Assess a long day care menu

How to:

• Use FoodChecker
• Assess a long day care menu
• Assess a school canteen menu
• Assess a retail outlet menu, catering menu or vending machine
• Assess recipes
• Search and assess products
• Make changes and reassess

FoodChecker helps you plan nutritious menus in line with the Victorian Government’s Menu planning guidelines for long day care.

Learn more about the guidelines here.

You’ll see your results instantly, and get specific advice on what to add or remove to meet the guidelines.

You can also download a PDF report to use as evidence that the menu meets the Menu planning guidelines for long day care.

What’s on screen?

The long day care menu assessment screen has three main sections:

1. 'Add recipe’ buttons

Add item

Use this option to add a new recipe or drink to the menu. You can also save your recipe to use again in future.

My recipe bank

This is where you can access your saved recipes. You can use the saved version or you can edit the name and ingredients to create a new recipe.

Recipe templates

Save time by using our templates for popular meals, snacks and drinks. You can customise them to match your own recipes, and you can save your version to use in future.

2. Menu

Days of the week

At the top of the screen, there is one tab for each day of the week. Click on each tab to see the menu for that day.

You can also change the number of children you are cooking for each day.

  The green tick icon next to the day means that day meets the targets. There is enough of each food group and there is no additional feedback for that day,

  The yellow warning icon means there are recommended changes for that day.

Mealtimes

Each day is divided into six mealtimes: Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, late snack, and drinks. Foods and drinks will appear in these sections.

  The yellow warning icon means there are recommended changes on a recipe in that mealtime.

Recipes

You can edit, copy or remove recipes that are in the menu.

  The yellow warning icon means there are recommended changes on this recipe, and you will see specific advice on what to add or remove.

3. Feedback

The 'Feedback' section on the left will show updated results after you add, edit or remove a recipe.

There are two tabs:

• Day tab: The day tab has seven sections: One for each food group, plus water and other. The day tab shows feedback for the day of the week that is open in the main menu. For example, if you are viewing Wednesday’s menu, the day tab will show feedback for Wednesday.

• Weekly tab: The weekly tab has four sections: Fruit, vegetable and legumes/beans variety, high fibre grains, and other.
  
  

  The green tick icon means the guideline has been met.

  The yellow warning icon means the guideline has not been met, and you will see specific advice on what to add or remove.

ON/OFF toggle

You can turn feedback on or off using the ON/OFF toggle. When this is turned off, you won’t see any feedback in the left hand side, or any icons in the menu.

You can turn the feedback on or off at any time. This won’t affect your final results.

PLEASE NOTE: This is only interim feedback. Make sure you click the green ‘Next’ button in the bottom right of the screen, then answer the questions on the next page to get your final result and PDF report.

What to include in a long day care menu assessment

Instructions

Before you begin an assessment, we suggest you have the details of every recipe, food and drink provided on the menu, including each ingredient, and exact quantities. We recommend measuring weight in grams or kilograms, and measuring volume in teaspoon, tablespoon, millilitres or litres).

Start new assessment

1. Sign in
2. Click START NEW ASSESSMENT.
3. Select the organisation type you want to assess (Victoria - Long day care)
4. Select “Assess one week”.
5. Select the organisation to assess, and confirm the details
6. Enter a name for the menu (e.g., “Summer Week 1”), and enter the number of children the menu caters for each day, then click SUBMIT.
7. In assessment screen, click ADD ITEM.
8. Select the time of day it appears on the menu. A pop up box will appear.
9. Enter the recipe or item name, such as “Chicken stir fry” or “Apples”.
10. Select “Day of the week” if asked, and answer any other questions on screen.
    
11. Start typing the first ingredient. A list of matching options will appear. Click on the option that best matches your ingredient. You can type a little or lot of the name. For example, “chick”, “chicken”, “thigh” or “chicken thigh”. 
    NOTE: use generic item names only, not brand names. E.g., enter “wholemeal bread”, not “Tip Top wholemeal bread”. 
12. Enter the amount and unit of measurement.
    For example for 500g type “500”, then select “Grams” from the list. For 6 apples, type “6”, then select “Whole” from the list.
13. To add another ingredient, click ADD MORE INGREDIENTS and repeat the steps above.
    NOTE: Include all condiments, seasoning or finishes used in the recipe, including salt, sugar and oils/butter.
    TIP: Click SAVE TO RECIPE BANK to store this recipe/item for future menus.
14. Once you have entered all the ingredients, click ADD TO ASSESSMENT.

To add a saved recipe or use a recipe template

1. Click RECIPE TEMPLATES or MY RECIPE BANK.
2. Find the recipe you want, click ADD.
3. A recipe will appear and you can edit the name, day, mealtime, ingredients and quantities.
4. Click ADD TO ASSESSMENT when finished.

To finish assessment

1. Continue adding foods and drinks until your menu is complete, then click NEXT OR FINISH ASSESSMENT.
2. (One week assessments only: Answer a few more questions on the next page and click FINISH ASSESSMENT.)
3. Your results summary will appear on screen.
4. Click SAVE ASSESSMENT AS PDF view the details results, and save a copy of this report.

If you require any assistance, click here to contact us.