diff --git a/backend/internal/menu/handler.go b/backend/internal/menu/handler.go
index 38da9b1..3a9416a 100644
--- a/backend/internal/menu/handler.go
+++ b/backend/internal/menu/handler.go
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ func (h *Handler) GenerateMenu(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// Return the freshly saved plan.
 	plan, err := h.repo.GetByWeek(r.Context(), userID, weekStart)
 	if err != nil || plan == nil {
+		slog.Error("load generated menu", "err", err, "plan_nil", plan == nil)
 		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "failed to load generated menu")
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/backend/internal/menu/repository.go b/backend/internal/menu/repository.go
index 3a8ae03..f9b297f 100644
--- a/backend/internal/menu/repository.go
+++ b/backend/internal/menu/repository.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func NewRepository(pool *pgxpool.Pool) *Repository {
 // Returns nil, nil when no plan exists for that week.
 func (r *Repository) GetByWeek(ctx context.Context, userID, weekStart string) (*MenuPlan, error) {
 	const q = `
-		SELECT mp.id, mp.week_start,
+		SELECT mp.id, mp.week_start::text,
 		       mi.id, mi.day_of_week, mi.meal_type,
 		       sr.id, sr.title, COALESCE(sr.image_url, ''), sr.nutrition
 		FROM menu_plans mp