The purpose of this study was to develop a computer-assisted patients menu planning program for hospital dietetics in order to improve the quality of menu for patients and to release managers from repetitive and routine tasks. Using this program, dietitians can spend more time on professional tasks. Moreover, few studies have been done on computer assisted patients menu planning for patients who need special diets for treatment in domestic hospital dietetics, therefore this program could be a great contribution. A 16-bit personal computer compatible with IBM-PC/AT was used. The data base files and processing program were created by Clipper package ver 5.0. This system can collect a number of meals, plan patients menu and computerize nutrient analysis. The future study will develop program(s) for purchasing, inventory control and data correction. The contents of computerized system are summarized as follows. 1. The number of daily meals of special and general diets given to the patients are collected and saved in database. These data were for the monthly list of meal census which could be printed out on the screen and/or the printer. 2. The menu planning was largely consisted of 2 sections. One was for the patients who require special diets and the other was general diet. And the special diets was divided into 6 sub-sections: diabetic, low-salt, low-fat, low-salt/low-protein, low-fat/low-cholesterol and low residue diets. 3. The nutrient analysis was composed of 11 diet. Sections and diebetic diet was divided into 9 sub-sections according to the calorie requirement. The calculated results were compared with the standards which were established by the hospital dietetic department.

The purpose of the study was to develop computer-based menu planning program for day-care centers maximizing food preference score among children and satisfying such constraints as expense, nutrients, and season. Children's preference about 142 menu items was surveyed among 382 children of day-care centers. A 16-bit personal computer compatible with IBM-PC/AT was used. The data base files were created by dBASE III Plus, and processing programs were created by using FORTRAN language. Children preferred bread or a la carte menu items to cooked rice in main dish category. Deep fat fried or stir-fried menu items were more preferred than kimchi or cooked vegetables in side dish category. Preference scores for menu items were influenced by cooking methods or main ingredients. The contents of the computerized system show that when the program runs, the user should type inputs of cycle, season, and menu pattern, then the computer lists a series of menu satisfying the criteria of constraints. The user can examine and select a set of menu from the menu lists. Menus are generated seasonally. Menu lists are generated weekly and monthly basis with the contents of menu items, preference scores and price. Nutrient reports are also generated on a weekly and monthly basis with the contents of calories, 12 nutrients and price. Recipes for each menu items are also generated.