Managing Shopping Lists

After generating your shopping list, you can customize and manage it to fit your facility’s specific procurement needs and inventory situation.

Accessing Your Shopping List

  1. Navigate to Shopping Lists from the top menu
  2. View your generated list with ingredients and amounts based on your meal plan
  3. Review the recipe reference in the left column showing which recipes and days contributed to each ingredient

Shopping List View

Understanding Your Shopping List Layout

Main Ingredients Panel

Shows all ingredients with:

  • Ingredient names and descriptions
  • Total quantities needed across all recipes
  • Units of measurement appropriate for purchasing

Recipe Reference Panel

Displays on the left:

  • Recipes that contribute to each ingredient
  • Specific days when ingredients are needed
  • Quantity breakdowns by recipe

Customizing Your Shopping List

Adding Manual Ingredients

Sometimes you need items not included in your recipes:

  1. Use the form at the top of the shopping list page
  2. Enter ingredient details:
    • Item name
    • Quantity needed
    • Unit of measurement
  3. Add to list - the item will appear with your generated ingredients

Manual Ingredient Addition

Common manual additions:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Paper goods
  • Condiments and seasonings
  • Emergency backup items

Removing or Filtering Items

For ingredients you already have in stock:

  1. Click the settings cog (gear icon)
  2. Add items to your filter list that you regularly have in stock
  3. Save your settings

Shopping List Settings

Common filtered items:

  • Salt and pepper (bought in bulk)
  • Basic spices and seasonings
  • Staple items always in inventory
  • Non-perishable bulk ingredients

Important Note About Filters

  • Filters apply to future shopping lists - they won’t affect your current list retroactively
  • Set up filters early for maximum benefit
  • Review periodically to ensure filters still match your inventory practices

Exporting and Sharing

Click the “Print” button to generate a printer-friendly version of your shopping list.

Copy to Clipboard

Use the “Copy Items to Clipboard” button to:

  • Paste into other applications (Excel, procurement software)
  • Email to suppliers or procurement staff
  • Share with team members for collaborative shopping

Export Options

Best Practices for List Management

Regular Review

  • Check quantities for reasonableness before ordering
  • Verify special items are included correctly
  • Cross-reference with current inventory levels

Filter Management

  • Add common bulk items to filters to reduce list clutter
  • Remove filters for items you no longer stock regularly
  • Document your filter choices for team consistency

Quantity Verification

  • Compare with historical orders to identify unusual amounts
  • Consider storage limitations when reviewing large quantities
  • Account for delivery schedules and shelf life

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Missing Ingredients

If expected ingredients don’t appear:

  • Check if they’re filtered in your settings
  • Verify recipes include the ingredients correctly
  • Ensure meal plan dates cover the period you expect

Unexpected Quantities

If quantities seem wrong:

  • Review serving sizes in your meal plan
  • Check recipe scaling factors
  • Verify date range for the shopping list

Duplicate Items

If you see duplicates:

  • Check for similar ingredient names that didn’t consolidate
  • Review recipe standardization for consistent ingredient naming

Integration with Procurement

Supplier Communication

  • Use clipboard copy for email orders
  • Print for phone orders or manual systems
  • Share digitally with approved procurement platforms

Budget Planning

  • Export for cost analysis in spreadsheet applications
  • Track quantities over time for better budget forecasting
  • Compare with actual purchases to improve accuracy

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