Special Menus
Overview
Not everyone at the table wants, or can safely eat, the same plate of food. The auntie who takes no meat, the toddler who is still growing, the patient just out of hospital, the pregnant mother, the grandfather with few teeth, the bricklayer who has dug since dawn: each brings a different need to the same kitchen. A caterer who serves one menu to all of them will please some and fail others. A special menu is how the good caterer feeds each guest as that guest actually needs to be fed.
In this lesson you will learn what a special menu is, the three vegetarian types and how to give a vegetarian enough protein, iron and vitamin B12 from Nigerian foods, how to feed the vulnerable groups from the child to the elderly, and how the worker's job decides the size of the plate. You will plan real menus, in beans and egusi and pap, for named people with named needs.
Objectives
- Define a special menu
- Explain the dietary needs of vegetarians and the types of vegetarian
- Plan menus for vulnerable groups such as children, invalids and the elderly
- Explain the dietary considerations for workers in different occupations
- Plan a suitable special menu for a given individual or group
Mind map
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Flashcards
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Special Menus. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A special menu is one planned to: A. Use only the most expensive foods B. Meet the particular dietary needs of a certain person or group C. Serve the same food to everybody D. Reduce the number of courses Answer: B
- A vegetarian who takes milk and eggs but no meat or fish is a: A. Vegan B. Lacto-vegetarian C. Lacto-ovo vegetarian D. Non-vegetarian Answer: C
- Which nutrient is a strict vegan LEAST likely to obtain naturally and must get from fortified food or a supplement? A. Carbohydrate B. Vitamin B12 C. Fibre D. Vitamin C Answer: B
- The best food combination to give a vegetarian complete protein is: A. Rice and yam B. Bread and garri C. Rice and beans D. Yam and plantain Answer: C
- A heavy manual worker, such as a bricklayer, needs a diet especially rich in: A. Energy foods (carbohydrate and fat) B. Water only C. Vitamin C only D. Very little food Answer: A
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Recommended Books
Revision Questions
Wondering what past questions for this topic looks like? Here are a number of questions about Special Menus from previous years
Question 1 Report
The illustration above is a special lunch designed for the aged. Study it and answer questions 2(a) and 2(d).
(a) Give three reasons why the menu is suitable for the aged.
(b) Mention two methods of cooking used for preparing the menu.
(c) Identify one micronutrient that can be obtained from the menu and state one function of the micronutrient.
(d) Name the class of menu illustrated in the diagram.
Answer Details
The menu as shown on the illustration
CATERING CRAFT RESTAURANT, Wednesday 4th March, 2020
- First course: Mushroom soup or Tomato soup
- Main course: Shredded cabbage, Diced buttered potato, Braised silver side of beef
- Sweet course: Slices of pawpaw or Cut of orange
- Fixed price: \( \text{N}3{,}500.00 \)
(a) Three reasons why the menu is suitable for the aged
- The foods are soft and easy to chew and swallow. The aged usually have weak or missing teeth (poor dentition), so soft items such as soup, shredded cabbage, diced buttered potato, moist braised beef and ripe pawpaw put no strain on the gums.
- The foods are easily digestible. Digestion slows down in old age, so light, well cooked and moist dishes like soup and braised beef are gentle on the digestive system and are readily absorbed.
- The portions are small and the meal is light. The aged have a reduced appetite and lower energy needs because they are less active, so the modest three-course serving supplies enough nourishment without overloading them.
(Other acceptable reasons: it is nutritionally balanced and provides a variety of nutrients; it contains fruit that supplies vitamins and fibre to prevent constipation, a common problem of the aged.)
(b) Two methods of cooking used for preparing the menu
- Braising was used for the silver side of beef (slow, moist cooking in a little liquid that tenderises the tough cut).
- Boiling was used for the diced potato (which is then buttered) and for making the soup.
(Simmering/stewing of the soup is also acceptable as a second method.)
(c) One micronutrient obtainable from the menu and one of its functions
Micronutrient: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), obtained from the slices of pawpaw or the cut of orange (and from the cabbage).
Function: Vitamin C aids the healing of wounds and the formation of healthy connective tissue and blood vessels; it also helps the body absorb iron and protects against scurvy.
(Alternative acceptable answer: Iron, obtained from the beef, which helps in the formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells.)
(d) Class of menu illustrated in the diagram
The menu shown is a Table d'hote menu. This is because it offers a fixed set of courses at a single fixed price ( \( \text{N}3{,}500.00 \) ) with only a limited choice within each course (soup or soup, pawpaw or orange), which are the defining features of a table d'hote menu.