We serve a wide variety of fresh, healthy food options at every meal. We also have a fresh fruit bar at breakfast and a complete salad bar, with protein options, at both lunch and dinner. Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are offered at meals as well. We do our very best to assure that every camper finds food she can eat and enjoy, even if she comes to camp with food allergies or is a selective eater at home.
If your daughter has a medical food allergy or restriction, please make sure this is noted on her Health History Form and the Physical Form (available in the spring) through the Campanion app or through your Online Greystone Account. This is necessary for your daughter to eat our specifically prepared allergy alternative food. If this allergy is life threatening, please also upload an Allergy Action Form with her medical forms (read more about this on our Medications page).
Greystone is “nut free.” We do not serve or cook with any nut products. We also do not cook or serve shellfish at camp. There will always be an alternative food served for each of the other major food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, wheat, and soy).
When planning our allergy alternative dishes, we do our best to match these dishes as closely as possible to the meal being served. For example, if we are having spaghetti for dinner, we will also serve gluten-free noodles and a vegetarian sauce. Sometimes our alternative dishes will not match the “theme” of the served meal (i.e., if we are serving Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, our vegetarian option may be veggie burgers). We might not have a yummy dairy-free Oreo Creme Pie, but campers will enjoy our great dairy-free Cheesecake! For specialty food items (ordered for specific events), we will offer an allergy-free alternative, if a suitable duplicate of the allergy item is not available.
As we prepare food in the Greystone Kitchen, our staff is paying close attention to cross-contamination. While we take great care in preparing allergy-safe food, we cannot guarantee that your daughter will not come in contact with foods she may be allergic to.
Many of our campers with food allergies choose to eat from our extensive salad options or fruit options, rather than eat the main course alternatives, because of the tasty selections provided at each meal. Click here to see a sample menu and what is offered on our salad and fruit bars.
The food offered at camp (from meals served in the Dining Hall to Shoppe to treats at Evening Program) follows the FDA guidelines. We check all ingredient labels to be aware of which products contain the major allergens. We do serve food with “May Contain” or “Processed in a Facility” labels. If your daughter has a gluten allergy, she may be served ingredients that were “processed in a facility that also processes gluten.” If you would like to read more about the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, click here to visit the FDA’s website.
Before the summer, work with your daughter on reading food labels for when she grabs snacks at our Ice Huts or Shoppe. We will also have staff available to help her at picnics and events when food is served outside of the Dining Hall.
Campers should be able to eat food being served in the Dining Hall; we are unable to prepare separate, individual food options for selective or anxious eaters. Campers that are selective eaters often find new foods to try for the first time while they are at camp. Our fresh fruit and salad bars have a wide variety of choices each day and include protein options. Even our selective eaters can find something delicious to eat at camp.
If your daughter still finds herself hungry throughout the day, she can always stop by our Ice Huts to grab a snack, such as string cheese or granola bars (gluten-, dairy-, egg-, and nut-free). In addition, we deliver apples to each activity area as a mid-morning snack, and watermelon is provided after Rest Hour.
If your daughter has a medical food allergy or you are concerned about her eating habits while at camp, please contact our Kitchen Director, , to set up a time to talk. We would love to answer any of your questions or concerns before she arrives and be prepared to take the best possible care of her nutritional needs.