Aramark Collegiate Hospitality is leading the charge in inclusive campus dining with its Stress Less Zone™. This concept is designed to support students with gluten, peanut, and tree nut allergies, offering a safe, transparent, and empowering dining experience.
Located within the campus dining facility, The Stress Less Zone is an area entirely dedicated to providing students with options that meet their needs. To provide maximum assurance and transparency, all products are served in their original, unopened packaging, except for high-volume, pre-portioned items such as sliced bread or breakfast cereals. This allows students to directly verify ingredients and brands, cultivating trust.
Stress Less+: A New Level of Autonomy and Safety
Taking the concept of dietary safety further, Stress Less+ at the University of Delaware redefines how students with dietary restrictions engage with campus dining. Stress Less+ operates as a dedicated, self-service station that proactively supports students managing allergies, shifting away from reactive accommodations to a fully autonomous and inclusive experience.
While gluten-friendly options remain central, Stress Less+ goes beyond standard offerings by accomodating for seven of the top nine allergies* in addition to gluten.
Key features of the self-service space include:
- Rigorous Safety Protocols: Controlled access, mandatory handwashing, and strict monthly audits to maintain the highest safety standards.
- Diverse Menu Offerings: A wide variety of safe choices, from specialized baked goods to fresh salads and hot, prepared meals.
- Dedicated Support: On-site assistance provided by trained student employees.
- Integrity-Focused Storage: Safe food storage practices to prevent contamination and maintain ingredient sanitation.
*Some of the pre-packaged items contain soy and/or egg.
"The Stress Less Zone embodies our fundamental commitment to protecting students from allergens and providing the transparency they need to make safe dining choices," said Brandon Mathias, Aramark’s Food Safety & Allergen Manager. "Seeing this grow into the University of Delaware's Stress Less+ initiative demonstrates how much these specialized dining programs can improve student health and campus life."
Setting the Standard for Allergen Safety: True Balance
Aramark’s foundational commitment to inclusive dining began with the True Balance station concept, successfully implemented at universities like Clemson University. True Balance offers meals free from the top nine allergens, prioritizing customization: students build meals from safe proteins, starches, and vegetables.
Highlights include:
- Customization: Meals built from the ground up, with safe proteins, starches, and vegetables.
- Preventing Cross-Contact: Use of dedicated equipment, from allergen-friendly waffle makers to separate fryers.
- Inclusive Treats: Ensuring students don't miss out, with options ranging from house-made muffins to trusted brands like Sweet Loren’s cookies.
Hannah Lemon, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Clemson University, underscores the emotional impact: “We are helping students experience food they thought they couldn't have,” said Lemon. “For one prospective student, this meant trying a cookie for the very first time because of his egg allergy. The joy he found, and the fact that his family cited our safe True Balance options as a 'large reason' they chose the university, proves that inclusive dining is fundamentally changing students' lives.”
According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), allergen awareness in the United States reflects a growing public health concern. Approximately 33 million Americans—including nearly 8% of children and 11% of adults—live with at least one food allergy, and prevalence has been rising for decades, with childhood food allergies increasing by 50% between 1997 and 2011 and again between 2007 and 2021.
By offering thoughtful, diverse models of The Stress Less Zone and True Balance that prioritize both safety and flavor, Aramark is not just accommodating needs; it is actively innovating its dining environments to guarantee that every student, everywhere, can find a meal that allows them to feel at ease, supported, and truly cared for.
Across Aramark’s Collegiate Hospitality business, there are 90 stress less zones offering pre-packaged foods free from gluten, tree nuts, and peanuts, along with 145 True Balance stations that prepare full meals without the nine most common food allergens. Many campuses feature multiple locations of each, making safe dining options widely accessible.
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