Prader-Willi syndrome menus
Menus for people with Prader-Willi syndrome, written by our registered dietitians to current PWSA USA nutrition guidance. Our standard Prader-Willi menu comes with our menus at no extra charge.
People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) need less food than most people their size, and the drive to eat doesn't let up. That puts a lot on the menu: portions that fit the person, meals that satisfy, and very few sweets.
Our registered dietitians write Prader-Willi menus for group homes and other care facilities. Our standard Prader-Willi menu comes with our menus at no extra charge. For a menu customized to a resident, contact us.
How we write them
We follow the nutrition guidance PWSA USA presented in 2023. It is built on a Mediterranean-style diet rather than strict calorie counting, and it rests on four things.
- Quality. Whole grains, beans and lentils, vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil come first. Processed foods, refined grains and added sugar stay low, and there are no sugar substitutes. Fruit is fresh, in small portions no more than twice a day, with a protein or fat alongside.
- Quantity. Portions are smaller than on a regular menu. The guidance fits them to each person, which a customized menu does for the individual resident.
- Balance. Each meal has protein, complex carbohydrates, non-starchy vegetables and a healthy fat. No meal is carb-free or carb-heavy.
- Variety. A wide range of foods, textures and flavors, so meals don't come down to a few favorites.
Drinks, snacks and treats
Drinks are unsweetened: plain water first, plus milk and unsweetened tea. Diet drinks are out too, since the guidance avoids sugar substitutes. Snacks are light, such as vegetables with hummus, cheese, an egg or plain yogurt, rather than chips or sweets. Sweets are saved for a handful of truly special occasions a year, such as the person's birthday or a major holiday.
Questions
Do Prader-Willi menus cost extra?
Our standard Prader-Willi menu doesn't. If you'd like a menu customized for a resident with Prader-Willi syndrome, contact us.
Are the menus written to a set calorie level?
No single calorie level fits everyone with Prader-Willi syndrome, and current PWSA USA guidance sets portions for each person from their growth, weight trend and activity. Our standard menu uses smaller portions than a regular menu, and a customized menu sets them for the individual resident.
Do you write menus for other conditions?
Yes. Our standard PKU and ketogenic menus also come at no extra charge, and we can account for nearly any therapeutic diet, for nearly any age, medical condition or disease state.
Do you sell menus to homes outside California?
Yes. Our menus are available to facilities nationwide.