UniDish

Product Experience

Problem Background 

Who is the customer and what is the need or problem we’re addressing? Why should we address this problem now? What are all of the things we know? How do we know this is a problem? 

Problem Statement

Students often encounter difficulties in finding affordable and nutritious meal options which can impact their health, well-being, and grades, especially during exam season.

A study was done with university students and more than half skipped breakfast, there was frequent snacking, fried food consumption at least three times per week and a low intake of daily fruits and vegetables were common. (Yun et al., 2018) While finding food can be easy, with fast food chains offering their services until dawn, students may not be getting in their nutrients and vitamins. 

Surplus food is a problem in Canada as nearly 60 percent of food produced – amounting to 35.5 million metric tonnes – is lost and wasted annually. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ending food waste would preserve enough food to feed two billion people.

Goals 

Talk about the general high-level goals of doing this work. What are we trying to accomplish by solving the problem? 

Creating an accessible and easy-to-use way for students to find cheap food options, it will empower students to eat well with less pressure, resulting in improved mental health and nutrition that each person needs.

Some goals:

• Enhancing food accessibility: Ensure that high school and college students have easy access to affordable and nutritious food options.
• Reducing Food Waste: Partnering with educational organizations and food establishments to significantly reduce surplus food wastage, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food ecosystem.
• Improving Student Health - Empower students to make healthier food choices by providing information and options that support their nutritional needs, ultimately enhancing their physical and mental well-being.
• Academic Performance: Help students maintain better academic performance by ensuring they have access to nourishing meals, particularly during high-stress periods like exams.

User Stories 

As a student, I want to find cheaper food options, so that I can eat without worrying about a high grocery bill.

As a university student, I want to find accessible food options so that I can save time cooking and study instead.

Proposed Solution 

What are you proposing is the solution to the problem being tackled? Keep this to a few sentences, again focusing on the WHAT, not the HOW. 

Problem Statement: 

Students often encounter difficulties in finding affordable and nutritious meal options which can impact their health, well-being, and grades, especially during exam season.

Proposed Solution for UniDish:

UniDish will display local merchants who have dropped their prices for expiring dishes. Customers will be able to purchase those dishes and see the savings related to that meal.