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Creating and Editing a Meal Plan

Kevin U
  • Updated

Creating a Points Meal Plan

A points meal plan provides a certain number of points in a given period that can be used against meal periods (breakfast, lunch, dinner) that each have a “cost” value in points. For example, breakfast costs 1 point, lunch costs 1 point and dinner costs 2 points. For a 60-point monthly meal plan, a diner can use those points as he or she sees fit until the points are depleted or the plan renews.

To create a points meal plan, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
     
  2. Click the Add a Meal Plan button. The Add a Meal Plan screen appears.
     
  3. Enter or select the following:
    • Name - enter a recognizable name for the points meal plan.
    • Start Date - select the start date that the meal plan will be active (a past date cannot be selected).
    • Tender Type - select Points.
       
  4. Your next steps are to select the period of the meal plan before it resets.
    1. First, in the Period field, select the unit of length type: Days, Weeks or Months.
    2. Then in the Duration field select, select the number for the unit of length type. For example, if Period is Weeks, and Duration is 3, then the meal plan period is three weeks. Note that the plan will renew at 12:01 AM at the end of period.
       
  5. In the Quantity Per Period Points field, enter the points that can be used from the meal plan in the period.
     
  6. For the Maximum Rollover Points field, if the meal plan allows any unused points to be rolled over to the next period, enter the points allowed here.
     
  7. The following customization options are applicable for a points meal plan:
    • Reactivation setting  - if a resident is inactive in the system (i.e., has been archived), and then is made active again (i.e., unarchived) prior to the next reset date of the meal plan, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? Or if a meal plan is removed from the diner, and then re-added in the same billing period, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? 
      • Use Prior Balance (default) - the resident's previous meal plan balance is continued. 
      • Reset Balance - the resident's previous meal plan balance is not continued, and instead the balance is reset. 
         
    • Automatically pro-rate the plan... - applicable if Week or Month is selected for Period. This option allows the plan’s point value to be decreased accordingly when first assigned to a diner. For example, if the diner is assigned a 50-point plan halfway through a meal plan with a four-week period, then 25 points will be given. 
      Note: If Day is selected for Period, the Automatically pro-rate the plan option is not applicable (in a future release, the option will be hidden if Day is selected). 
       
    • Adjust the quantity credit for plans... - applicable if Month is selected for Period. The system assumes a 30-day month; therefore this option can be selected to adjust the point value accordingly for 31-day months and the 28-day month of February. For example, for a 60-point monthly plan, it will adjust to 62 points for a 31-day month and 58 points for February. If this check box is not selected, the plan has 60 points every month no matter if 28, 30, or 31 days.
       
    • Auto-Share this plan with other residents in the same room if they do not have a valid meal plan - for more information on this option, see the article Sharing a Meal Plan.
       
    • Enable Meal Plan to be used by other Diner - select this option to allow guests to use the meal plan at a POS dining room location. For more information, and to ensure your account is enabled to allow guests to use a meal plan, reach out to MealSuite Support. If you are MealSuite Support, see the following internal article: Enabling Guests to Use a Resident Meal Plan (INTERNAL).
       
  8. In the Meal Plan Policy Accounting section, select the accounting system parameters that the meal plan transactions will be recorded against. Note that account system parameters are set up by your MealSuite staff. If you are MealSuite staff, see the following internal article: Setting Up External Accounting System Parameters in the POS (INTERNAL).
    • GL Account
    • Business Line
    • Department

       
  9. In the Permitted People Categories section, select the diner categories for which the meal plan will be available. Only diners of a selected diner category can in turn be assigned to the meal plan.

    permitted_people_categories.png
     
  10. In the Permitted Locations section, select the POS locations the meal plan can be used at by selecting its Valid check box.
     
  11. For a meal period (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) for each selected location, enter the points value the meal plan will cover. For example, breakfast is 1 point, lunch is 1 point, and dinner is 2 points.

    permitted_locations.png
     
  12. By default, the meal plan applies to each category of each meal period (breakfast, lunch dinner), meaning the diner can use their meal plan for any items/products of that meal period/category. To not have the meal plan apply to a meal period/category, clear its Covered check box.

    points_category.png
     
  13. From the Coverage Type dropdown, you can add limitations on the meal plan via the following options:
    • The Max Value option allows you to enter a maximum value that will be covered by the meal plan for each meal period and category combination. For example, assume the maximum value for the dinner/entrée category is $15. If the entrée at dinner exceeds $15, then the diner has to pay the outstanding balance by other means. Another way to think about it is that anything under $15 is “free” because the meal plan covers it.

      max_value.png
       

    • The Max Item option allows you to enter a maximum number of items that will be covered by the meal plan for each meal period and category combination.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you want them to be able to exceed the max item limit by paying for the extra items, then leave the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box unchecked.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you don't want them to exceed the max item limit, then select the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box. This is for scenarios in which the facility has unpriced items, and you do not want customers to exceed the max limit amount. For example, assume the maximum item for the dessert category is 2. If the dessert at dinner exceeds 2, then on the SSK or Portal app the diner will be prevented from obtaining those extra items (click here for more information and screenshot example). 

      max_items.png

       

  14. Click the Create Policy button. You are returned to the main screen, where the newly-added meal plan is listed.
     
  15. Assign the meal plan to the diners (see Assigning a Meal Plan to a Diner).

Creating a Declining Balance Meal Plan

A declining balance meal plan provides a dollar amount in a given period that decreases upon each use. To create a declining balance meal plan, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
     
  2. Click the Add a Meal Plan button. The Add a Meal Plan screen appears.
     
  3. Enter or select the following:
    • Name - enter a recognizable name for the points meal plan.
    • Start Date - select the start date that the meal plan will be active (a past date cannot be selected). 
    • Tender Type - select Declining Balance.
       
  4. Your next steps are to select the period of the meal plan before it resets.
    1. First, in the Period field, select the unit of length type: Days, Weeks or Months.
    2. Then in the Duration field select, select the number for the unit of length type. For example, if Period is Weeks, and Duration is 3, then the meal plan period is three weeks. Note that the plan will renew at 12:01 AM at the end of period.
       
  5. In the Quantity Per Period $ field, enter the dollar amount that can be used from the meal plan in the period.
     
  6. For the Maximum Rollover $ field, if the meal plan allows any unused amount to be rolled over to the next period, enter that amount here.
     
  7. The following customization options are applicable for a declining balance meal plan:
    • Reactivation setting  - if a resident is inactive in the system (i.e., has been archived), and then is made active again (i.e., unarchived) prior to the next reset date of the meal plan, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? Or if a meal plan is removed from the diner, and then re-added in the same billing period, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? 
      • Use Prior Balance (default) - the resident's previous meal plan balance is continued. 
      • Reset Balance - the resident's previous meal plan balance is not continued, and instead the balance is reset. 
         
    • Automatically pro-rate the plan... - applicable if Week or Month is selected for Period. This option allows the plan’s point value to be decreased accordingly when first assigned to a diner. For example, if the diner is assigned a $300 plan halfway through a meal plan with a four-week period, then $150 will be given. 
      Note: If Day is selected for Period, the Automatically pro-rate the plan option is not applicable (in a future release, the option will be hidden if Day is selected). 
       
    • Adjust the quantity credit for plans... - applicable if Month is selected for Period. The system assumes a 30-day month; therefore this option can be selected to adjust the point value accordingly for 31-day months and the 28-day month of February. For example, for a $500 monthly plan, it will adjust to $516 for a 31-day month and $467 for February. If this check box is not selected, the plan has $500 every month no matter if 28, 30, or 31 days.
       
    • Auto-Share this plan with other residents in the same room if they do not have a valid meal plan - for more information on this option, see the article Sharing a Meal Plan.
       
    • Declining Balance Only: Charge regular taxes for transactions - select this option to include the tax amount in a transaction.
       
    • Enable Meal Plan to be used by other Diner - select this option to allow guests to use the meal plan at a POS dining room location. For more information, and to ensure your account is enabled to allow guests to use a meal plan, reach out to MealSuite Support. If you are MealSuite Support, see the following internal article: Enabling Guests to Use a Resident Meal Plan (INTERNAL).
       
  8. In the Meal Plan Policy Accounting section, select the accounting system parameters that the meal plan transactions will be recorded against. Note that account system parameters are set up by your MealSuite staff. If you are MealSuite staff, see the following internal article: Setting Up External Accounting System Parameters in the POS (INTERNAL).
    • GL Account
    • Business Line
    • Department
       
  9. In the Permitted People Categories section, select the diner categories for which the meal plan will be available. Only diners of a selected diner category can in turn be assigned to the meal plan.

    permitted_people_categories.png
     
  10. In the Permitted Locations section, select the POS locations the meal plan can be used at by selecting its Valid check box.

    permitted_locations_declining.png
     
  11. By default, the meal plan applies to each category of each meal period (breakfast, lunch dinner), meaning the diner can use their meal plan for any menu items items/products of that meal period/category. To not have the meal plan apply to a meal period/category, clear its Covered check box.

    meal_plan_categories_declining.png
     
  12. Click the Create Policy button. You are returned to the main screen, where the newly-added meal plan is listed.
     
  13. Assign the meal plan to the diners (see Assigning a Meal Plan to a Diner).

Creating an Unlimited Meal Plan

An unlimited meal plan does not provide value limits or time period limits, but maximum values can be applied to specific meal item categories and meal periods (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at specific POS locations. To create an unlimited meal plan, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
     
  2. Click the Add a Meal Plan button. The Add a Meal Plan screen appears.
     
  3. In the Name field, enter a recognizable name for the unlimited meal plan.
     
  4. In the Tender Type drop-down, select Unlimited.
     
  5. The following customization options are applicable for an unlimited meal plan:
    • Auto-Share this plan with other residents in the same room if they do not have a valid meal plan - for more information on this option, see the article Sharing a Meal Plan.
    • Enable Meal Plan to be used by other Diner - select this option to allow guests to use the meal plan at a POS dining room location. For more information, and to ensure your account is enabled to allow guests to use a meal plan, reach out to MealSuite Support. If you are MealSuite Support, see the following internal article: Enabling Guests to Use a Resident Meal Plan (INTERNAL).
       
  6. In the Meal Plan Policy Accounting section, select the accounting system parameters that the meal plan transactions will be recorded against. Note that account system parameters are set up by your MealSuite staff. If you are MealSuite staff, see the following internal article: Setting Up External Accounting System Parameters in the POS (INTERNAL).
    • GL Account
    • Business Line
    • Department

       
  7. In the Permitted People Categories section, select the diner categories for which the meal plan will be available. Only diners of a selected diner category can in turn be assigned to the meal plan.

    permitted_people_categories.png
     
  8. In the Permitted Locations section, select the POS locations the meal plan can be used at by selecting its Valid check box.

    permitted_locations2.png
     
  9. By default, the meal plan applies to each category of each meal period (breakfast, lunch dinner), meaning the diner can use their meal plan for any menu items/products of that meal period/category. To not have the meal plan apply to a meal period/category, clear its Covered check box.

    categories_meal_plan_unlimited.png
     
  10. From the Coverage Type dropdown, you can add limitations on the meal plan via the following options:
    • The Max Value option allows you to enter a maximum value for each selected meal period/category/location combination. For example, if the maximum value is $15.00 for the lunch entree category at “East Dining Room” and the ticket comes to $20.00, then the meal plan would cover $15, and the diner would have to cover the remaining $5.00. At another location, the max value for entree can be less or more.

      unlimited_max_value.png
       
    • The Max Item option allows you to enter a maximum number of items that will be covered by the meal plan for each meal period and category combination.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you want them to be able to exceed the max item limit by paying for the extra items, then leave the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box unchecked.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you don't want them to exceed the max item limit, then select the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box. This is for scenarios in which the facility has unpriced items, and you do not want customers to exceed the max limit amount. For example, assume the maximum item for the dessert category is 2. If the dessert at dinner exceeds 2, then on the SSK or Portal app the diner will be prevented from obtaining those extra items (click here for more information and screenshot example). 

      unlimited_max_item.png
       
  11. Click the Create Meal Plan button. You are returned to the main screen, where the newly-added meal plan is listed.
     
  12. Assign the meal plan to the diners (see Assigning a Meal Plan to a Diner).

Creating a Prepaid Meal Plan (i.e. One-Time Meal Plan)

A prepaid meal plan is a one-time meal plan that is assigned to a diner and credited with cash or points (depending on the type of meal plan). When the meal plan reaches 0 points or dollars, the plan is expired.

Creating a Declining Balance Prepaid Meal Plan

A declining balance prepaid meal plan provides a dollar amount for the diner that decreases upon each use. To create a dollar prepaid meal plan that can be assigned to diners, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
     
  2. Click the Add a Meal Plan button. The Add a Meal Plan screen appears.
     
  3. In the Name field, enter a recognizable name for the prepaid meal plan.
     
  4. In the Tender Type drop-down, select Declining Balance.
     
  5. In the Period drop-down, select Prepaid.

    Note: Ignore the Quantity Per Period Points field. You will instead enter the dollar amount after the meal plan is created and then assigned to the diner. 
     
  6. The following settings are applicable for a declining balance prepaid meal plan:
    • Reactivation setting  - if a resident is inactive in the system (i.e., has been archived), and then is made active again (i.e., unarchived) prior to the next reset date of the meal plan, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? Or if a meal plan is removed from the diner, and then re-added in the same billing period, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? 
      • Use Prior Balance (default) - the resident's previous meal plan balance is continued. 
      • Reset Balance - the resident's previous meal plan balance is not continued, and instead the balance is reset. 
    • Auto-Share this plan with other residents in the same room if they do not have a valid meal plan - for more information on this option, see the article Sharing a Meal Plan.
    • Declining Balance Only: Charge regular taxes for transactions - select this option to include the tax amount in a transaction.
    • Enable Meal Plan to be used by other Diner - select this option to allow guests to use the meal plan at a POS dining room location. For more information, and to ensure your account is enabled to allow guest to use a meal plan, reach out to MealSuite Support. If you are MealSuite Support, see the following internal article: Enabling Guests to Use a Resident Meal Plan (INTERNAL).
       
  7. In the Meal Plan Accounting section, select the accounting system parameters that the meal plan transactions will be recorded against. Note that account system parameters are set up by your MealSuite staff. If you are MealSuite staff, see the following internal article: Setting Up External Accounting System Parameters in the POS (INTERNAL).
    • GL Account
    • Business Line
    • Department

       
  8. In the Permitted People Categories section, select the diner categories for which the meal plan will be available. Only diners of a selected diner category can in turn be assigned to the meal plan.

    permitted_people_categories.png
     
  9. In the Permitted Locations section, select the POS locations the meal plan can be used at by selecting its Valid check box.

    permitted_locations_declining.png
     
  10. By default, the meal plan applies to each category of each meal period (breakfast, lunch dinner), meaning the diner can use their meal plan for any items/products of that meal period/category. To not have the meal plan apply to a meal period/category, clear its Covered check box.

    meal_plan_categories_declining.png
     
  11. Click the Create Policy button. You are returned to the main screen, where the newly-added meal plan is listed.
     
  12. Assign the prepaid meal plan to the diners, and credit the meal plan as needed (see Assigning a Prepaid Meal Plan to a Diner).

Creating a Points Prepaid Meal Plan

A points meal plan provides a certain number of points for a diner that can be used against meal periods (breakfast, lunch, dinner) that each have a “cost” value in points. For example, breakfast costs 1 point, lunch costs 1 point and dinner costs 2 points. A diner can use those points as he or she sees fit until the points are depleted. To create a points prepaid meal plan, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
     
  2. Click the Add a Meal Plan button. The Add a Meal Plan screen appears.
     
  3. In the Name field, enter a recognizable name for the prepaid meal plan.
     
  4. In the Tender Type drop-down, select Points.
     
  5. In the Period drop-down, select Prepaid.

    Note: Ignore the Quantity Per Period Points field. You will instead enter the points after the meal plan is created and then assigned to the diner. 
     
  6. The following settings are applicable for a points prepaid meal plan:
    • Reactivation setting  - if a resident is inactive in the system (i.e., has been archived), and then is made active again (i.e., unarchived) prior to the next reset date of the meal plan, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? Or if a meal plan is removed from the diner, and then re-added in the same billing period, what occurs with their existing meal plan balance? 
      • Use Prior Balance (default) - the resident's previous meal plan balance is continued. 
      • Reset Balance - the resident's previous meal plan balance is not continued, and instead the balance is reset. 
    • Auto-Share this plan with other residents in the same room if they do not have a valid meal plan - for more information on this option, see the article Sharing a Meal Plan.
    • Enable Meal Plan to be used by other Diner - select this option to allow guests to use the meal plan at a POS dining room location. For more information, and to ensure your account is enabled to allow guests to use a meal plan, reach out to MealSuite Support. If you are MealSuite Support, see the following internal article: Enabling Guests to Use a Resident Meal Plan (INTERNAL).
       
  7. In the Meal Plan Policy Accounting section, select the accounting system parameters that the meal plan transactions will be recorded against. Note that account system parameters are set up by your MealSuite staff. If you are MealSuite staff, see the following internal article: Setting Up Accounting System Parameters (INTERNAL).
    • GL Account
    • Business Line
    • Department

       
  8. In the Permitted People Categories section, select the diner categories for which the meal plan will be available. Only diners of a selected diner category can in turn be assigned to the meal plan.

    permitted_people_categories.png
     
  9. In the Permitted Locations section, select the POS locations the meal plan can be used at by selecting its Valid check box.
     
  10. For a meal period (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) for each selected location, enter the points value the meal plan will cover. For example, breakfast is 1 point, lunch is 1 point, and dinner is 2 points.

    permitted_locations.png
     
  11. By default, the meal plan applies to each category of each meal period (breakfast, lunch dinner), meaning the diner can use their meal plan for any menu items/products of that meal period/category. To not have the meal plan apply to a meal period/category, clear its Covered check box.

    meal_plan_categories.png
     
  12. From the Coverage Type field, you can add limitation on the mal plan via the following options:
    • The Max Value option allows you to enter a maximum value that will be covered by the meal plan for each meal period and category combination. For example, assume the maximum value for the dinner/entrée category is $15. If the entrée at dinner exceeds $15, then the diner has to pay the outstanding balance by other means. Another way to think about it is that anything under $10 is “free” because the meal plan covers it.

      max_value.png
       

    • The Max Item option allows you to enter a maximum number of items that will be covered by the meal plan for each meal period and category combination.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you want them to be able to exceed the max item limit by paying for the extra items, then leave the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box unchecked.

      For customers using a self-service kiosk or their Portal app, if you don't want them to exceed the max item limit, then select the Do not allow diner to exceed quantity amount (only for SSK and Portal) check box. This is for scenarios in which the facility has unpriced items, and you do not want customers to exceed the max limit amount. For example, assume the maximum item for the dessert category is 2. If the dessert at dinner exceeds 2, then on the SSK or Portal app the diner will be prevented from obtaining those extra items (click here for more information and screenshot example). 

      max_items.png

       

  13. Click the Create Policy button. You are returned to the main screen, where the newly-added meal plan is listed.
     
  14. Assign the prepaid meal plan to the diners, and credit the meal plan as needed (see Assigning a Meal Plan to a Diner).

Editing an Existing Meal Plan

To edit an existing meal plan: 

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meals Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears.
  2. For the meal plan you want to edit, click its Edit button. 
  3. Make the changes as needed. 
  4. Click the Update Policy button at the bottom of the screen to apply your changes. 

When does the change to a points meal plan or declining balance take effect?

A points meal plan and a declining balance meal plan have a reset period. Apart from the name, any edits you apply to the meal plan will take effect on the next reset date. For example, if you increase the dollar amount of a declining balance meal plan by $10.00, that $10.00 increase will be available on the next reset date. 

Automatically Adding a Product when Meal Plan is Used

When a resident/patient uses their meal plan, either at a POS location or their Portal app, it can be configured that a product is automatically added to their order. This may be required for the following reasons:

  • Assume a facility wants to provide a free meal item as part of a special. That item can be automatically entered to the order. 
  • Depending on the facility and meal plan type, it may be that the facility is configured with a “meal plan product” that must be selected by the POS operator each time to allow for tracking of meal plans used in the system and reconciliation in accounting. For example, meal plan products of “Resident Meal - Breakfast”, “Resident Meal - Lunch” and “Resident Meal - Dinner”. By having these meal plan products automatically added, it prevents the POS operator from having to manually select the meal plan product each time.

To configure a product to be automatically added when a meal plan is used, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, click POS Setting > Locations.
     
  2. Click the Edit button of the desired POS location. 
     
  3. Scroll to the Auto Add section, and click the Add Another Auto Add button to expand the section. 

    auto_add.png
     
  4. From the Meal drop-down, select meal period or snack time.
     
  5. From the Product drop-down, select the product. Note that the product that is selected must belong to the POS grid for it to be automatically added to the meal plan. For more information on how a product gets onto a POS grid, see How Does a Product Get Onto a POS Grid?. 
     
  6. To add another product, click the Add Another Auto Add button and repeat steps 4-5.
     
  7. If the meal plan balance is zero, and you still want the product to be automatically added, then select the Auto add when Meal Plan balance is zero option. 
     
  8. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the Save Location button to apply your changes. 

FAQs

An item is not being covered by the meal plan?

Ensure that the category that the item is assigned to (i.e., menu category or product category) is assigned to the meal plan.

Note that when a new menu category is created in the MealSuite system or a new product category is created in Touch Admin, then that category is not automatically assigned to the meal plan (i.e., the meal plan will not cover the new category).

To access the meal plan and assign the category, complete the following steps:

  1. In Touch Admin, select People Management > Meal Plans. The Meal Plans screen appears
  2. For the meal plan you want to edit, click its Edit button. The Edit a Meal Plan screen appears.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen where the categories and meal periods (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are listed.
  4. Expand the meal periods for which the category was associated with and select the check box of the category to assign it to the meal plan.

    new_categories.png

  5. At the bottom of the screen click the Update Policy button to apply your changes.

The meal plan option is not showing/not available for a diner (i.e., resident or staff member)?

This most likely indicates that the diner (i.e., resident or staff member) is not assigned a meal plan. For a new resident who is admitted to the system or a staff member who is entered in the system, you must manually assign them a meal plan, which is done in the Touch Admin software. See the following articles as needed:

I made a change to the points meal plan. When does that change take effect?

A points meal plan has a reset period. Apart from the name, any changes you apply to the meal plan will take effect on the next reset date. For example, if you increase the points value of a points meal plan by 5, that increase of 5 will be available on the next reset date.

I made a change to the declining balance meal plan. When does that change take effect?

A declining balance meal plan has a reset period. Apart from the name, any changes you apply to the meal plan will take effect on the next reset date. For example, if you increase the dollar amount of a declining balance meal plan by $10.00, that $10.00 increase will be available on the next reset date.

Can a category (e.g., entree, vegetable, starch, etc.) or individual item be valued at a specific amount for a meal plan?

No. At this time, a category or individual item cannot be valued at a specific amount for a meal plan.

For a points meal plan, you can enter the points value the meal plan will cover for each meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Can a points meal plan with a daily reset be used to pay for a pickup or delivery order that is placed today but ordered for tomorrow?

No. A points meal plan with a daily reset cannot be used today to pay for an order tomorrow.

Can a resident share a meal plan?

Yes. A resident can share a meal plan with another resident. See the following article Sharing a Meal Plan.

I can't edit fields in an existing meal plan (i.e., Tender Type, Period, and Duration)?

After a meal plan is created, it cannot be converted to another type of meal plan. Therefore, the fields listed below are not editable. If the below fields require editing, you will instead be required to create a new meal plan. 

  • Tender Type (i.e., the meal plan type: Points, Declining Balance, or Unlimited). 
  • Period
  • Month

There is a discrepancy between the meal plan balance shown on Touch Admin and the Portal App/POS?

When a To Go order covered by a meal plan is placed on the Portal app or the POS for the same day, the meal plan balance is automatically adjusted on the Portal app and POS, but not in the Touch Admin software until the ticket is closed (i.e., paid) in the POS. 

Hence, when there is a pending ticket for a To Go order for the same day, a discrepancy will exist between the diner's meal plan balance in the Touch Admin software and the diner's meal plan balance shown on their Portal app and on the POS when that diner is assigned to a ticket. Only when the ticket is closed (i.e. paid) in the POS does the adjusted balance display in Touch Admin.

This adjusted balance is displayed on the Portal app and the POS to prevent a new order being placed that would exceed the diner's meal plan balance. 

For example:

  • A diner has a meal plan balance of $50.
  • The diner places a To Go order for the same day costing $15.
  • The meal plan balance immediately updates to $35 on the Portal app to reflect the pending deduction. In the POS, the balance is also adjusted to $35 to reflect the pending deduction.
  • In Touch Admin software, the balance continues to display $50 until the ticket is closed (i.e. paid) in the POS.

Note: For future-dated orders, the meal plan balance is not adjusted until the order day so as to avoid unnecessarily restricting the diner’s balance for non-imminent transactions.

If a meal plan balance discrepancy continues to exist after the ticket is closed, ensure the following:

  • No additional pending orders exist that could impact the balance.
  • Ensure there are no open tickets that have yet to be closed within POS.

If issues continue, escalate to Support. 

How do I print a meal plan balance report?

See the following article: Meal Plan Reports.

Can a meal plan be configured to work for one day?

Yes. A points meal plan or a declining meal plan can be configured to work for one day. You do so as follows:

  1. Select the date from the Start Date. 
  2. For the Period field select Day.
  3. For the Duration field, select 1. 

When changes are made to a meal plan in Touch Admin, is there a record of who made the change?

No.