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Menu Development Guidelines

Here you will find information and resources to help cooking staff incorporate the Food and Nutrition Guidelines into the menu.

Menu Development Guidelines

Goals for residential food service:

  • To provide food in residential facilities in line with the Food and Nutrition Guidelines
  • To ensure that caterers understand the needs of their specific group and can interpret the Food and Nutrition Guidelines so that their clients can reach their nutrition potential by being offered food that recognises these special requirements
  • To apply the Food and Nutrition Guidelines so that residents remain healthy and the risks of developing lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity and Type 2 diabetes are reduced
  • To ensure that the food provided meets the social and cultural needs of the residents, is appealing, tastes good, is enjoyable and acknowledges their food history
  • To provide food choices that encourage compatibility between both budgetary goals and food and nutrition targets
  • To recognise that some residents have special nutritional requirements, and to adapt the Food and Nutrition Guidelines specific to these groups
  • To provide food choices that encourage compatibility between both budgetary goals and food and nutrition targets

View residential catering guidelines

Next steps

The Heart Foundation has produced catering guidelines for residential facilities which are specific for adolescents, adults and older people.  To download and view these guidelines follow the link above.

Here you can order a copy of Professional Foodservice 2nd Edition by Pip Duncan and Julain Jensen.  This book is a comprehensive, well researched and practical rsource for caterers, chefs, supervisors and dietitians in residential establishments.

Here you can order the Best Practice Food And Nutrition Manual For Aged Care Facilities.  This has been developed for Australian aged care facilities however is still relevant to New Zealand aged care facilities.

The University of Otago Nutrition department produce large quantity recipe cards which can be ordered by contacting them.

When planning your menu you may wish to consult with a registered dietitian.  Here you can: