diff --git a/helpers/food_helpers.py b/helpers/food_helpers.py
index 4861715..dc0fa3e 100644
--- a/helpers/food_helpers.py
+++ b/helpers/food_helpers.py
@@ -1,64 +1,88 @@
 from typing import List, Dict, Optional
 from pydantic import BaseModel, validator
+from datetime import datetime
 
 class FoodItem(BaseModel):
     name: str
     description: Optional[str] = None
     price: float
     category: str
-    is_vegetarian: bool = False
-    is_vegan: bool = False
+    is_available: bool = True
 
     @validator('name')
-    def name_must_not_be_blank(cls, value):
-        if not value.strip():
-            raise ValueError('Food item name cannot be blank')
+    def validate_name(cls, value):
+        if len(value) < 3:
+            raise ValueError('Name must be at least 3 characters long')
         return value
 
     @validator('price')
-    def price_must_be_positive(cls, value):
+    def validate_price(cls, value):
         if value <= 0:
-            raise ValueError('Price must be a positive value')
+            raise ValueError('Price must be greater than zero')
         return value
 
-class Menu(BaseModel):
-    items: List[FoodItem]
+def create_menu_item(food_item: FoodItem) -> Dict:
+    food_data = food_item.dict()
+    food_data['created_at'] = datetime.utcnow()
+    # Save food item to database or perform any other necessary operations
+    return food_data
 
-    @validator('items')
-    def items_must_not_be_empty(cls, value):
-        if not value:
-            raise ValueError('Menu must contain at least one food item')
-        return value
+def get_menu_items(category: Optional[str] = None) -> List[Dict]:
+    # Retrieve menu items from database based on category filter
+    menu_items = [
+        {
+            'name': 'Pizza',
+            'description': 'Delicious pizza with tomato sauce and cheese',
+            'price': 12.99,
+            'category': 'Main Course',
+            'is_available': True,
+            'created_at': datetime(2023, 5, 1, 12, 0, 0)
+        },
+        {
+            'name': 'Salad',
+            'description': 'Fresh garden salad',
+            'price': 6.99,
+            'category': 'Appetizer',
+            'is_available': True,
+            'created_at': datetime(2023, 5, 1, 12, 0, 0)
+        },
+        # Add more sample data as needed
+    ]
+    if category:
+        menu_items = [item for item in menu_items if item['category'] == category]
+    return menu_items
 
-def validate_food_item(food_item: FoodItem) -> Dict[str, str]:
-    errors = {}
-    if not food_item.name.strip():
-        errors['name'] = 'Food item name cannot be blank'
-    if food_item.price <= 0:
-        errors['price'] = 'Price must be a positive value'
-    return errors
+def update_menu_item(item_name: str, updated_data: Dict) -> Dict:
+    # Retrieve the menu item from the database based on the item_name
+    menu_item = {
+        'name': 'Pizza',
+        'description': 'Delicious pizza with tomato sauce and cheese',
+        'price': 12.99,
+        'category': 'Main Course',
+        'is_available': True,
+        'created_at': datetime(2023, 5, 1, 12, 0, 0)
+    }
+    
+    # Update the menu item with the provided updated_data
+    for key, value in updated_data.items():
+        if key in menu_item:
+            menu_item[key] = value
+    
+    # Save the updated menu item to the database
+    
+    return menu_item
 
-def validate_menu(menu: Menu) -> Dict[str, str]:
-    errors = {}
-    if not menu.items:
-        errors['items'] = 'Menu must contain at least one food item'
-    for item in menu.items:
-        item_errors = validate_food_item(item)
-        if item_errors:
-            errors[item.name] = item_errors
-    return errors
-
-def create_menu_categories(menu: Menu) -> Dict[str, List[FoodItem]]:
-    categories = {}
-    for item in menu.items:
-        category = item.category
-        if category not in categories:
-            categories[category] = []
-        categories[category].append(item)
-    return categories
-
-def get_vegetarian_menu(menu: Menu) -> List[FoodItem]:
-    return [item for item in menu.items if item.is_vegetarian]
-
-def get_vegan_menu(menu: Menu) -> List[FoodItem]:
-    return [item for item in menu.items if item.is_vegan]
\ No newline at end of file
+def delete_menu_item(item_name: str) -> bool:
+    # Retrieve the menu item from the database based on the item_name
+    menu_item = {
+        'name': 'Pizza',
+        'description': 'Delicious pizza with tomato sauce and cheese',
+        'price': 12.99,
+        'category': 'Main Course',
+        'is_available': True,
+        'created_at': datetime(2023, 5, 1, 12, 0, 0)
+    }
+    
+    # Delete the menu item from the database
+    
+    return True
\ No newline at end of file