Abstract: A computerized food and beverages ordering apparatus implements an ordering service for meeting requirements of purchasers. A database comprises records representative of a plurality of ingredients, and at least two attributes are associated with each ingredient. One of the attributes associated to each ingredient is a nutritional parameter for a specific amount of the ingredient, and another attribute is a personal parameter. The personal parameter can be a parameter capable of describing the suitability of the associated ingredient in respect of a medical condition of a purchaser, or it can be a parameter capable of describing the suitability of the associated ingredient in respect of a taste requirement of a purchaser. A user interface is operated by, or under the instruction of, a purchaser to input an order for a meal. The meal comprises one or more of said plurality of ingredients, and each ingredient has an associated quantity.