Challenge #1:

Food Waste

The paper-based system hindered communication between servers and chefs, leading to guesswork in planning resident-approved menus and resulting in food waste. Staff sought efficiency through automated menu engineering.

Solutions:

Resident Dietary Profiles keep a digital record of individual likes, dislikes, allergens & diet orders and integrate with the menu-building software, making personal menu planning easy

Forecasting Tools help optimize US Foods orders based on trends, resident preferences

Result:

These solutions not only aid in planning resident-centered, low-waste menus but also save considerable time for increased interaction with residents. The Forecasting Tool is used to determine precise quantities, including planning for leftovers to be used in future meals.

Challenge #2:

Inefficient Menu Planning

This community used an Excel-based system managed by one person, which made menu changes a cumbersome process.

Solution:

The Database of Pre-Loaded Menus and Recipes (Including Extensions) are dietitian-approved and easy to customize with just a few clicks

Result:

Streamlined workflows allow chefs to edit menus, seek approval from their RD, and publish changes seamlessly within the system. Easy menu personalization has led to increased resident satisfaction.

Challenge #3:

Manual Production Reports

Before technology, the community created production reports manually, which was tying up a lot of time.

Solution:

Production Tools automatically forecast service requirements, so staff know what to make, when to make it and where it's going. Production reports can be printed by area or displayed on a screen in the kitchen.

Result:

MealSuite automates production reports for their planned menus, saving time and enabling instant substitutions. The chefs conveniently access these production reports on a laptop in the kitchen.