• Examine opportunities for product rebates. Track and obtain rebates.
• Consult the dietitian to help evaluate the use of nutritional supplements and tube feeding products. Determine whether supplementation is provided in the most cost-effective manner.
• Research grade and quality for products carefully. Avoid specifying premium quality when it is not necessary for a particular recipe.
• Perform a cost comparison of condiments that arrive pre- packaged in individual service units with condiments that are pre-portioned by employees. Also consider the portion size of each condiment that is pre-packaged in individual service units.
• Carefully evaluate make-versus-buy decisions and determine the cost effectiveness of using convenience foods.
• Analyze ordering processes for efficiency and streamline.
Manage Cost-Saving Department Practices
Menus • Adjust menus seasonally to take advantage of food prices that fluctuate by time of year. For example, strawberries may be inexpensive in June, but very expensive in February.
• If serving multiple special diets, consolidate menu offerings where possible to reduce the number of different items for production. However, be careful not to over-use one-pot recipe cooking, as it becomes so restrictive that taste and quality are compromised for regular diets.
Efficient workstations and flexible staffing boost productivity and cut costs.
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• Examine ways to consolidate items produced at any one meal for multiple service areas. For example, consider whether an entree produced for the patients may also be used for cafeteria meal service or a catered event.
• Do plate waste studies (discussed in chapter 5) to identify which menu items are unpopular with clients. High amounts of plate waste may signal a need to change the menu.
Putting it
into Practice Refer to the Supplemental Materials for answer.
6. The CDM, CFPP notices that cafeteria staff members are giving larger portions to customers than the recipes indicate. How should this problem be solved?