure that students with food allergies, intolerances, or specific medical diets have appropriate, safe, and delicious food options.
The first step is to fill out a Medical and Dietary Consideration Form. This form will help us better clarify your dietary restrictions and any doctor recommendations. Please follow the directions on the form for completion and submission.
After submitting the form, you will be contacted by one of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to schedule a dietary meeting and discuss your options further.
Remember to always “ask before you eat”. If you have questions regarding ingredients in a food item, please ask for a Dining Hall Manager upon entering the dining hall who will be happy to assist you.
Know before you go. You can also access our online menu for daily food offerings with nutritional information and ingredients. To access the online menu, visit our website at http://food.rutgers.edu/ then choose your location and click the “daily menu” button.
Question for the Nutritionist? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
- Where can I find ingredient lists and nutrition information?
Rutgers Dining Services provides easy to use online menus for all campus dining halls. Our online menus list the daily food offerings including nutritional information and ingredients for each item listed. To access the online menu, visit our website at http://food.rutgers.edu/ then choose your location and click the “daily menu” button.
If you have a food allergy, it is highly recommended that you schedule an appointment to meet with our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to discuss your dietary options. If you are in the dining hall and have an immediate question about ingredients in a food item, please ask for a Dining Hall Manager who would be happy to assist you.
Question for the Nutritionist? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
- Are there healthy choices in the dining halls?
Yes! Healthy choices are available in each dining hall. Dining Services has joined the Menus of Change initiative, a multidisciplinary approach to providing healthy, sustainable, delicious food choices within the university foodservice sector and beyond.
Following the 24 Principles of Healthy, Sustainable Menus, we are continually changing our menu offerings to better serve our students and our environment. Check out the daily healthy choices by using our online menu or stop by the dining halls to see the menu offerings in person.
We believe that our food choices, what we eat and what we serve others, influence our health and the health of our planet. Join us as we continue to change together, one recipe at a time.
Question for the Nutritionist? Feel free to contact our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
Rutgers Dining Nutrition Health & Safety Plan
