- How is a personal menu assigned to a resident/patient?
- How to print a personal menu for a resident?
- A menu item is missing for a resident/patient? Why is a resident/patient not receiving a menu item?
- I am not seeing any menu items in a personal menu?
- For my residents/patients with the non-select service type, they are not being served choice 1 items?
- Resident/patient is on a therapeutic diet order (i.e., diet type/texture type combination), but is allowed a regular item that is outside the therapeutic diet order, or another item from another therapeutic diet order?
- Resident/patient is on a regular diet order (i.e., regular diet type and texture type), but requires a therapeutic recipe (non-regular diet type and/or texture type)?
- Resident/patient is assigned a thickened fluid type (e.g., mildly thick), but is allowed a regular fluid item that is outside their assigned thickened fluid type?
- Why is a menu category for a meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner) completely blank on my resident's personal menu?
- A category is missing for a resident or patient profile? I don't see the menu category?
- The diet order of a resident/patient was changed, and their personal menu customizations disappeared. What happened? And is there a way to return/reassign the customizations?
- What causes "Substitute Needed" text to appear on a personal menu and reports? How do I stop "Substitute Needed" from appearing?
- Why is an item that is removed from personal menu due to allergen or being marked as do not serve being automatically replaced with another item rather than stating "Substitute Needed"?
- In my scheduled menu, there is no menu item for a category/meal period. However, for that menu category/meal period on the personal menu, the "Substitute Needed" text is appearing?
- Why is an item crossed-out with the text "No Fluid Substitute" displayed?
- From the Display Options, I selected the Include Also Available option, but the AA menu items are not appearing?
- I made a serving size adjustment on personal menu for a resident/patient with the AO service type; however the tray menu ticket does not reflect the adjustment?
- An item is showing on the personal menu but I believe should not be due to the person's assigned allergen?
- How do I limit the recipes available for selection to add to a personal menu?
- Are personal menu customizations (e.g., personal menu item added or removed) recorded on a resident/patient's history or a people report?
How is a personal menu assigned to a resident/patient?
How to print a personal menu for a resident?
A menu item is missing for a resident/patient? Why is a resident/patient not receiving a menu item?
If a resident/patient is not receiving a specific menu item, then check the following:
- On the scheduled menu, if no menu item is assigned to the day/meal period/menu category, then nothing will be populate to the personal menu for that day/meal period/menu category. Add an item to the menu as needed.
- If the resident/patient is on a non-regular diet type/texture type (i.e., therapeutic diet order), and on the menu item extension grid that diet type/texture type cell is marked as DNS, then nothing will populate to the personal menu. As such, you can select an appropriate substitute item for that diet type/texture type on the menu item extension grid; to do so open the menu item extension grid and from the diet/texture extension cell, select the Search for Substitute option to search for and select an appropriate substitute item.
- If an item on a personal menu cannot be served due to an assigned allergen or being manually marked as do not serve (DNS) on the personal menu, then these items can be displayed onscreen by selecting the Display Excluded Items option. These items are displayed with a strikethrough to indicate they are DNS.
- When an item is DNS, you can replace it with a specific substitute.
- If an item was manually marked as DNS on the personal menu, the DNS setting can be removed; to do so see Removing a Personal Menu Customization.
- If items from a menu category are missing for a meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner), see the following FAQ: Why is a menu category for a meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner) completely blank on my resident's personal menu?
- The menu item could be DNS because an ingredient in the item is associated with an allergen, and that allergen is assigned to the person. To confirm if the item is DNS due to an allergen, ensure the Display Excluded Items setting is enabled via Display Options on the personal menu. A DNS item due to an allergen is crossed out.
- When an item is marked as DNS, you can replace it with a specific substitute.
- To see a person's assigned allergens, open the person's profile.
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To see allergens associated with the menu item (i.e. recipe), see Viewing Allergens Associated with a Recipe.
I am not seeing any menu items in a personal menu?
A personal menu uses as its base the scheduled menus in a menu service location (MSL). A person is associated with the menu service location via their assigned dining area (including a residence area enabled as a dining area for in-room service). A menu service location can be thought of as the “connecting piece”: the menu is assigned to the menu service location and the dining area/residence area enabled as a dining area is assigned to the menu service location.
If you are not seeing any menu items in a personal menu, it most likely means a mismatch between the dining area, menu service location, and menu.
- To change the dining area of a person, see Managing a Resident's Table and Seating Arrangement (i.e., Assigning Dining Area).
- To see what menu service location a dining area/residence area enabled as a dining area is assigned to, see Seeing the Menu Service Location a Dining Area is Assigned To. To change the menu service location of a dining area/residence area enabled as a dining area, see Changing the Menu Service Location (MSL) of a Dining Area.
- To see what menu service location a menu is assigned to, see Seeing the Menu Service Location (MSL) a Menu is Assigned To. To change the menu service location of a menu, see Changing the Menu Service Location (MSL) of a Menu.
For my residents/patients with the non-select service type, they are not being served choice 1 items?
This most likely means that the item-selection logic method that is set for the non-select service type is "Serve Full Choice Paired Together". With this method, the objective of the system is to serve a full choice meal, as this allows a meal with items that complement each other. A full choice meal consists of all items from the same choice selection (i.e., all items in choice 1 equal a full choice meal; all items in choice 2 equal a full choice meal, etc.). For more information about item-selection logic methods for the non-select service type, and to change a method, see Non-Select Service Type: Item Selection Logic for a Personal Menu.
Resident/patient is on a therapeutic diet order (i.e., diet type/texture type combination), but is allowed a regular item that is outside the therapeutic diet order, or another item from another therapeutic diet order?
For example, the patient is on the regular diet type and minced & moist texture type, but bread is allowed. Another example is the patient is on a lactose restricted diet, but can tolerate certain dairy foods like yogurt.
You have the following options:
- Use a specific substitute to replace the original item with the desired item. When you replace an item with a specific substitute, the specific substitute replaces the original item in all instances the original item exists.
- Add a personal menu item, using the Instead of Menu Item option, to replace the original item. When adding a personal menu item to replace an original item, the original item is only replaced for the specific day, meal service, and menu category that you select when adding the personal menu item (as opposed to replacing all instances the original item exists).
It is also recommended to leave a profile note on the resident profile stating that they can consume the item outside their assigned diet order.
Resident/patient is on a regular diet order (i.e., regular diet type and texture type), but requires a therapeutic recipe (non-regular diet type and/or texture type)?
You have the following options:
- Use a specific substitute to replace the original item with the desired therapeutic item. When you replace an item with a specific substitute, the specific substitute replaces the original item in all instances the original item exists. When searching for the therapeutic recipe, use the Therapeutic Recipes checkbox to include therapeutic recipes, and also the Recipe Box filter to narrow down the therapeutic type.
- Add a personal menu item, using the Instead of Menu Item option, to replace the original item. When adding a personal menu item to replace an original item, the original item is only replaced for the specific day, meal service, and menu category that you select when adding the personal menu item (as opposed to replacing all instances the original item exists). When searching for the therapeutic recipe, use the Therapeutic Recipes checkbox to include therapeutic recipes, and also the Recipe Box filter to narrow down the therapeutic type.
It is also recommended to leave a profile note on the resident profile stating that they can consume the item outside their assigned diet order.
Resident/patient is assigned a thickened fluid type (e.g., mildly thick), but is allowed a regular fluid item that is outside their assigned thickened fluid type?
To make an exception for a patient/resident on a thickened fluid type, you cannot add a personal menu item directly on their personal menu as you would if they were on a therapeutic diet order (i.e., diet type/texture type). The reason is that when a person is assigned a fluid type, then the fluid recipe logic is triggered in the system. This means that if a fluid recipe is extended with thickened fluid substitutes, the system will serve the appropriate thickened fluid substitute for that person (see How a Fluid Recipe is Served for more information). For example, substitute juice (regular fluid recipe) with a smoothie (thickened fluid recipe).
The workaround to serve a resident/patient an exception from their assigned fluid type is to make a "recipe exception" that bypasses the fluid substitution grid and serves the regular fluid recipe with its nutrients and associated allergens and preference groups. This is accomplished as follows:
- Create a new recipe with the word "Exception" in the name (e.g., "Juice Exception").
- In this new recipe exception, add the regular fluid recipe as the one-and-only ingredient. For example, add the Juice PC as the ingredient. This will ensure the recipe contains the appropriate nutrients and associated preference groups and allergens.
- Do not extend the recipe exception with thickened fluid substitutes (i.e., do not select the Extend this Recipe check box in the Fluid Recipe section).
- With the recipe exception created, you can now add it as a personal menu item to be an exception to an assigned fluid type. Because the recipe is not extended as a fluid recipe, the system will allow the recipe to be added to the personal menu without substituting.
Note: When creating the recipe exception, you can keep it "generic", and instead specify the flavour/type in the notes when adding the recipe exception as a personal menu item. See Adding a Note to a Personal Menu Item.
Why is a menu category for a meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner) completely blank on my resident's personal menu?
A menu category will be blank if that category is set as "do not serve" (DNS). When a "do not serve" is created, it is then considered a customization in the person's personal menu. To see items set as DNS on a personal menu (i.e., crossed-out), ensure the Display Excluded Items option is set via the Display Options. To remove a "do not serve" customization from a personal menu, see Removing a Personal Menu Customization.
If you have confirmed that the menu category is not set as "do not serve", then it means there are no items in that menu category on the active menu. Or there is an item in that menu category on the active menu, but the diet order (diet type/texture type) of the particular resident/patient is set as "do not serve" on the substitute extension grid of the menu item.
Note 1: When no items are on the active menu to populate to a personal menu, then the system also prevents an Also Available (AA) menu configured as a house fallback from displaying its items as substitutes on the personal menu.
Note 2: On a Tray Menu Ticket and the Person-Specific Select Menu, the category will not print at all if any of the above conditions are met (instead of being a blank menu category).
A category is missing for a resident or patient profile? I don't see the menu category?
If a category is missing for a resident or patient profile, this most likely means the category is not selected to display on the personal menu screen. Categories are selected/not selected for display via the Display Options. See Selecting the Menu Categories to Display on Personal Menu Screen.
The diet order of a resident/patient was changed, and their personal menu customizations disappeared. What happened? And is there a way to return/reassign the customizations?
When changing a diet order (diet type, texture type or fluid type) for a resident/patient, and they have existing personal menu customizations, you will be prompted to copy some or all the existing personal customizations. There is also an option to not copy customizations. The personal menu customizations disappeared because the option to not copy customizations was selected.
However, you are not prevented from returning to the resident/patient profile and copying customizations from any past diet order to their current diet order. To do so, see Copying Customizations of Past Diet Orders to Current Diet Order.
What causes "Substitute Needed" text to appear on a personal menu and reports? How do I stop "Substitute Needed" from appearing?
If an item or items for a day/meal period/menu category on a resident/patient's personal menu cannot be served due to an allergen or the item being manually marked as DNS on the personal menu, then the text "Substitute Needed" will appear. For more information, and solutions to resolve "Substitute Needed" text, see the following article: Resolving "Substitute Needed" on Personal Menu and Reports.
Why is an item that is removed from personal menu due to allergen or being marked as do not serve being automatically replaced with another item rather than stating "Substitute Needed"?
This indicates that the item is being automatically substituted, either from a second choice, an Also Available (AA) menu set up as a house fallback, or a specific fallback substitute on the personal menu. See the item-selection logic articles for each service type for more information:
- Table Select Service Type: Item Selection Logic for a Personal Menu
- Advanced Ordering Service Type: Item Selection Logic for a Personal Menu
- Non-Select Service Type: Item Selection Logic for a Personal Menu
To remove the "house fallback" setting on an AA menu, you can do so via its menu properties. If wanting to remove a fallback substitute from a personal menu, see Removing a Fallback Substitute from a Personal Menu.
In my scheduled menu, there is no menu item for a category/meal period. However, for that menu category/meal period on the personal menu, the "Substitute Needed" text is appearing?
If the "Substitute Needed" text is appearing, it does confirm that there is a menu item on an active menu being offered on the resident/patient's personal menu. This supposed issue is explained as follows (in two parts):
1. You are "not seeing" the item on the menu because of the following:
- The resident/patient is on a non-regular diet type/texture type (i.e., therapeutic diet order).
and - On the extension grid of the menu item, the menu item is set as do not serve (DNS) for the regular diet type/texture type, and hence the DNS item is hidden from the default view on the menu (the default view shows regular diet type/texture type offerings). To see DNS items on your menu, open the menu week-at-a-glance (WaaG) view and from the Display Options select Display Excluded Items.
2. The "Substitute Needed" text is appearing on the personal menu because of the following:
- On the extension grid of the menu item, there is a substitute item is being served for the non-regular diet type/texture type of the resident/patient. To confirm, view the non-regular diet/texture type offerings on the menu (see Viewing Offerings for Diet/Texture Types on WaaG View or Viewing Offerings for Diet/Texture Types on Menu Day View).
and - The resident/patient has an allergen or the item is manually marked as "do not serve” on the personal menu that is preventing their substitute item from being served, and hence the "Substitute Needed" text is appearing on their personal menu.
Why is an item crossed-out with the text "No Fluid Substitute" displayed?
When a resident/patient is assigned a fluid type, the system will serve the thickened fluid substitutes that have been extended for a fluid recipe (see Extending a Fluid Recipe with Thickened Fluid Substitutes).
However, if a fluid type on the fluid substitution grid for a fluid recipe has not been set with a substitute, or has been set as do not serve (DNS), then on the personal menu for a resident/patient assigned that fluid type, the system will display No Fluid Substitute for the fluid recipe.
For example, assume for coffee that no substitute has been set for the Slightly Thick fluid type on the coffee's fluid substitution grid (first screenshot below). When a resident/patient with the Slightly Thick fluid type is offered coffee, the system displays No Fluid Substitute on their personal menu (second screenshot below) .
By clicking the No Fluid Substitute text, a pop-up appears (screenshot below) with an explanation, and prompts you to click the Go To Recipe button to open the recipe and add a thickened fluid substitute on the recipe's fluid substitution grid (see Extending a Fluid Recipe with Thickened Fluid Substitutes).
Note: As per standard practice, if an item is not being served on a personal menu, the item of course does not appear on a people report. The people report unfortunately cannot indicate an item is excluded due to a "No Fluid Substitute." If there is no other item in the meal period/menu category, then the category will not print on the report. See the following FAQ for more information: Why is a menu category for a meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner) completely blank on my resident's personal menu?
From the Display Options, I selected the Include Also Available option, but the AA menu items are not appearing?
For AA items to appear on a personal menu view when the Include Also Available option is selected, the Also Available (AA) menu must not be configured as a house fallback and must be scheduled at the same time and at same menu service location (MSL) of the resident's assigned dining area / residence area enabled as a dining area.
Note: When a personal menu item is added for a day/meal period/category, and that personal menu is set with the Instead of regular menu option, then the AA menu items for that day/meal period/category do not display.
How do I serve snacks to a resident/patient?
For snacks to be served to a resident/patient, the following conditions must be met:
- The person's assigned residence area is enabled as a dining area. By default all residence areas are enabled as a dining area to allow for in-room delivery, but you can disable a residence area as a dining area. If a residence area was disabled as a dining area, then it can be re-enabled as a dining area: click here for instructions to do so.
- A snack menu is scheduled at the same menu service location (MSL) of the residence area enabled as a dining area.
If the above conditions are not met, then on the personal menus the snack service time sections (Snack AM, Snack PM, and Snack HS) do not display snack items when the Displays Snacks option is selected from the Display Options.
I made a serving size adjustment on personal menu for a resident/patient with the AO service type; however the tray menu ticket does not reflect the adjustment?
If you made a serving size adjustment for a resident/patient with the AO service type, and that adjustment is not reflected on the tray menu ticket, then it means the order is a reuse order. A reuse order will not reflect a serving size adjustment. For the serving size adjustment to be reflected, the order needs to be retaken in the Touch app.
An item is showing on the personal menu but I believe should not be due to the person's assigned allergen?
A recipe (i.e., menu item) is associated with an allergen group via one or more of its ingredients. If an item is not removed from a personal menu that you believe should be removed due to the assigned allergen group on the profile, then first confirm if the recipe is associated with that allergen group. To do see Viewing Allergens Associated with a Recipe.
If the recipe is associated with a different allergen group than the allergen group currently assigned to the profile, then you can assign the correct allergen group to the profile. See Assigning Allergens to a Person.
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If the recipe is not associated with what you believe is the correct allergen group assigned to the profile, then you can associate the recipe to the correct allergen group by adding the affected ingredient to the allergen group. See Adding Food Items to Allergen Group.
How do I limit the recipes available for selection to add to a personal menu?
You may want to limit/streamline the recipes available in the system that are available to add to a personal menu (i.e., personal menu item, specific substitute or fallback substitute). If so, the following options are available:
Unpublish Recipes
You can unpublish recipes that you do not want to be available on a personal menu. See the following article for more information: Unpublishing/Publishing a Recipe. There is also a means to bulk unpublish recipes; to do so see the following article: Bulk Publishing/Unpublishing of Recipes.
Add Custom Tag to Recipes
You can create a custom tag and add that tag to the recipes to be used on a personal menu. When a user is searching for an item to add to a personal menu (i.e., personal menu item, specific substitute or fallback substitute), they can filter by the custom tag.
- To create a custom tag, see Creating a Custom Tag.
- To add custom tags to recipes, the following articles are available:
Are personal menu customizations (e.g., personal menu item added or removed) recorded on a resident/patient's history or a people report?
No. Personal menu customizations are not reflected on a resident/patient profile history, and are not available in any people report.