Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - July/August 2023 - 14

AMP UP YOUR SNACK AND SUPPLEMENT
MENU WHILE SAVING ON THE BOTTOM LINE
CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY
NO-BAKE ENERGY BITES
Prep time: 30 min. | Servings: 75
absorption. For reference, 1 cup of strawberries has 90 mg, 1
medium kiwi has 161 mg, and 1 orange has 70 mg. Offering
snacks with iron and Vitamin C, like an iron-fortified cereal
bar with sliced oranges or strawberries with power bites (see
recipe provided), will be sure winners!
Regarding fluids, many clients are not drinking adequate
amounts between meals, despite being offered them. If their
fluids are served as the snack or supplement, or alongside of
it, they have an opportunity to increase their fluid intake by
25 percent with just one snack daily.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SNACKS
AND SUPPLEMENTS
Individually-wrapped commercial snack items are easy to
store and deliver to clients, but they may be more costly
for your department. In-house prepared nourishments
can be labor intensive. Which is the best product for your
operation? Enter a make-versus-buy QAPI project!
When was the last time you conducted a make-versus-buy
study for one particular area of your foodservice operation?
In your operation, it is critical to compare your actual
spending versus your budget and account for any variances.
Switching to a food-first approach to your snacks and
supplements may improve your bottom line. It is definitely
worth the time and energy to find out! There are sample
charts provided to conduct the make-versus-buy QAPI in
your department.
According to 2022 ANFP benchmarking for skilled nursing
facilities data, 78 percent of CDM, CFPPs order their
supplements online, and the median national supplement
cost per resident per day was $0.55. The median national
food cost per resident day is $7.40. Watch for the 2023 ANFP
benchmarking data later this year.
Now that you have considered your department's makeversus-buy
cost savings and taste, let's circle back to Casey
and what his decision might have been.
THE CASE FOR MADE- IN -HOUSE SNACKS
AND SUPPLEMENTS
As Casey reviewed the numbers, he couldn't believe that
he had been wasting so much money buying convenience
items that his clients didn't enjoy. He is proud of his
staffing numbers and low turnover rate. His current staff
is well-cross-trained and can cover all positions. His QAPI
project results showed that he can save $240 per month or
14 NUTRITION & F OOD SER VICE EDGE | JULY-AUGUST 2023
Ingredients
* 1 cup crushed nuts
* 6 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* 1 cup dried cranberries
* 3 tsp. cinnamon
* 2 cups peanut butter
* 3 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup honey
Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the rolled
oats, chocolate chips, dried cranberries,
nuts, and cinnamon. Mix to combine.
2. Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Stir
again.
3. Gradually add the honey, mixing with
a spoon between pours. Note: If batter
is too sticky, add a few tablespoons of
flour or protein powder and mix.
4. Chill batter in the cooler for 20
minutes.
5. Roll into 1 to 1-1/2 " balls and place on
a cookie tray lined with parchment
paper.
6. Serve immediately or place in the
freezer for 20-30 minutes, then
transfer to storage containers.
Nutrition
Serving Size: 1 energy bite
Calories: 80
Protein: 10 grams
Nutrition & Foodservice Edge Magazine - July/August 2023

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