A

Minor Project Proposal

On
“FoodBuddy :Your personalized food app”

[Subject Code : CT654]

Project Members
Saurav Shrestha [KIC077BCT038]
Laxmi Kathariya [KIC077BCT019]
Samir Nepali [KIC077BCT035]
Radhemohan Chaudhary [KIC077BCT028]

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER, ELECTRONICS &

COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
LALITPUR, NEPAL
2023
ABSTRACT:
The proposed project aims to develop an innovative and user-centric software application
that suggests personalized meals based on user mood, weather conditions, and health
considerations while also providing detailed recipes and convenient meal delivery options
tailored to the user's location. The software will be designed to enhance the culinary
experience by catering to individual preferences, dietary requirements, and health goals.
The software will begin by enabling users to create profiles, inputting essential information
such as location, dietary preferences, allergies, and health objectives. To facilitate mood-
based recommendations, the application will integrate sentiment analysis algorithms to
interpret user inputs accurately. Additionally, weather data will be sourced through relevant
APIs to ensure meal suggestions align with prevailing atmospheric conditions. A key
aspect of the proposed software is its emphasis on health and nutrition. By integrating a
comprehensive nutrition database, the application will provide users with valuable health-
related information about suggested meals and ingredients. This ensures that the
recommended meals are in line with the user's specific health requirements. Machine
learning techniques will be leveraged to develop a sophisticated recommendation engine.
Collaborative filtering and content-based filtering methods will be employed to generate
personalized meal suggestions, incorporating the user's profile, mood, and current weather
conditions. The software will boast an extensive recipe repository comprising diverse
cuisines, dietary options, and health-focused meals. Each recipe will be accompanied by
detailed ingredient lists, cooking instructions, and nutritional information, empowering
users to make informed choices about their meals. To complete the holistic meal
experience, the software will offer seamless meal delivery services based on the user's
location. Collaborations with local restaurants and food delivery providers will ensure
timely and hassle-free delivery of the suggested meals. Ensuring user satisfaction is vital
to the success of the project. Therefore, the software will include a user feedback and
ratings system to continuously improve the recommendation algorithm and delivery
services. The project will culminate in the development of a user-friendly mobile app and
web interface, providing easy access to the software and its features. By prioritizing
security and privacy measures, we aim to safeguard user data and protect user privacy,
especially when dealing with sensitive health information and location data. The proposed
software promises to revolutionize the way individuals discover and enjoy meals,
combining user mood, weather, and health considerations with a diverse recipe repository
and convenient meal delivery services. We are confident that this innovative solution will
enhance the culinary experience and offer users a seamless, personalized meal selection
process.

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 Contents
ABSTRACT:....................................................................................................................... 1
Contents .............................................................................................................................. 3
1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Background .............................................................................................................. 6

1.1.1. Decision Overload: ....................................................................................... 6

1.1.2. Health and dietary concerns: ......................................................................... 6
1.1.3. Health and dietary concerns: ......................................................................... 6
1.1.4. Relevance to Location: ................................................................................. 6
1.2. Objective .................................................................................................................. 7

1.3. Scope ........................................................................................................................ 7

2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 9

2.1. Personalization and User Experience: ...................................................................... 9

2.2. Health and Nutrition Integration: ............................................................................. 9

2.3. Weather-based food suggestions: ............................................................................. 9

2.4. User-generated Content and Community Building: ............................................... 10

2.5. Health-conscious Recommendations: .................................................................... 10

2.6. Location based Recommendations: ........................................................................ 10

3. PROCEDURE ........................................................................................................... 11
3.1. Market research and planning: ........................................................................... 11

3.2. Concept and Design: .............................................................................................. 11

3.3. Backend Development: .......................................................................................... 11

3.4. Recipe Database and Home cooks showcase: ........................................................ 11

3.5. Front end development: .......................................................................................... 11

3.6. Quality check and testing: ...................................................................................... 11

3.7. Deployment and Launch: ....................................................................................... 12

3.8. App monitoring and updates: ................................................................................. 12

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4. FEASIBILITY STUDY ............................................................................................. 13
4.1. Project Description: ................................................................................................ 13

4.2. Market Analysis: .................................................................................................... 13

4.3. Technical Feasibility: ............................................................................................. 13

4.4. Financial Feasibility: .............................................................................................. 14

4.5. Operational Feasibility: .......................................................................................... 14

4.6. Risk Assessment:.................................................................................................... 14

5. PROJECT MANAGEMENT .................................................................................... 15

5.1. Development model: .......................................................................................... 15

5.2. Block Diagram: .................................................................................................. 16

6. IPLEMENTATION PLAN........................................................................................ 17
6.1. Schedule: ............................................................................................................ 17

6.2. Hardware requirements: ..................................................................................... 17

6.3. Software requirements: ...................................................................................... 17

7. Expected outcomes: ................................................................................................... 18

8. References: ................................................................................................................ 19

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LIST OF FIGURES:
5.1.1 Agile Development Model…………………………………………………………15

5.2.1 Block Diagram of Proposed system………………………………………………...16

6.1.1 Gantt Chart…………………………………………………………………………17

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background

Finding a perfect meal that meets our individual interests and dietary requirements can be
a daunting task in today's hectic world. Technology advancements and shifting consumer
preferences have caused substantial changes in the food business in recent years. Meal
ordering and browsing are now more convenient than ever thanks to the growth of meal
delivery services, online restaurant platforms, and food-related apps. However, because
there are so many options available, customers frequently experience decision fatigue and
find it difficult to locate the ideal meal that suits their unique needs and tastes.

Challenges faced by customers:

1.1.1. Decision Overload:

As the number of eateries and cuisines increases, customers frequently experience a sense
of being inundated with choices.

1.1.2. Health and dietary concerns:

It might be difficult to find appropriate meal selections that meet the demands of folks who
are health-conscious or have dietary limitations.

1.1.3. Health and dietary concerns:

While most applications do not take mood and weather into account when providing
recommendations, people's food choices frequently change depending on these
circumstances.

1.1.4. Relevance to Location:

Recommendations that don't take the user's location into account may propose eateries that
are too far away, which can be inconvenient.

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There is a rising need for customized food recommendation apps to solve these issues.
Users look for solutions that can comprehend their preferences, medical needs, and current
situation in order to provide pertinent and timely advice. Personalized apps like FoodBuddy
have the power to completely change the way people discover new foods by integrating AI
and data analytics.

So, FoodBuddy is a comprehensive, personalized, and user-friendly mobile application that

seeks to redefine how people discover and enjoy food by catering to each person's distinct
tastes, health objectives, and culinary interests. The mission of FoodBuddy is to fill the gap
between consumers' gastronomic preferences and the vast array of food options. Mood Bite
will make customized food recommendations based on user moods, weather, health factors,
and location, resulting in a fun and rewarding dining experience. The software will stand
out from standard food applications because of its user-friendly UI, community interaction
elements, and health-conscious recommendations, making it a useful resource for both
foodies and health-conscious people.

1.2. Objective

• To provide personalized food recommendations based on mood, weather, health and

location
• To assist users in attaining their fitness goals
• To help home cooks showcase their talents

1.3. Scope

This App will be developed for both Android and iOS platforms. It will include following
key features:

• User Registration and Login

• Personalized food recommendations
• Mood Based suggestions
• Location based recommendations
• Dietary preferences
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• Recipe Repository
• User authentication and account management
• Community Interaction
• Real-time Notifications
• Real-time Order Tracking
• Data security and Privacy
• Restaurant/ Homecook profiles
• Menu Management
• Order Management
• Payment and Revenue Management
• Pickup and delivery options
• Support and Assistance
• User Review and Rating System

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2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Traditional food apps frequently provide vague and irrelevant food recommendations since
they are unable to fully comprehend users' tastes and needs. Additionally, a lot of people
find it difficult to find the desire to prepare healthy meals at home because of their hectic
schedules or lack of culinary expertise. Additionally, it might be difficult to adequately
control one's nutrition for those trying to reach their fitness goals.

As technology develops, personalized mobile applications in many fields have appeared,

meeting the unique demands and preferences of users. Numerous studies and research
papers have examined the possibilities and effects of tailored apps in the context of food
and fitness, particularly for foodies and health-conscious people. A summary of the major
conclusions and developments in the literature is given below:

2.1. Personalization and User Experience:

Several studies have highlighted the importance of personalization in mobile applications,

particularly in the food and fitness domain. Providing users with personalized content,
services, and recommendations has been associated with higher levels of user engagement
and longer app retention (Arora, S. et al)[1]. Personalization creates a sense of relevance
and individual attention, leading to a more enjoyable and satisfying user experience.

2.2. Health and Nutrition Integration:

Researchers have emphasized the need of including health and dietary information in food
apps. These apps can encourage users to make healthier food choices and make following
particular diets easier by taking into account their dietary needs, allergies, and health
objectives. As suggested by FoodBuddy, combining tailored food apps with exercise
tracking apps can result in a comprehensive strategy for leading a healthy lifestyle.(Ferrara,
G., Kim, J., Lin, S., Hua, J., & Seto, E. (2019))][2].

2.3. Weather-based food suggestions:

Some studies have explored the potential impact of weather on food preferences.
Incorporating weather data into the recommendation process can lead to more contextually

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relevant suggestions, ensuring users receive appropriate dishes based on weather
conditions (Toledo, R. Y., Alzahrani, A. A., & Martinez, L. (2019))[3].

2.4. User-generated Content and Community Building:

The literature indicates that allowing users to share their culinary creations fosters a sense
of community and engagement. Home cooks, who lack resources to showcase their talents
in traditional restaurant settings, can benefit significantly from platforms like FoodBuddy
to gain recognition and feedback from a wider audience (Provencher, L. (2021, February
4))[4].

2.5. Health-conscious Recommendations:

The ability of personalized food apps to accommodate users' health conditions and dietary
preferences has been well-received in the literature. By considering factors like allergies,
dietary restrictions, and fitness goals, the app can suggest suitable meal options that align
with the user's health objectives (Ryan, M. (2022))[5]. This feature not only improves user
satisfaction but also promotes healthier eating habits.

2.6. Location based Recommendations:

Integrating location data into food apps has been found to be a powerful approach to
personalize user experiences. Studies have demonstrated that offering food
recommendations based on the user's current location and nearby dining options can
significantly enhance user satisfaction (Trattner, C., & Elsweiler, D. 2017)[6]. Users are
more likely to engage with an app that caters to their immediate needs and local
preferences.

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3. PROCEDURE
3.1. Market research and planning:

• Identify target audience, current trends and existing competitors

• Define what makes the app different from existing food apps

3.2. Concept and Design:

• UI/UX Design
• Create visually appealing and easy to use interface
• Define app's navigation flow for seamless experience

3.3. Backend Development:

• Implement server-side functionalities for user authentication, profile management, and

data processing.

• Integrate APIs for location-based services, weather information, and fitness tracking
platforms.

3.4. Recipe Database and Home cooks showcase:

• Create a platform for home cooks to upload and showcase their recipes, including user-
generated content moderation.

3.5. Front end development:

• Develop the app's frontend using flutter.

• Responsive design for consistent experience

3.6. Quality check and testing:

• Conduct product prototype testing (includes functionality test, user acceptance test, and
performance test)
• Identify bugs and issues in the application and solve them

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3.7. Deployment and Launch:

• App Promotion

• Submit the app to play store and app store

3.8. App monitoring and updates:

• Monitor app performance

• Receive user feedback and identify areas for improvement
• Update the contents regularly

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4. FEASIBILITY STUDY
4.1. Project Description:

The proposed project FoodBuddy is to develop a food delivery app that offers users
access to video recipes from partner restaurants and home chefs. The app aims to cater to
health-conscious individuals, those with specific dietary requirements, and anyone seeking
easy access to delicious and nutritious meals.

4.2. Market Analysis:

The demand for food delivery apps with unique features such as video recipes and health
information are necessary in these busy days. Main target audience's preferences,
demographics, and dietary habits. Considering the recent trends of the food market our
product seems viable and can be effectively integrated into the existing market.

4.3. Technical Feasibility:

The available hardware and network will be able to give access to the technical
requirements for developing and maintaining the app, including video hosting, streaming
capabilities, and data storage for health information. FoodBuddy is a technically feasible
project aimed at developing a personalized food recommendation app. The app will offer
features such as mood analysis, weather integration, health considerations, location-based
suggestions, and personalized food recommendations. Leveraging existing technologies
like AI, weather APIs, and cloud infrastructure, FoodBuddy can provide a user-friendly
and feature-rich experience. The established mobile development frameworks, security
measures, and testing tools ensure the app's compatibility and reliability. By following the
Agile Software Development methodology, FoodBuddy can continuously iterate based on
user feedback and preferences, making it a promising app to deliver a delightful and
personalized food discovery journey.

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4.4. Financial Feasibility:

Since, this is only Software based and we have all the pre-requisites for developing this
application. Hence, this is Financially feasible.

4.5. Operational Feasibility:

Considering the required expertise, resources, and partnerships with restaurants and health
professionals. The basic training and support will be provided to ensure the smooth
transition and user acceptance because digitalization in Nepal has only begun in the past
couple of years. Our product will be better than the existing food app because of our unique
features.

4.6. Risk Assessment:

We will Identify and manage the potential risks, such as technical challenges, user privacy
concerns, or resistance from traditional food delivery services. The use of authorization
system will mitigate the risks user privacy effectively and our features like recipe video
will engage the home chefs which will mitigate the risks from the traditional food delivery
services

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5. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
5.1. Development model:

Figure 5.1.1: Agile Development Model

The development of FoodBuddy will follow the Agile Software Development

methodology. Agile is an iterative and incremental approach that allows for flexible
development, continuous feedback, and rapid delivery of functional features. The Agile
methodology is well suited for our project because requirements may evolve overtime. The
project will involve creating a product backlog, breaking down development into iterations
(sprints), and conducting regular reviews and demos to gather user feedback. By
prioritizing user needs and iterating based on feedback, FoodBuddy seeks to deliver a high-
quality app that enhances user satisfaction and creates a delightful dining experience.

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5.2. Block Diagram:

Figure5.2.1: Block Diagram of Proposed System

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6. IPLEMENTATION PLAN
6.1. Schedule:

Figure 6.1.1: Gantt Chart

6.2. Hardware requirements:

• Development workstations (laptops, pc)

• Smartphone (for testing)
• Internet connectivity
• Cloud services
• External Storage

6.3. Software requirements:

• HTML
• CSS
• Javascript
• Flutter
• Node.js

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7. Expected outcomes:
1. Enhanced User Experience
2. Increased Business Opportunities
3. Thriving Foodie Community

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8. References:
[1] Arora, S. (n.d.). Personalization Is The Key to Increasing User Engagement and

Conversion Rate. Grazitti Interactive. https://www.grazitti.com/blog/personalization-is-

the-key-to-increasing-user-engagement-and-conversion-

[2]Lim, S. Y., Lee, K. W., Seow, W., Mohamed, N. A., Devaraj, N. K., & Nordin, S.
A.

(2021). Effectiveness of Integrated technology apps for supporting healthy food

purchasing and consumption: a Systematic review. Foods, 10(8), 1861.

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods1008186

[3] Toledo, R. Y., Alzahrani, A. A., & Martinez, L. (2019). A food recommender
system

considering nutritional information and user preferences. IEEE Access, 7, 96695–96711.

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2929413

[4]Provencher, L. (2021, February 4). These apps are helping Out-of-Work chefs and

home cooks sell their creations. Thrillist. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/homemade-

food-apps-helping-chefs-during-covid-19

[5] Ryan, M. (2022). The ethics of dietary apps: Technology, health, and the capability

approach. Technology in Society, 68, 101873.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101873

[6] Trattner, C., & Elsweiler, D. (2017). Food Recommender Systems: important

contributions, challenges and future research directions. ResearchGate.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320944468_Food_Recommender_Systems_Im

portant_Contributions_Challenges_and_Future_Research_Directions

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