NuMenus offers a myriad of marketing and educational opportunities. School food service directors can provide nutrient information to students, teachers and parents. One great combination marketing and educational possibility is the posting of nutrient information for each food item on the menu on the school district web page. By clicking on the name of the food item, a user accesses its nutrient content. The nutrient value of the entire meal selected by the student is determined by clicking on each food item and pressing another key to get nutrient totals and a comparison to the nutrient standards for the student's age and grade group.
Teachers can use the system as part of units on health, nutrition and biology.
Parents, ever concerned about their children's health can be assured that the meals taken at school are nutritious. Offering such sophisticated systems to the educational and family community will go a long way to enhance the image of the school food service program. Local news media will be quick to report the innovative menu planning and technological systems in place in the school district. The rich data environment of an integrated software solution provides innumerable opportunities for research by the food service department, teachers and the administration. Think about generating a district level study linking breakfast consumption with academic performance.