1. To create a new menu, start by going to Menus on the left-hand side and clicking on Menus. This will allow you to begin building your new menu cycle.
2. Click on the current menu to open the menu settings and edit or create a new cycle.
3. Click "Manage Menus" to access the menu management options and make changes or create a new menu cycle.
4. The left corner will list the names of current menus and archived menus. Choose "+ Add Menu" to create a new menu in the Menu Plan Settings.
5. To continue, start by naming the new menu (internal name). Optionally enter a Public name if you want the menu to appear under a different name on the public menu families see. The public name defaults to the internal name if left blank.
6. Choose a color from the dropdown to differentiate the menu and enter the Feeding figure for the number of participants. Feeding figure defaults to 100.
7. To make it into a cycle menu, click the "Cycling" toggle then add the cycle details.
8. Define how long the cycle is, meaning how many weeks in a cycle.
9. Then choose the start and end date for this cycle, meaning the calendar days on which cycle applies.
10. You can have one or more meal templates in the same menu. Click on the toggle button next to the meal template to include it in the menu plan.
11. Select the group section for this new cycle. Choose the appropriate group, such as K-5, 6-8, or 9-12, depending on the required meal pattern compliance.
12. Choose all schools that will be using this menu.
13. Set the visibility and weekend toggles:
Include weekends: turn on if your district serves on weekends. Default off.
Visible to school managers: leave on (default) so school managers see the menu plan. Turn off to keep the plan visible only to directors.
Visible on public menu: leave on (default) to have the plan appear on the public menu families see. Turn off to keep the plan internal.
14. Click Save & Close to exit the dialog and go back to the menu screen.