Meal plan options vary based on a student's housing assignment and class standing. Students living in certain on-campus housing locations may be required to purchase a specific meal plan, while other students may have additional meal plan options available.

Review Iowa State Dining's Meal Plans and Rates to learn about available meal plans, eligibility requirements, and associated costs.

Iowa State Dining provides online menus, nutrition information, and ingredient lists to help students make informed dining choices. Students can review menus in advance to identify available food options and access nutrition information and ingredients for menu items served in the dining centers. All nutritional information is also available in person at the dining centers for each item being served.

For many students, these resources provide the information needed to manage dietary restrictions, food intolerances, or some food allergies while dining on campus.

For all information related to Dietary Resources, visit ISU Dining's website.

Meal plan holders may schedule a consultation with Iowa State Dining's Registered Dietitian to learn more about dining center options, nutrition resources, and strategies for navigating campus dining based on their individual dietary needs. The Registered Dietitian can help students understand and make the best use of the dining services and resources already available to all students.

Students interested in scheduling a consultation can email diningrd@iastate.edu.

*Please note that consultations with the Registered Dietitian are intended to help students navigate the dining services and resources available to all students. Students seeking disability-related dining accommodations should submit a request through Student Accessibility Services.

Students with disabilities or medical conditions that create barriers to accessing campus dining may request dining accommodations through SAS. To be eligible, the student must have a disability-related need that requires an adjustment to dining services or the dining environment to provide equal access.

Dietary preferences, lifestyle choices, or requests for specific foods that are not related to a disability-related barrier are not considered dining accommodations through the ADA/medical accommodations process. Many dietary needs can be supported through the dining resources already available to all students.

Reasonable dining accommodations are considered when the accommodation:

• Provides meaningful access or an equal opportunity for a student with a disability to participate in campus dining services.
• Directly addresses a disability-related barrier within the dining environment or available dining options.
• Is necessary and effective in reducing or removing the identified barrier to access.

Student Responsibilities

• Initiating the accommodation request process through SAS as early as possible.
• Participating in the interactive process with SAS to discuss disability-related barriers, documentation, available dining resources, and potential solutions.
• Reviewing and utilizing available dining resources when appropriate, including menu information, ingredient lists, and other tools available to support dining choices.
• Completing any additional requirements associated with approved dining accommodations, such as the Special Diet Kitchen Risk Waiver when applicable.

SAS Responsibilities

• Reviewing dining accommodation requests individually and through an interactive process.
• Determining whether a requested accommodation is reasonable and necessary to provide equal access under the ADA/Section 504.
• Considering available dining resources and whether they address the students' disability-related barriers.
• Communicating accommodation decisions and approved accommodations to the student and appropriate campus partners.

Iowa State Dining Responsibilities

• Implementing approved dining accommodations in coordination with SAS.
• Providing information about available dining options, resources, and processes.
• Working with SAS and students to identify reasonable ways to provide access to available dining services.
• Supporting approved accommodations through dining resources and processes.

What is the Special Diet Kitchen?

The Special Diet Kitchen (SDK) is a dedicated dining space designed for students who require strict avoidance of specific allergens that cannot be reasonably managed through the standard dining center options. The SDK provides a space free of the top nine major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. The space is designed to reduce the risk of cross-contact and provides additional menu options that meet allergen-free preparation standards.

The SDK is not an individualized meal preparation service and does not provide customized meals for each student. Instead, it provides a dedicated space and menu options for students whose disability-related dietary needs require additional support beyond the resources available in regular dining centers.

The SDK is located in Union Drive Marketplace. You can find our specialized SDK menus online

Requesting Access to the Special Diet Kitchen

Students requesting access to the Special Diet Kitchen should follow the SAS Accommodation Request Process. 

As part of the request process, students seeking SDK access must also complete the Special Diet Kitchen Risk Waiver.

SAS will review the request through the accommodation process and determine whether access to the SDK is necessary based on the student's disability-related dietary needs and available dining resources.

Students who experience disability-related barriers with accessing campus dining may request other dining accommodations through the SAS Accommodation Request Process. Students should describe the barrier they are experiencing and how their disability impacts their ability to access available dining options.

Dining accommodations are considered through an individualized, interactive process. SAS will consider whether existing dining resources can provide equal access and whether an additional accommodation is necessary to address a disability-related need.

Not necessarily. Many students with food allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions can access campus dining through Iowa State Dining's existing resources and services, such as nutrition and ingredient information, the Registered Dietitian, and other dining resources.

If your disability-related dietary needs cannot be reasonably addressed through these existing resources and create a barrier to accessing campus dining, you may request a dining accommodation through Student Accessibility Services (SAS). All requests are reviewed individually through an interactive process to determine whether an accommodation is necessary to provide equal access.

No. If you are able to access campus dining using the resources and services already available through Iowa State Dining, you do not need to notify Student Accessibility Services (SAS) or register with our office.

SAS becomes involved only when a disability-related barrier cannot be reasonably addressed through existing dining resources, and you are requesting a dining accommodation. If you are able to independently access campus dining without accommodations, no action is required.

No. The Special Diet Kitchen (SDK) is not an individualized meal preparation service. The SDK provides a dedicated dining space and menu options that are free of the top nine major allergens and are prepared to reduce the risk of cross-contact.

The SDK is intended for students whose disability-related dietary needs require strict allergen avoidance and cannot be reasonably met through the standard dining center options. It does not provide customized meals or prepare food based on each student's individual preferences or dietary needs.

Vegan, vegetarian, and religious dietary practices (such as Halal or Kosher) are not, by themselves, considered disability-related dining accommodations under the ADA/Section 504. Iowa State Dining offers a variety of menu options and resources to support many dietary preferences and practices, and students may also consult with the Registered Dietitian to learn more about available dining options.

No. Meeting with the Registered Dietitian is not required before requesting a dining accommodation through Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students may submit an accommodation request at any time.

However, many students find it helpful to meet with the Registered Dietitian to learn about the dining resources, menu options, and services already available through Iowa State Dining. If those existing resources do not provide equal access due to a disability, students may request a dining accommodation through SAS.

Possibly. Housing accommodations are considered separately from dining accommodations and may be appropriate when a disability creates barriers within the residential environment. See the Housing Accommodations page for more information.