Starting this school year, the University of Notre Dame’s Campus Dining pioneered a new approach to allergen-free meals: The Olive Kitchen.
Luigi Alberganti, executive director of Campus Dining, wrote via email on the purpose of this new program.
“At Notre Dame, our mission has always been to nourish the mind, body, and spirit of every member of our community. This commitment extends deeply into the care we provide through dining. The Olive Kitchen represents our newest step forward in that commitment — a dedicated allergen-free kitchen designed to provide nourishment for students with specific dietary needs,” he said.
The Olive Kitchen makes meals for students with food allergies which are free from cross-contamination. Meals are prepared in Grace Hall, where the risk of allergens is removed, and then ordered by students in a manner similar to Grubhub and picked up at either North or South Dining Halls.
This program positively impacts students with severe food allergies, including freshman Kaitlin Pumper, who has a peanut allergy and Celiac disease.
“The Olive Kitchen makes it easier for students with allergies to make sure they have food options that are safe for them, as opposed to the dining hall food which might not necessarily provide the nutrition they need without allergens,” Pumper said.
The University prides itself on its accessibility to accommodations offered for students with allergies.
“If you have dietary restrictions or special dietary requirements, please know you are in good hands. Our award-winning team is trained and certified to meet the dietary needs of students with many different medical conditions,” Campus Dining's “Food Allergy and Medical Condition Action Plan” states.
The Olive Kitchen is an extension of this mission for students. Pumper noted how the dining option ensures she is eating nutritious meals while accommodating for her allergen needs.
The service is not only safer for students, but more accessible than past allergen-free dining options. Previously, students would have to order allergen-free meals the night prior.
Ally Krager, assistant program director of nutrition services, commented on the convenience of the new kitchen.
“With The Olive Kitchen now, students are able to order in 4-hour windows, to pick up at the kitchen itself, or have the meals delivered to either dining hall. We now have an express pick-up option, where they can pick up the meals directly from the allergy kitchen within 45 minutes of ordering,” Krager wrote in an email to The Observer.
The Olive Kitchen is meant to serve equitable meals to all groups of Notre Dame students.
“We see The Olive Kitchen as an important extension of our holistic approach to caring for the Notre Dame family,” Alberganti said.
