For care home meals, choose between a large can of plain lentils and smaller cans according to the quantities actually served and how easily you can manage leftovers. Prepared lentils may be suitable if the recipe fits the planned menu, but check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each product. If a resident has swallowing difficulties, the texture they should be served must be recommended individually by an appropriately qualified health professional; it cannot be decided simply by choosing a particular can.
For teams planning how much cupboard-staple lentils to buy for each service, while organising how to use any leftovers after opening. Drained weight and storage instructions matter just as much as the size stated on the can.
For buyers who need to check ingredients and allergens against planned diets, then prepare the lentils to suit each resident’s needs. The French National Authority for Health says that, for someone with swallowing difficulties, the appropriate consistency must be recommended individually by a health professional.
For organisations deciding between a large can, a multipack of smaller cans and a ready-made recipe. The number of portions actually served and the stated storage time after opening can help you choose the right format.
Worth considering: when the kitchen prepares the recipe in-house and serves enough portions to use the can quickly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage any leftovers as soon as the can is opened, following the instructions for the product you choose.
Worth considering: when serving quantities vary or several dishes are prepared in small batches.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to store and open more cans than you would with one large can.
Worth considering: when the recipe suits the menu and saves the kitchen from having to season the lentils itself.
Bear in mind: check every ingredient and the nutritional information for that specific recipe.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Confirm the consistency recommended for the resident and how the lentils will be prepared. | If a resident has swallowing difficulties, I need to be able to serve food prepared to the consistency recommended for them. For around 28 % of the consumers concerned, individualised texture would be the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the product delivered, including the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements. | When several diets need to be catered for at a meal service, I need to know exactly what the recipe contains before adding it to the menu. This would be a priority for around 28 % of the consumers concerned. |
| Nutritional information | Compare protein and salt per 100 g in particular, then consider the recipe as part of the full menu. | When putting a meal together, I need to distinguish the nutritional values of plain canned lentils from those of a prepared recipe. Around 22 % of the consumers concerned would put nutritional information at the heart of their choice. |
| Size and leftovers | Compare the drained net weight, the quantities served and the product’s stated storage time after opening. | If serving sizes vary from one meal to another, I look for a format that can be used within the stated time after opening. Format management would be the main criterion for around 22 % of the consumers concerned. |
Nutritional values vary between products. Bonduelle lists 0.52 g of salt per 100 g for its Lentilles Jus Nature 530 g, while Auchan lists 0.93 g per 100 g for its prepared lentils 400 g. These figures apply to those two specific products.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the cans you’re considering, and take the rest of the menu into account.
Whole canned lentils are not automatically suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties. The French National Authority for Health specifies that the consistency must be recommended for each individual concerned.
Check the recommended consistency before deciding how the lentils will be prepared for the resident.
Instructions after opening depend on the product. Bonduelle says its lentils cooked in very little juice should be used within 48 hours, while Auchan says its prepared lentils should be used within 2 days.
Choose a can size to match the portions planned, then follow the label’s instructions on transferring, refrigerating and using the leftovers.
Any amount that cannot be served within the stated time may go to waste.
Auchan notes that the ingredients in its 530 g lentils may vary depending on the selected drive and the date of purchase.
For a meal with specific ingredient or allergen requirements, check the label on the product actually delivered.
Offers plain lentils, including a product with a drained net weight of 530 g, as well as lentils cooked in very little juice.
Carrefour’s range includes lentils in 530 g and 265 g cans, as well as a pack of 3 × 130 g cans.
Offers lentils in a 530 g can and a 400 g prepared recipe with carrots and onions.
E.Leclerc lists a 265 g can of Notre Jardin lentils in its range of canned and jarred foods.
ALDI France lists 530 g cans of Fleurs des Champs prepared lentils.
This 265 g can of prepared lentils may suit smaller servings or a ready-made recipe. If you’re ordering large cans or multipacks, check the pack size separately.
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This 265 g can may suit smaller quantities, provided the carrot and onion recipe fits the menu.
For relevant dietary requirements, check the ‘may contain gluten and soya’ statement on the product delivered. After opening, follow the product information: transfer the contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate and use within 2 to 3 days. If a resident has swallowing difficulties, the consistency to serve must be determined individually.
No. Canned lentils are an ingredient to include as part of the full menu and the resident’s individual needs. Compare the nutritional information, particularly protein and salt per 100 g, but don’t treat choosing a product as a way of managing malnutrition.
Not simply because they are already cooked. According to the French National Authority for Health, the appropriate consistency must be recommended individually; the food served must be prepared to meet that recommendation.
Follow the storage time and conditions stated for the product you bought. For example, for its own products, Bonduelle says its lentils cooked in very little juice should be kept at a maximum of 4 °C and used within 48 hours. Auchan says its prepared lentils should be transferred to a suitable airtight container, refrigerated and used within 2 days.
Check the ingredients, allergens, net quantity, relevant date and nutritional information for the can you’re considering. The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) lists these among the labelling information required for prepacked foods. To plan your service, also check the drained net weight and instructions for after opening, where these are provided for the product.