Baylor named among 14 colleges ‘leading the way’ for gluten-free students

Gluten-free and paleo diets are all the rage these days; as exhibit A, I give you Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s cookbook of gluten-free recipes, which is currently Amazon’s No. 1 dieting book.

But it’s not just the trendy dieters who are going gluten-free; people with gluten intolerance have no choice but to pursue such a diet. Some parents of children with autism are also taking their family dinners gluten-free, based on research that shows such a diet may help reduce the symptoms of autism.

College students — particularly those who live on campus, like 36% of BU undergrads — eat an inordinately high percentage of their meals from the school’s dining halls. Thus, it’s important that universities provide healthy options. Baylor was named earlier this month to a list of 14 colleges “leading the way” in “going above and beyond” in providing gluten-free options.

The report notes that Baylor offers a wide range of of gluten-free menu options, and menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner at each dining hall are posted online at dining.baylor.edu, along with nutritional facts for many of each meal’s offerings. That allows students with special dietary needs — not just gluten-free, but those with conditions requiring certain diets, or those simply pursuing a particular lifestyle — to plan out when and where to eat in a fashion that meets their needs.

Sic ’em, Baylor dining halls!