Menu Planning – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Nutrition and Dietetics” prescribed by BNMC-for all Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery students. We tried to accommodate latest information and topics. This book is examination friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination’s questions. At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourished. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Menu Planning
Menu planning means planning diets which will provide all nutrients in required amounts and proportions i.e. adequate nutrition.
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Menu planning is making a plan of meals with adequate nutrition for every member of the family within the available resources.
Objectives/Purposes of Menu Planning
- To satisfy the nutritional needs of the family members.
- To keep expenditure within family food budget.
- To take into account the food preference of individual members.
- Using methods of cooking to retain maximum nutrients.
- To economize on time, fuel and energy.
- To serve attractive and appetizing meals.
Importance of Menu Planning:
- The menu planning helps to make the best use of the material, time and financial resources. To obtain meals that meets the physical, social and psychological needs of the individual and families. It is very important to plan family meals in order to fulfill the nutritional requirement of the family members. This is essential to keep them strong, healthy, and free from any disease and deficiency of any kind.
- Menu planning is of utmost importance because it economizes on time, labour and fuel. While planning meals, the methods of working can be carefully throughout, so that there is maximum retention of nutrients and minimum losses.
- Menu can be planned according to the budget of the family. There can then be maximum utilization of money, if it is spent in the best possible way. Once can have a rich diet without buying expensive foods. Meal Planning therefore, encourage one to plan within the family means.
- Menu planning allows one to select different foods from the same food group and avoid monotony. Besides, use of variety of foodstuffs is important from nutritional points also.
- Menu planning determines the adequacy of the diet, the kinds of foods purchased, its quality and cost, the way it is stored, prepared and served.
Another Answer
- It is necessary to plant foods needed daily by the family properly in order to ensure get nutrition.
- A well plant meal proves to be a time energy and money saver. It is also avoid unwanted, unappetizing and unsatisfying meals.
- In order to make the best used of money available” It is important to plant the meals for a family which a low budget to ensure sufficient and nutritionally balance food.
- Meal plant need to be flexible enough to take into account changer due to price fluctuation, seasonal foods, family tastes and desires holydays special /family function and guests.
- Every number of family request the save basic food however the quality may have to alter according to the age and special need of the individual for as example; Milk is required in larger amount by children than adults, children smaller quantities of fond than adults. Old people might require of food.
- Meat, trim meat, use of boiling, stemming testing rather than dip frying. Use more fresh food and vegetable than sweat and derived and the methods of cooking should also be considered as for example; To reduce weight, use skin milk, instill of whole milk.
- Changer in the family meal may be made any member of family is under therapeutic control of a disease as for example; Diabetic, hypertension. Good meal planning is both science and art.
Factors Affecting Menu Planning
Nutritional Adequacy
This is the most important factor, which means that the nutritional requirements of all the family members are fulfilled. For example, you know a growing child needs more protein, a pregnant or lactating woman needs calcium, etc. While planning meals you will include food items from various food groups, that is, energy giving foods, body building foods and protective and regulating foods.
Age
People normally eat according to their age. You must have observed in your family that the diet of various members of different age groups differs in quantity. A new born baby drinks only milk, a small child’s meal is also of very small quantity, an adolescent eats still more in amount and variety of foods. Similarly, you must have seen your grandfather eating less food and also that they prefer soft and easy to digest foods.
Sex
Sex is another factor which determines the dietary intake. Dietary requirement of adolescent and adult males are more than their female counterparts.
Physical Activity
The kind of work a person does affect the kind and amount of food they need to take. A labourer not only eats more quantity but needs more energy because he is engaged in hard work. His body uses up more energy while performing hard work. So, if you have to plan for such a person you will include more energy giving foods in the diet.
Economic Considerations
Money available to the family to be spent on food is another major factor. Foods like milk. cheese, meat, fruits, nuts etc. are expensive. However, alternative sources like toned milk. seasonal fruits and vegetables are less costly and at the same time nutritious.
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