Overview

This guide walks you through creating a completely custom menu cycle from scratch for your facility. Unlike using pre-made templates, this process allows you to build a menu tailored to your specific resident needs, dietary requirements, and operational preferences. The entire process takes approximately 30-45 minutes depending on menu complexity.

What is a Menu Cycle?

Definition: A menu cycle is a rotating schedule of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) that repeats over a set number of days.

Common Cycle Lengths:

• 7-Day Cycle: Most common, repeats weekly
• 14-Day Cycle: Two-week rotation for more variety

Benefits of Custom Menu Cycles:

• Tailored to resident preferences
• Accommodates specific dietary needs
• Reflects seasonal availability
• Aligns with your facility's culture and cuisine style
• Provides variety while maintaining consistency

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Knowledge of your facility's dietary requirements (Regular, Vegetarian, etc.)
• A planned menu with items for each meal period
• The production center you want to assign the menu to
• Your desired menu start date

Planning Recommendations:

• Plan your menu on paper or spreadsheet first
• Verify all items are available in the Plated catalog
• Consider resident allergies and dietary restrictions
• Review nutritional balance across the cycle
• Get feedback from  staff and residents

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Navigate to Menus

1. Log into the Plated administrative portal
2. From the Dashboard, click on "Menus" in the left-hand navigation panel

What you'll see: The Menus screen showing any existing meal plans

Step 2: Access Meal Plan Management

1. Click on "Manage Meal Plan" in the top right corner

What you'll see: The Meal Plans list view showing existing meal plans 

Step 3: Create New Meal Plan

1. Click "Create Meal Plan" in the top right corner

Step 4: Configure Meal Plan Settings

Complete all required fields in the Settings form:

Meal Plan Name (Required)

• Enter a descriptive name for your menu
• Example: "Mock Test Menu", "Spring 2026 Menu", "7-Day Regular Cycle"
• Make it easily identifiable for staff

Description (Optional)

• Add details about the menu purpose or special notes
• Example: "7-Day Menu Cycle"
• Helpful for future reference

Facility (Required)

• Select your facility from the dropdown
• Example: "Glenwood" or your facility name

Variation (Required)

Select which lifestyle diets you want this menu to support:

• Regular: Standard diet
• Vegetarian: Vegetarian diet options

Note: You'll build out menu items for each selected variation

Frequency (Cycle) (Required)

Select the length of your menu cycle:

• 7-Day: Weekly rotation (most common)
• 14-Day: Bi-weekly rotation

Meals & Categories (Required)

Check which meal periods to include:

• ☑ Breakfast with subcategories: Main, Side
• ☑ Lunch with subcategories: Main, Side
• ☑ Dinner with subcategories: Main, Side

Standard Configuration: Most facilities check all three meals with Main and Side for each

Action: After completing all settings, click "Create" at the bottom right

Step 5: Build the Regular Menu - Breakfast

After clicking Create, you'll see the "Create a Meal Plan" grid view:

Grid Layout:

• Rows: Meal periods (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• Columns: Days of the cycle (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc.)
• Cells: Main and Side items for each meal/day combination

Recommended Order: Build Breakfast first, then Lunch, then Dinner

Adding Breakfast Items:

1. Click on a blank cell labeled "Main" under Breakfast/Day 1
2. A search panel appears: "Search a Menu Item"
3. Search or browse for the desired breakfast main item
4. Available items displayed include:
   • Item name (e.g., "Loaded Scrambled Eggs")
   • "Hot Oatmeal"
   • "Scrambled Egg Breakfast"
   • And other breakfast entrees
5. Click to select your desired item
6. The cell populates with the item name in a green tile with "Main" label
7. Repeat for the "Side" cell:
   • Click the Side cell for Day 1
   • Search for side items (e.g., "Hot Oatmeal", "Hash Brown")
   • Select your choice
8. Continue filling cells across all days for Breakfast

Step 6: Using the "Leave Blank" Function

When to Leave Blank:

• Days when a particular meal is not served
• Side dishes not needed for certain meals
• Special schedule variations (e.g., no dinner on certain days)

How to Leave Blank:

1. Click on the cell you want to leave empty
2. In the search panel that appears, click the "Leave Blank" button
3. The cell will show as empty/skipped

Example Use Case: Your facility doesn't serve breakfast sides on certain days, or lunch is provided by an external vendor on specific days

Step 7: Complete Lunch Menu Items

After finishing Breakfast, move to Lunch:

1. Click on "Main" cells under the Lunch row
2. Select lunch entrees:
   • "BBQ Beef with Mac & Cheese"
   • "BBQ Chicken with Mac & Cheese"
   • "Braised Beef with Carrots"
   • "Chicken Teriyaki"
   • And other lunch options
3. Fill in "Side" cells with lunch sides:
   • "Macaroni & Cheese"
   • "Steamed Broccoli"
   • "Roasted vegetables"
   • Other appropriate sides
4. Continue across all days of the cycle

Visual Progress: Completed cells show as green tiles with the item name and category label

Step 8: Complete Dinner Menu Items

Finally, build out the Dinner menu:

1. Click on "Main" cells under the Dinner row
2. Select dinner entrees:
   • "Meatless Meatballs with Roasted Potatoes & Gravy"
   • "BBQ Chicken with Spanish Rice"
   • "Sweet & Sour Tofu"
   • "Chicken Teriyaki"
   • "Turkey Chili"
   • And other dinner options
3. Fill in "Side" cells with dinner sides:
   • "Mashed Potatoes"
   • "Steamed Buttered Carrots"
   • "Vegetable Stew with Lentils"
   • Other appropriate sides
4. Continue across all days

Verification: Review the completed grid to ensure:

• All required cells are filled
• No accidental duplicates on same day
• Appropriate variety across the cycle
• Balanced nutrition throughout
  

Step 9: Add Vegetarian Variations

After completing the Regular menu, add Vegetarian options:

1. Click "Next: Vegetarian" button at the bottom right

What you'll see: The same grid layout, but now showing:

• Regular items (already completed) in green cells
• Pink highlighted cells where vegetarian alternatives are needed

Step 10: Complete Vegetarian Lunch Options

1. Click on pink cells under Lunch meals
2. Select vegetarian lunch entrees:
   • "BBQ Tofu with Mac & Cheese"
   • "Braised Tofu with Carrots"
   • "Vegetable Stew with Lentils"
   • "Kidney Bean Curry with Rice"
   • And other vegetarian options
3. Fill in vegetarian lunch sides as needed
4. Or select "Leave Blank" if the Regular side is suitable for vegetarians

Menu Item Search:

• Search panel shows: "Show Ingredients" toggle
• Filter options available
• Lists vegetarian alternatives for each meal
  

Step 11: Complete Vegetarian Dinner Options

1. Click on pink cells under Dinner meals
2. Select vegetarian dinner entrees:
   • "Meatless Meatballs with Roasted Potatoes & Gravy"
   • "Sweet & Sour Tofu"
   • "Vegetable Stew with Lentils"
   • "Kidney Bean Curry with Rice"
   • "Stewed Chickpeas with Curry"
   • And other vegetarian options
3. Complete all vegetarian dinner sides
4. Review for completeness

Verification: Ensure all pink cells are either filled with vegetarian items or marked as "Leave Blank"

Step 12: Review Your Complete Menu

1. Click "Next: Review" at the bottom right corner

What you'll see: A comprehensive view of your complete menu cycle showing:

• All days of the cycle (Day 1 through Day 7, etc.)
• All meal periods (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• Both Main and Side items for each meal
• Both Regular and Vegetarian variations
• Items displayed in green tiles with item names

Review Checklist:

• ✓ All required cells are filled
• ✓ Appropriate variety across days
• ✓ No unintended duplicates
• ✓ Vegetarian options are complete
• ✓ Sides complement main dishes
• ✓ Nutritional balance is maintained

Action Buttons Available:

• "Back": Return to editing
• "Exit and finish later": Save as draft and exit
• "Settings": Return to initial settings
• "Submit for Review": Proceed to next step
  

Step 13: Submit Menu for Review

When satisfied with your menu:

1. Click "Submit for Review" at the bottom right

What happens:

• Menu status changes from "Draft" to "Under Review"
• The menu is flagged for Plated team review
• You're returned to the Meal Plans list view

What you'll see in Meal Plans list:

• Your menu listed with "Under Review" status
• Cannot be published until review is complete
• Action button shows "Submit for Review" (grayed out since already submitted)
  

Step 14: Return to View Your Menu

While the menu is under review:

1. Locate your menu in the Meal Plans list
2. Click on the menu name to open it

Status Indicator: "Under Review" tag visible on the menu detail page

What You Can Do:

• View the complete menu
• Review all items
• Check for any issues
  

Step 15: Approve the Menu

Once the Plated team completes their review:

What you'll see:

• All menu cells turn green (indicating approval)
• At the bottom of the screen: "Do you approve this Meal Plan?"
• Two buttons: "Send Back" and "Approve"

Action: Click "Approve" button

What happens:

• Menu status changes to "Approved"
• Menu becomes eligible for publishing
• You're ready to proceed to publication

If Issues Found: Click "Send Back" to request revisions with notes about what needs to change

Step 16: Publish the Menu

After approval, make the menu available:

1. Return to the Meal Plans list (click "Menus" in navigation)
2. Locate your approved menu
3. On the right side, find the toggle that says "Hidden"
4. Click the toggle to change from "Hidden" to "Published"
5. The button turns green and displays "Published"

What "Published" Means:

• Menu is visible and ready to apply
• Can be assigned to production centers
• Not yet active/live (requires application)
  
• Click back into the menu (click the menu name)
  

Step 17: Apply Menu to Production Center

Now activate the menu for your facility:

1. Inside the published menu view, click "Apply to Menu" button (top right area)

Step 18: Configure Menu Application

Complete the application settings:

Production Center (Required)

• Use the dropdown to select your facility's production center
• Example: "Linus Hall Production"
• This determines which location will use this menu

Start Date (Required)

• Two options:
  • ○ Now: Menu begins immediately
  • ○ On: Select a specific future date
• Use the date picker to choose your start date
• Example: "02/03/2026"
• Note: "Choose a date that doesn't overlap with any other menu plans"

End Date (Optional)

• ○ Never: Menu continues indefinitely (most common)
• ○ On: Select a specific end date
• Leave as "Never" for standard rotating menus
• Use end date for seasonal or temporary menus

Action: Click "Save" at the bottom right

Confirmation: Your menu is now live and active!