Dietary Accommodations
In our dining facilities, we strive to meet the dietary needs of our CU Boulder community. We accomodate the following ways of eating and continuously make adjustments to our menus to provide the best dining experience possible for those who use our facilities.
A9 Allergens
- Top nine food allergens (eggs, milk, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat and sesame) and gluten identified and labeled in the dining centers
- Gluten-free breads, bagels and cereals are available in the dining centers
- Retail and grab-n-go outlets offer gluten-free items and also label all prepared food for allergens
Halal
- Persian restaurant located in the Center for Community Dining Center
- Features a variety of Halal foods
- Supervised by Chef Hadi Montazeri
- All food items containing pork and/or alcohol are noted on the dining center menu tags
Kosher
- Kosher restaurant located in the Center for Community Dining Center
- Features traditional dishes and modern favorites
- Food items are 100% Glatt Kosher, following the laws of Kashrut
- Operations supervised by a full-time Mashgiach
- All food items are dairy-free and served on compostable dishes
Vegan and Vegetarian
- Vegan: categorized as a diet containing no animal products at all
- Vegetarian: categorized as a lacto-ovo diet that may contain milk, eggs or other animal non-meat products such as honey
- All vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarian dishes are clearly labeled in all dining operations
- Multiple selections are offered daily
Meet Our Registered Dietitian
Lisa Whalen, RDN, earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the University of Northern Colorado. She went on to complete a comprehensive postgraduate dietetic internship through Bowling Green State University where she ultimately earned her RDN and a master’s certificate in food and nutrition. Post-degree, Lisa spent several years working in clinical nutrition and nutrition therapy. She wholeheartedly believes that healthier choices play a vast role in disease prevention, physical performance, and a student’s academic success, and uses an approach that encourages people to strive for progress and not perfection.
Lisa is available on campus as well as online to help take the mystery out of healthy eating and address questions and concerns regarding your nutrition and dietary needs. She can provide:
- Individual consultation to discuss and assist with issues including, but not limited to, food allergies and intolerances, vegetarian and vegan diets, weight management and modified diets.
- Education on ingredients, sourcing of foods served in CU dining centers, dining center tours, including help with locating healthy and food allergy specific items.
- Educational materials related to eating healthy on and off campus as well as portion control.
To contact Lisa, email dining@colorado.edu.
Smart Pick Guidelines
Smart Pick guidelines have been created as a guide for our guests to easily identify the many healthy options that are available throughout our campus dining locations. All items with a Smart Pick icon meet the listed criteria or have been approved by Campus Dining Services’ Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Note about allergens
Please be aware that due to the nature of a self-serve atmosphere, and the preparation of food items in a shared kitchen, there is a chance for cross-contact of gluten, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat. CU Boulder Campus Dining Services (CDS) makes every effort to thoroughly train our staff on the importance of avoiding cross-contact with allergenic foods and accurately labeling food allergens in each dining hall and retail food venue. CDS strives to provide customers with the most accurate and up-to-date allergen, ingredient and nutritional information. However, this information is based entirely on the information provided by our ingredient manufacturers and suppliers. Manufacturers may change their product formulation or consistency without our knowledge and product availability may fluctuate. While we make every reasonable effort to identify ingredients and prevent cross-contact, we cannot guarantee the information for all menu items. Those with food allergies need to be aware of these risks. If you have allergies or specific ingredient concerns or require information on a menu item not listed on Nutrislice, please consult with our registered dietitian nutritionist at dining@colorado.edu. Our chefs and dining managers are available during service to answer your questions or address your needs.
