Skip to main content

Creating and Managing Menu Items

This screen contains settings for Care Plan Setup for Menu Items. Search, add, edit, view the nutrients, duplicate, and delete a menu item from Menu Items. You can link a menu item to a recipe or a nutrient item so the menu item can be nutritionally analyzed. You can also manage Allergies, Special Diets, Textures that are unsuitable for a menu item, and Dislike Groups that the item should be included in.

Note

You can create and manage menu items in Care Plan Setup and in Menu Builder. 

Note

    • Administrator > Care Plan Setup > Menu Items.

    • Menus > Menu Builder > select Menu Set > Menu Items.

  • Multi-Item Update - Select option. Allows you to update multiple menu items at the same time. You can update the menu item category, delete menu items, set fluid amount, and change suitabilities for allergies, special diets, and textures. You can also update print groups and dislike groups (Menus enabled).

    Rename Menu Items - Select option. Allows you to batch rename menu items when terminology changes occur within your organization. For example, renaming thickened beverages with new terminology per the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI).

    1. Select Multi-Item Update.

      • Set or change Print Group (Menus enabled) - Select the print group icon you want to apply to selected menu item(s).

      • Set or change category - Select the category from the list you want to apply to selected menu item(s).

      • Change Suitabilities - Select the allergies, special diets, or textures you want to update. Click Add Unsuitable to add allergies, special diets, or textures for the selected menu item(s). Click Remove Unsuitable to remove these allergies, special diets, or textures from being unsuitable for the selected menu item(s).

      • Update Dislike Groups (Menus enabled) - Select the menu item(s) you want to update. Click Update Dislike Groups and select the dislike group(s) to add the menu item(s) to or remove the menu item(s) from.

      • Set Fluid Amount - Select the menu items you want to update. Click Set Fluid Amount and type the amount.

      • Rename Menu Items - Type text for Find and Replace With and click Preview Changes. Review the list, clear the check boxes for the menu item names you do not want to replace, and click Rename Selected.

        Warning

        If you are in a multi-facility organization, changes made in this area affect all facilities.

        Note

        Rename Menu Items is only available when Menu Items is accessed on the Administrator page.

  • Search for a Menu Item - Thoroughly search for a menu item using different names. For example, Lactose Free Milk could be listed as lactaid.

  • Add - Type information. Allows you to add a new menu item.

    • Name - Type information.

    • Button Name (Menus enabled) - Type information. Appears on Menu Item Reports, in the meal ordering screen, and on resident meal tickets.

    • Print Group (Menus enabled) - Select option. A menu item’s print group determines the location of the menu item on the tray ticket and allows similar items to be grouped together to assist with meal tray preparation. 

    • Category - Select option. Select a Menu Item Category for the menu item.

    • Serving Size - Type information. Enter a serving size quantity and a measure.

    • Serving Description - Type information. Appears on the Tray Card and Meal Ticket. Can be entered as a measurable quantity, 1 each, 1 packet, 1 slice, and so on.

    • Fluid Amount (mL) -Type information.

    • Recipe Link Not Required - Select option if the menu item does not require a linked recipe. For example, milk or jam. 

    • Recipe Link - Select option to link a recipe to the menu item by linking a recipe to the menu item, the recipe is included when you print various Production reports. When linked, you can click the recipe name to view the Recipe report. 

    • Nutrient Link Not Required - Select option if the menu item does not need to be included in the nutritional analysis calculations. For example, food or non-stick cooking spray.

    • Nutrient Link - Select this option if the menu item does not require a recipe, but it provides nutritional value. For example, milk or apple juice. Select a nutrient item from your nutrient library (USDA, PCC or Custom source) so that nutritional analysis can be calculated.

  • Edit - Allows you to edit a selected menu item.

  • Nutrients - Allows you to view the nutritional analysis of the selected menu item.

  • Duplicate - Allows you to copy the selected menu item and the menu item details, including unsuitable allergies, special diets, textures, and dislike groups. This is recommended and provides a quick and efficient way to create similar menu items. For example, Steak, Steak-Pureed, Steak-Ground.

  • Delete - You cannot delete menu items currently used in a Menu Set or Standing Order.

      • Remove from menu sets - Click menu item > click Delete > View Report > review Menu Item Find report > remove from all menu sets > return to Menu Items > delete.

      • Remove from standing orders - Click menu item > click Delete > View Residents > review Standing Order report > remove from all resident standing orders > return to Menu Items > delete.

  • Change - You can add or remove unsuitable allergies, special diets, textures, and dislike groups for the selected menu item by selecting or clearing the items.

    Note

    When viewing Unsuitable for Special Diets and Unsuitable for Textures, you can select to view Inactive Special Diet and Textures that are assigned to the selected menu item.

  • Menu Item Change History - Shows the date of the most recent changes to a menu item. Click Print Change History to view manual changes made to menu item's details such as name, serving size, serving description, allergy, special diets, and textures suitabilities.

  • Print - You can print a list of menu items using various options.

  • You can also access Menu Items in Menu Builder.

  • You can click Create New in course sections in Menu Entry to create a new menu item.

  • You can click the menu item in Menu Entry to open Menu Item Details and edit or duplicate the menu item.

  • When multiple pages are present, use the pager component or enter a page number to locate the menu item. Use Scroll Bar to see all items on the page.

  • Thoroughly review allergy, special diets, and texture suitabilities as this determines how the menu item spreads to other Therapeutic Menus.

  • Only 1 recipe can be linked to a menu item.

  • A check mark in the Unused column indicates the menu item is not assigned as a Standing Order or used in any Menu or historical resident meal order.