When they’re not feeling well, many students may not want to leave their residence halls to get something to eat. Culinary Services at Kent State University has made dining easily accessible for students who are feeling under the weather.
Culinary Services began offering sick meal requests in 2022. Through a form on the Culinary Services nutrition website, students can request a meal to be picked up by a friend, roommate or resident assistant.
Caitlyn Gerdes, a registered dietitian at Culinary Services, talked to Kent State Today about the benefits of sick meal requests.
"That's an option where they can still eat, but they don't have to leave the room if they are feeling sick," Gerdes said. "When you are sick, eating something is better than eating nothing."
The forms are easy to use and include meal options for many different diets.
"It's going to ask you if you have any dietary needs, allergens, just so that we're aware," Gerdes said. "It's pretty self-explanatory as you walk through it."
Students are able to choose meals from up to two stations at either the Eastway or Design Innovation dining halls. Students can pick what food items and beverages they want. The form also asks for any dietary restrictions or allergies. To view the menu options for the day, visit the Culinary Services menu.
Students can pick the meal up themselves or have someone else pick it up. Students must provide their own name, email, phone number and student ID number, as well as identification for the person picking up the order.
Meals should be ordered between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Students should place their request at least two hours before they want it picked up to give Culinary Services enough time to prepare.
Meals are charged as a meal swipe on students' FLASHcards.
As a registered dietitian, Gerdes uses her expertise to create an inclusive and safe dining program for students. Appointments are available to any student on a meal plan. Gerdes provides free nutrition counseling and education to help students determine the best dining options for their food allergies or food-related diseases, such as diabetes, celiac disease or Crohn’s.
