ChefPrep
E-commerce app that gives users the opportunity to promote and request meal prep services that will revolutionise the way users approach a meal plan service.
Problem Statement
Many people are finding it difficult to keep up with a meal prep plan because it can create time constraints, lack of storage space in their refrigerator/freezer and often have inadequate resources/information to be successful.
Problem Background
Healthy eating plays a vital role in our health and wellness journey. Eating healthy meals that are well-proportioned, helps with monitoring our caloric intake and prevents overeating. Being able to combine that with a balance of protein, complex carbs, and vegetables, will give us the boost we need to achieve our health and wellness goals.
According to an article called “Diet vs. Exercise: The Truth about Weight Loss” by Alia Hoyt, the author touched on a scientific study of a Hunter-gatherer tribe in Northern Tanzania compared to a Western male and female on their physical activity, metabolic and nutrition data. She explained that while “the physical activities from both sides are comparable, the hunter-gatherer tribe saw better results due to eating whole, natural foods”.
It further proves that regardless of our physical activity (exercise), we won’t see the results that we want due to our inadequate eating habits. Looking from an overall scope, we will end up struggling to achieve our health and wellness goals.
An effective method that contributes greatly towards health and wellness is meal preparation, commonly known as meal prep. Meal prep is the practice of preparing meals within a given time frame or on an indefinite basis. Meal prep provides the correct portion size based on fitness and diet levels. It gives the user flexibility on eating the correct meal to provide balanced nutrition.
As it may sound great on paper, many people find it difficult to start and maintain a meal prep program in order to meet their health and wellness goals. A NY Post article titled “Americans are starting to get sick of cooking at home” by Allison Sadler stated that “55% of Americans felt fatigued while cooking during the pandemic” and “43% of people would like to spend less time in the kitchen.”
This study shows that cooking is not the most popular amongst many people even if it means fulfilling their fitness and health goals.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Based on 12 survey participants, I have found that user pain points included:
- Time
- Refrigerator/Freezer Space
- Finding healthy recipe
- Cooking
- Freshness of the meal
- Aversion to too many leftovers
- All of the above
Supporting Data
Based on the challenges that users faced with meal prep:
- 36.4% responded with time
- 18.2% responded with refrigerator/freezer space
- 9.1% responded with finding healthy recipes
- 9.1% responded with cooking
- 9.1% responded with freshness of the meal
- 9.1% responded with aversion to too many leftovers
- 9.1% responded with all of the above
Landing on the Solution
Based on a user survey study of 12 respondents, I have found that the overwhelming pain points are based on time spent to prepare meals and a close second being refrigerator/freezer space.
I also found similar findings in the user interview segment where 4 out of 5 complained of time, while 3 out of 5 complained of refrigerator/freezer space in which the metrics were compiled from open-ended questions.
The first phase of the MVP spec would be to create a product that would solve the issue with time and food storage.
Future Steps
After receiving feedback during the user interviews and user survey, I found that building on the other pain points outside of the MVP build, will help to create solutions for later versions of the product.
The chunk of the pie chart representing 54% of the chart would be crucial for the development of the product in the long-term.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Triston Watson
I’ve really enjoyed my time at Co.Lab. It was my first time going in depth about product management and how imperative the process is through the product development cycle. It poses many challenges/growing pains throughout the research process. Interviewing the right prospects is very important where you’ll receive more feedback and opportunities. It can also help to identify your target.
The process of asking the right questions to a problem can bring out the pain points needed for my MVP build. It can also provide opportunities for future steps. The role of a product manager itself is crucial to any company regardless of industry and provides a backbone that stems from innovation and bringing ideas to life.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.