applies to: nutraCoster 2.1, nutraCoster 3.0

Almost everything in nutraCoster is an Item. Items are stored in the Master Items List.

The difference between items depends solely on how they are used. Here is what Items can do:

• Any item can be a Recipe. A Recipe is any item that has Ingredients.
• Any item can be an Ingredient.
  • Because any Item can be an Ingredient, any Recipe can be used as an Ingredient in another Recipe.
  • You can use any quantity of the Recipe when it is used as an Ingredient.
  • A Recipe that is used as an Ingredient is called a Subrecipe or Mix.
  • A recipe that is not used as an Ingredient is called a Finished Product.
  • Ingredients that are not Recipes are also called End-level Ingredients.

Note: We use the terms "Recipe", "Formula" and "Recipe/Formula" interchangeably. We also use the terms "Subrecipe" and "Mix" interchangeably.

Note: Ingredients that contain sub-ingredients are not Recipes in nutraCoster. See Ingredient Lists for details.

• Any item can be a Menu. A Menu is any item that has Menu Items.
• Any item can be a Menu Item.
  • Because any Item can be a Menu Item, any Menu can be used as a Menu Item in another Menu.
  • A Menu that is used as a Menu Item is called a Submenu.
  • A Menu that is not used as a Menu Item is called a Final Menu.
  • Menu Items that are not Menus are also called End-level Menu Items. End-level Menu Items are always marked as For Sale.

Example: Your Final Menu might consist of Submenus for Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts, etc.

• Any item can be designated as a Packaging Item. Packaging Items are used as Ingredients in Recipes just like other items. See Accounting for Packaging.

• Any item can be designated as an Overhead Item. An Overhead Item can be a component in the Overhead Calculator, or can be used as an ingredient in one or more recipes.

What Items have in Common

All Items have the following properties.

• Item Description - Used to identify the Item everywhere in nutraCoster. See EasyFinder^tm Searches. Must be unique.
• Part Number - can be used to search for Items. Must be unique.
• Shortcut - can be used to search for Items. Must be unique.
• Item Usage - Lists how the Item is used - Finished Product, Subrecipe, Ingredient, Menu, Menu Item, etc.
• Ingredient List Description - see Ingredient Lists.
• For Sale - any Item can be designated as For Sale. This allows you to sell Ingredients and Mixes as easily as Finished Products.
• Picture - pictures can be included on reports.
• Nutrition - any Item can have nutrition. Recipe/Formula nutrition is calculated and is read-only.

Use the Add or Change Master Items procedure to change an Item. You can also right click an Item anywhere in nutraCoster and choose Change Master Item Information.

Examples of Item Usage

• "Sugars, Granulated" - almost always used as an End-Level Ingredient.
• "Batter, Chocolate Cake" - almost always used as a Subrecipe. Can be used as an Ingredient in layer cakes, sheet cakes, cupcakes, etc.
• "Chocolate Cake, Frosted" - will usually be a Finished Product.
• "Joe's Restaurant Autumn Menu" - usually a Final Menu that contains Submenus such as "Autumn Entrees", "Autumn Desserts", etc.
• "Chocolate Cake, Frosted" - can also be an End-level Menu Item on the "Autumn Desserts" menu, etc.