Special dietary requirements – Background information

• Eating regimes (elimination, macrobiotic)
• Exclusions for allergies, contraindications with medicines or food intolerance
• Fat-free
• Fluids
• Food preferences
• Food restrictions
• Gluten-free
• High carbohydrate
• High or low energy
• High or low protein
• High fibre
• Lacto-ovo
• Low carbohydrate
• Low cholesterol
• Low fat
• Low gluten
• Low kilojoule
• Low sugar
• Modified sodium or potassium
• Modified texture
• Nutritional requirements
• Portion size
• Substitutes:
• Gluten-free flour
• Yeast-free flour
• Non-sugar sweeteners
• Sugar-free
• Type one and two diabetes

 

 

Cultural or religious dietary requirements

• Halal
• Hindu
• Kosher
• Vegan
• Vegetarian

 

 

 

 

Customer groups addressed

• Adolescents
• Athletes
• Children
• Defence forces
• Elderly
• Health care
• Ill or injured
• Infants
• International tourists
• Nutritional and energy requirements due to physical condition
• People in areas affected by disaster or environmental extremes
• People from different socio-economic groups
• People in remote areas
• Underweight persons
• Overweight persons
• Obese

 

 

Methods of evaluation

• Customer satisfaction discussions with:
• customers
• employees during the course of each business day
• Customer surveys
• Improvements suggested by:
• customers
• managers
• peers
• staff
• supervisors
• suppliers
• Regular staff meetings that involve menu discussions.
• Satisfaction discussions with:
• customers
• allied health professionals
• dietitians
• medical specialists
• Seeking staff suggestions for menu items