Rachel Amato has never had it easy when it comes to food options. The Elon University junior is a vegetarian, lactose intolerant and has acid reflux. She is also the founder of Eat Right Elon, a new organization on campus that aims to help college students who are vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten free, or have acid reflux.
"This organization was like an outlet, and a way for me to deal with these issues and share and discuss my problems with other students and the problems they may have with finding healthy and nutritious foods on campus," Amato said.
According to Jeff Milroy, advisor of Eat Right Elon and adjunct professor of health and human performance.
"It's an additional resource to increase awareness of your nutritional intake during your college years."
Eat Right Elon looks to serve as a resource for people like Amato so they will not have issues finding dining options. Amato said the organization will especially help freshmen who now have to make their own decisions about what they eat, without having parents around to grocery shop.
Although Amato admits she would not have started the organization if it had not been a requirement of her internship with Udi's Gluten Free Foods, she said she is very glad that she got the push to start it. She is currently discussing food options with ARAMARK, the university's food service provider.
"Udi's has food that is gluten free and really good," she said.
Emma Howie, Elon junior and campus correspondent and marketing intern for Udi's said Eat Right Elon is not just a safe haven for people with special dietary needs, but also for people who are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, while Milroy said the organization will help students apply what they are learning in their health classes by providing guidance on how to stay healthy on a college campus.
An interest meeting was held Oct. 10 and Howie said she would have liked to see more people in attendance. But according to Amato, about 15 people showed up - more than she expected. She has since received a lot of emails from interested students.
Amato said a common issue with people with specialty dietary needs is that it is hard to find food that is good and inexpensive. Eat Right Elon will direct people to where they can find good food.
The organization is currently in the developmental phase and is working to become an official organization.
"We are really open right now, for whatever people feel that they need," Howie said.
Future Eat Right Elon events include food tastings and trips to farmers' markets. Amato said she wants the organization to explore the different healthy dining options that Burlington has to offer, and also get some more healthy options on campus for those with special dietary needs.