Assess recipes

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

In FoodChecker you can add foods and drinks as a ‘recipe’ or a ‘product’.

A recipe is any food or drink that you make on site by combining ingredients, for example sandwiches, pasta dishes, tea or coffee, fruit salad, etc.

Standalone items, like apples or bananas, must be added to assessments using the recipe input.

For schools, retail food outlets, catering and vending assessments

FoodChecker will classify each recipe based on the ingredients and the serving size that you enter.

You’ll get an overall classification for the recipe, and recommendations for a healthier result.

Refer to the relevant government criteria to learn how recipes are classified.

For long day care menu assessments

Recipes are not assessed individually because they are assessed as part of the overall day or week.

You might receive feedback on some ingredients in a recipe, but you won’t get feedback on the whole recipe/meal.

Assessing recipes

You can assess recipes two ways:

• • in a menu assessment (all users), or a vending machine assessment (not available for long day care or schools)
  • in a recipe assessment (not available for long day care).

My recipe bank & Recipe templates

Here are two ways FoodChecker makes it quick and easy to enter your favourite recipes:

• • My recipe bank: When you add a recipe in FoodChecker, you can click ‘Save to recipe bank’ to store it in your account.
    
    The next time you want to use that recipe, click ‘My recipe bank’ and find it the list. You can edit the name and ingredients of you want to, or leave it as it is.
    
    
  • Recipe template: The ‘Recipe templates’ section contains over 200 popular meals, snacks and drinks.
    
    To use a recipe template, click ‘Recipe templates’ then search for the one you want, and click ADD.
    
    You can edit the ingredients and quantities to match your own recipe, then add to your menu.
    
    You can also save your version of the recipe to ‘My recipe bank’ to use it in future.
    
    

Recipe and ingredient FAQs

Why are some ingredient quantities optional?

FoodChecker classifies recipes according to various state government criteria. Recipes are classified* based on the combination of GREEN, AMBER and RED ingredients, and whether each ingredient is considered MAJOR or MINOR.

• Most ingredients are always MAJOR as they make up a significant proportion of a recipe, such as fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice and other grains, meat, eggs, milk, cheese, etc.
• Some ingredients are always MINOR, as they are only ever used in very small amounts and make up a small proportion of a recipe, such as herbs and spices, garlic, seeds, vanilla essence, and zest.

You do not need to enter quantities for ingredients that are always MAJOR or always MINOR.

Some ingredients can be either MAJOR OR MINOR, depending on the quantity used, so you need to enter the quantity for these ingredients. This includes ingredients such as fats and oils, cream, sugar and some cheeses.

Ingredient quantities may also be required for some special recipe types, such as milkshakes, where the quantity of the flavouring/syrup affects the recipe classification.

 *For all assessment types except long day care, and WA schools assessments.

How do I know when an ingredient quantity is required?

When you enter a recipe, when you select an ingredient that requires a quantity, a pop-up box will appear for you to enter the quantity.

One of two buttons will also appear beside each ingredient:

An orange button with the word ‘Required’ means an ingredient quantity is required.

Click this button to enter the quantity. You will not be able to classify the recipe, save it to your recipe bank or add it to the assessment until you have entered a quantity.

A blue button with the word ‘Optional’ means that the quantity is not required.

You can click the blue button and enter the quantity if you wish, but it will not affect the recipe classification. You can classify the recipe, save it to your recipe bank, and add it to the assessment without entering a quantity.

Why can’t I add a recipe as an ingredient?

This function is no longer available. To use a saved recipe, click ‘My recipe bank’, search for the recipe that you want, then click ‘Add’.

From here, you can add, edit or remove any ingredients in the recipe, and you can even save a new version.

Instructions

1. In a menu or vending assessment, click ADD RECIPE or ADD ITEM
   OR
   In a recipe assessment:

2. Enter the recipe name, the number of serves, and answer any questions on screen.
3. In the ingredient field, start typing the name of the first ingredient. A list of matching options will appear. Click on the option that best matches your ingredient. You can type any keywords, for example, “chick”, “chicken”, “thigh” or “chicken thigh”.
4. If prompted, provide more information about the ingredient, such as the quantity.
5. To add another ingredient, click ADD MORE INGREDIENTS and repeat the steps above. Include all condiments, seasoning or finishes used in the recipe, including salt, sugar and oils/butter.
6. Click ASSESS RECIPE to find out if it is GREEN, AMBER or RED, and get recommendations for healthier changes. If you make any changes, click ASSESS RECIPE again for an updated result.
7. Click SAVE TO RECIPE BANK to store it in your account for future use.
8. When you're done, click ADD TO ASSESSMENT or FINISH ASSESSMENT.

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