Dining Accommodations
Healthy Eating
We encourage you to find the balance that is right for you. While we do not promote any particular style of dining, we want to provide you with the best tools for making your own choices.
Quick Tips for Healthy Eating at Miami
Balance Calories
- Avoid oversized portions
- Focus of foods that are nutrient dense such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
How to choose foods in the dining halls
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
- Make half of your grains whole grains
- Drink water or unsweetened beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Put your salad dressings on the side
- Choose a fruit or vegetable instead of fries
Dining Accommodations
Miami University's Food and Beverage team is committed to providing our patrons with an exceptional on-campus dining experience that takes into consideration student dietary needs, lifestyle choices, cultural backgrounds, and religious affiliations. We offer dining assistance to Miami University students, summer program participants, and visitors/guests. Our goal is to provide the same level of assistance for campus visitors and summer program participants as we do for our full time students. We offer a variety of options for students and guests in each dining location. Our menus are designed to include those who avoid gluten and nuts, as well as those who follow a vegan and vegetarian diet. Below is what we provide every day on campus.
Allergen Icons
In each dining location we utilize allergen icons to indicate the major eight allergens as well as pork, poultry, beef, vegan, and vegetarian. These can be seen on our menu boards for each served item.
Vegan and Vegetarian 
We serve at least one vegan entree during each meal period at every commons location in addition to our vegan desserts. You can identify these through the vegan icon on our menu boards. We also offer four vegan entrees available upon request at all of our commons dining locations. Additionally, vegetarian entrees and sides are available daily and indicated as such with our vegetarian icon.
Dairy Allergy or Intolerance 
We offer soy milk at each location as an alternative to cow's milk. We also offer other varieties of dairy free milk and products at our convenience markets.
Gluten 
Our menu items containing gluten are identified with our gluten icon. We offer gluten free bagels, bread, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pizza crust, pasta, tortillas, muffins, and cookies. We also have a designated gluten-friendly station at Maplestreet Commons that offers gluten free pizzas, sandwiches, and entrees.
Peanut and Tree Nuts 
Miami University is a "nut friendly" campus. This means that we do not actively use nuts in our recipes. We also do not purchase commercial products that contain a "may contain [nuts]" statement. However, we do carry products that contain a "produced in the same facility as [nuts]" and/or "processed on shared equipment with [nuts]" statement. These items are coded on our menus with an allergen icon that resembles a factory. We do carry sealed nut products in our convenience stores and our "nut friendly" initiatives do not apply to any Starbucks location.
Healthy Option 
Miami University has added an additional icon to inform guests of healthy menu options. Menu items that are noted as healthy meet specifications established the Campus Registered Dietitian and experienced culinary team. Entree items are considered healthy if they are less than 700 calories, less than 5 grams of saturated fat, contain no trans fats, and are less than 750 mg of sodium. Side items are considered healthy if they are less than 250 calories, less than 3 grams of saturated fats, contain no trans fats, and are less than 300 mg of sodium.
Self Disclosure Dietary Needs Form
If you have dining accommodation needs that exceed the offerings listed above, please fill out the self-disclosure dietary needs form. Once submitted, our Registered Dietitian will contact you for further discussion regarding your dining accommodation needs. Summer program participants should submit their self-disclosure dietary request form at least two weeks prior to the start date of the program in which they are attending.
Please understand that there may be a considerable time commitment involved in working out the details of your dining accommodation needs. Planning ahead and communicated with Dining Services is essential.
Food Allergy Disclaimer
Miami University uses its best faith efforts to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions for those with food allergies and to instruct our food production staff on the severity of food allergies. The allergen information provided is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge, but it is based entirely on the information provided by our ingredient manufacturers and suppliers. Because of the number of meals served, the number of items used each day, food product changes from our food vendors, and/or the limited number of allergens that manufacturers are required to disclose, it cannot be guaranteed that every allergen in the food served will be identified and labeled. There is always a risk that our menu items may contain allergens or may have come in contact with other items containing allergens. There is also a possibility that manufacturers of the commercial foods we use could change the formulation at any time, without notice. All of our foods are prepared in facilities where peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk, and eggs are also prepared.
Customers concerned with food allergies need to be aware of this risk. Miami University will not assume any liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed, or items one may come in contact with while eating at any University establishments. It is the responsibility of the customer with food allergies or other specified nutritional concerns to make the final judgment on whether or not to question the ingredients of a food item or to choose to eat the foods selected. Guests are encouraged to consider the information provided, to their own satisfaction, in light of their individual needs and requirements. Guests with food allergies, food intolerance's, or other special-diets that require abstaining from certain food items should consult a Chef or Dining Manager for specific ingredient questions when in the dining facility. Guests can also set-up a meeting with our Registered Dietitian at 513-529-5552 for additional information and/or support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whom should I talk to if I have a question about an item on the menu?
Always ask to speak with the manager, chef, or food production leader on duty if you have questions about menus and/or ingredients. These individuals will be able to provide you with the most accurate information about the foods being served at any meal. Our RD also has access to all menus and ingredients for every location on campus.
I have been diagnosed with a medical condition. Do you provide dietary counseling?
We have a Registered Dietitian on staff who can meet, discuss and provide suggestions for dietary needs related to a medical condition. Contact the Registered Dietitian at (513) 529-5552 for further discussion.
I am a diabetic and need carbohydrate counts of foods. Where do I find that information?
Please contact the Registered Dietitian at (513) 529-5552 for assistance. We are happy to assist in providing carbohydrates counts for favorite foods and/or assist you in accessing our online nutritional database.
How are Halal diets accommodated?
We do not have dedicated Halal facilities on our campus. We can however provide Halal friendly foods embracing the basic principles of Halal, including Halal meats, no pork, and no alcohol. Our convenience markets carry a limited supply of Halal foods which you can purchase with your meal plan to supplement your daily food needs. Please contact the Registered Dietitian at (513) 529-5552 for assistance.
How are Kosher diets accommodated?
We do not have dedicated Kosher food preparation facilities on our campus. We can however purchase Kosher foods and sell them from our convenience markets. Please contact the Registered Dietitian at (513) 529-5552 for assistance.
Ask the Dietitian & The Dietitian Resource Center
Have questions about healthy eating? Have a specific dietary need? Contact our dietitian or visit the new Dietitian Resource Center! Schedule a meeting with the dietitian to get answers to your questions about eating healthy or eating on campus with food allergies. Our Registered Dietitian can speak with you about many nutrition topics.
- Assist students dining on campus with a wide variety of dietary restrictions, including food allergies, food intolerances, Celiac disease, and lifestyle modifications
- Work alongside culinary team to ensure dining options meet wide variety of dietary restrictions
- Available to meet with students to discuss general healthy eating and weight management
- Available to meet with Miami athletes to assist in meeting nutritional goals for peak performance
- Members of the eating disorder treatment team
- Advocates of healthy eating and overall wellness on campus as a member of Partners in Wellness campus group
Testimonials
Hear from some past Dining Accommodation Students and their personal experience in the program.
Maple
"So amazing. Seriously. I am so appreciative of everyone who helps make my food and bring it to me. Everyone I’ve spoken to is always so kind, too."
Garden
"My DAS experience has been amazing. The people providing me my food are some of the nicest people on Miami's campus and they truly want me to have quality food at the time that I request it. DAS has been life changing for me as a college student"
A mother and son's tour at Miami Dining facilities:
"We greatly appreciated the time, information, and tour that Chris provided to me and my son. We have nothing but praises for Chris. We are impressed with all of our vegan options on campus. My son has decided to come to Miami after the tour with Chris and a phone conversation with the Registered Dietitian."
