Menu planning software simplifies planning meals for a crowd of hungry seniors in assisted-living while doing the one task that most cooks hate to do: provide alternatives for people who don’t like or can’t eat the items on the menu of the day.

The Realities of Senior Menu Planning Made Simple

Senior menus usually reflect the realities that seniors may need smaller portions, less salt, less sugar, variety, and balance. In a given institutional population, some residents are diabetic, hypertensive, or allergic to specific foods, while others need liquefied meals. These meals should be as well thought out, nutritious, and tasty as any others, but the food restrictions of some people need not dictate the menu for the majority of people in the facility.

The beauty of menu planning software is that meal planning is computerized, and by adding certain criteria to what you need in the menu, you can easily create alternative menus at the push of a button. Suppose, for example, you are serving chicken breast to residents, lightly breaded and oven baked, with a savory cranberry and orange sauce. For some residents, the recipe might contain gluten, salt, or sugars that do not work on special diets. A couple might be allergic to oranges, while a few people are on record as hating cranberries.

By typing in “chicken” and checking off a list of criteria such as dietary restrictions and resident preferences, you can find recipes that would work with individuals with specific conditions. You will know that X number of residents cannot or will not eat the breading or the sauce so that you can plan another type of chicken recipe. Since you will be baking the meat, you can even find another chicken recipe that requires baking, so that you can maximize your use of the ovens.

Shopping and Future Planning Made Easy with Menu Planning Software

Another feature of menu planning software comes into play here. You will see what needs to be on your shopping list, and know the common and different ingredients you will need for each recipe you are using. The software even indicate the quantities. For 100 people you may need 25 pounds of chicken with different ingredients to accommodate the 2-3 recipes you have chosen.

Once you have figured out menu alternatives that work together, you can save your menus in the software so that the next time you want to serve your breaded chicken, you will already know how to accommodate other residents. At that time, you can add in any changes that have occurred, such as how you have 10 diabetics rather than the 12 you had the last time you used the recipe. If you find that most residents who had the alternative chicken choice did not like it, you can also note that and make another menu selection to keep everyone happy.

If you’re frustrated trying to find meals that accommodate everyone’s needs and preference, let Grove Menus simplify your planning and increase resident satisfaction with menu planning software.