Plateful App

Data Collection and Analysis

• External Research:
  • Reviewed 10+ meal-planning patents and literature for solution gaps
  • Found opportunities in smartwatch integration, dietary consultation, and time-based filters
• Competitive Analysis:
  • Evaluated HelloFresh, Yummly, Mealime, and My FittnessPal
  • Identified lack of real-time prep-time adjustments and integrated wellness tracking
• Survey Insights:
  • Surveyed 50+ users; 72% wanted meal suggestions tied to physical activity or dietary goals
  • Common user frustrations: recipe overload, no grocery sync, and meal prep taking too long
• Potential customer Interviews (Pilot):
  • 45% engagement rate on personalized suggestions during pilot tests
  • Feedback highlighted ease of use and interest in grocery tracking + fitness sync features

User Interviews

From the interviews, we found a few key quotes interesting and want to address:

• “I don't mind cooking, but I never know what to make. I wish there was something that just showed me recipes based on what I already have.” – University Student A
• “Grocery shopping is a chore after work. I want healthy options, but I don't have time to plan meals or look up recipes every night.” – Working Professional A
• “My schedule is packed. I want an app that reminds me what to eat and helps me track calories easily.” – Working Professional B
• Video recipes and calendar sync are helpful...Working Professional C
• “I want an app that reminds me what to eat and helps me track calories easily.” – University Student C

Interview Insights Summary

From these interviews, we identified key recurring needs:

• Personalized recipe suggestions based on ingredients or goals
• Grocery store integration for quick shopping or order placement
• Calendar sync and reminders to plan meals throughout the week
• Video-based recipes for visual learners and beginner cooks
• Macro and calorie tracking for fitness and wellness motivation

Ideation

Persona 1

A 32-year-old marketing manager living in an urban area, Sarah leads a fast-paced lifestyle. She values healthy, home-cooked meals but finds meal planning and grocery shopping time-consuming. Sarah often ends up with food waste due to last-minute schedule changes. She needs a streamlined, sustainable meal planning solution with quick, tailored recipes and an organized grocery list to match her dietary goals and reduce waste.

Persona 2

At 24, Jamie is a fitness-focused graduate student juggling classes, work, and a limited budget. With minimal cooking experience and time, she seeks affordable, simple recipes that support her health and academic routine. Jamie values nutritional tracking, meal-prep options, and guidance that makes healthy eating achievable within her constraints.

Journey Map

Service Blueprint

Prototype

Usability Testing Insights

To validate the usability and appeal of our Plateful prototype, we conducted a small-scale user testing round using a mix of surveys, in-app tasks, and interviews with 7 participants (4 students and 3 working professionals).

These numbers reflected a generally positive experience, especially around ease of use and personalization. Minor drop-off was observed on the recipe filtering screen, suggesting some visual complexity or confusion in that flow.