How does your menu planning program combat food waste?
Waste is an ongoing concern for any adult care facility – throwing away food is like throwing away money, after all. And, many senior centers see thousands of dollars in wasted food every year.
To reduce waste in your assisted living center, group home or nursing facility, try incorporating the following menu planning tips.
No. 1: Pay Attention to Food Prep Waste
How full are the kitchen trash cans after your food service staff is done with the day’s meal prep?
Food prep can result in a great deal of waste if you aren’t careful with your menu planning program. Check out what edible foods are being thrown away and see if any of it can be used for meals. Broccoli stalks, beet tops and other vegetable scraps could form the base of a tasty soup, for instance. Or, use chicken and pork bones to make stock. Putting these otherwise-wasted foods to work in meals can help cut food waste.
No. 2: Be Aware of Kitchen Staff Food Waste
Do spoiled or expired foods routinely hit your facility garbage cans?
Overproduction at mealtime creates leftovers. Having some ready-to-go servings in the refrigerator may benefit residents on irregular eating schedules – but if the extra foods aren’t served quickly, they’ll need to be tossed in the trash. To reduce this common source of food waste, have your kitchen staff work toward menu planning with fewer leftovers.
No. 3: Consider Food Portion Sizes
How much food is left on your residents’ plates after mealtime?
If a lot of people at your adult care facility aren’t even coming close to cleaning their plates, you may have a problem with portioning. This issue may only crop up with certain foods, so take notice of which ones have large portions left behind. You certainly don’t want to skimp, and you can always offer seconds, but serving up portions in a smaller size could help manage waste in your menu planning program.
No. 4: Keep an Eye on Food Waste Trends
Do some of your meals seem to be unpopular among facility residents?
When foods aren’t well-liked, much of what is produced is likely to end up in the adult care facility trash. Pay close attention to which meal items are usually thrown away, and consider modifying or replacing them to better suit the taste buds of your residents. If your menu planning includes more foods that people enjoy, you’ll enjoy less food waste.
No. 5: Turn to a Food Menu Program
Want an easier way to track inventory and keep waste down at your adult care facility?
Meal planning software is the answer. A fmenu program doesn’t just plan out nutritious and balanced meals — it also maintains an up-to-date, organized list of available inventory. This helps reduce both waste and labor costs.
The Grove Menus meal planning software system, with thousands of dietitian-approved recipes, can help you reduce food waste at your adult care facility. To learn more or to schedule a free demonstration of our menu planning program, contact us today.