The increasing consumption of processed foods high in fat, sugar, and salt in school meals is believed to be a contributing factor to the childhood obesity epidemic in America. With children spending a significant portion of their day in school and consuming up to 50% of their calories there, the food choices and physical activity habits developed during school-age years play a crucial role in determining their body weight.

Through our desk research identified four key stakeholders who play a role in determining meal choices and nutritional guidance for children who eat school meals

1.Parents
2. Children
3. Schools
4. Food suppliers

In the United States, the majority of educational institutions utilize one of two predominant catering systems. Both systems have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Despite these differences, a commonality exists in that parents are frequently unaware of the specific food their children are consuming while at school and are unable to confirm that adequate nutrition is being provided on a daily basis. To obtain information regarding the food offered, parents must either contact the school cafeteria directly or visit the school's website, if available.

Competitor Analysis

Utilizing the previously mentioned research as a foundation, our team conducted an analysis of the top five most widely utilized school meal applications for both schools and parents. Our analysis revealed that a majority of the apps primarily focused on meal payments and digital menus.

1.Are you satisfied with the quality and variety of food options offered in the school meal program?
2. How easy is it for you to access information about the school meal program, such as menus and nutritional information?
3. How easy is it for you to make payments for school meals?
4. Are you able to access the school meal program regardless of financial constraints?
5. Are there any specific concerns or suggestions you have for improvements to the school meal program?
6. How do you think the school meal program can be more effectively communicated to parents?
7. Are you satisfied with the availability of healthy food options for your child?
8. Are you happy with the way the program is implemented and executed?
9. Are you satisfied with the cost of the school meal program?
10. Do you think the school meal program helps in promoting the health and well-being of your child?

Using the information gathered from our survey and interviews, we have created a user persona that represents the goals and needs of the majority of parents.

Children may not have the knowledge to make informed choices about their school lunch options.

It can be challenging for parents to understand what their children are eating for lunch at school, as children may not always be truthful about their choices or may not remember what they ate.

Additionally, parents may not have all the information about nutrition and may struggle to educate their children about healthy food choices.

Pain Points

1. How might we make it easier for parents to know what their children are eating at school?

2. How might we increase the transparency of the school meal options and their nutritional value?

3. How might we involve parents in the decision-making process for school meals?

4. How might we make it easier for parents to communicate with the school about their children's meals?

5. How might we empower children to make healthier food choices at school?

6. How might we educate children about nutrition in a fun and engaging way?

View the full survey report

In order to optimize the user experience, we created a detailed user flow to visualize the navigation and necessary features within the app. With this in mind, we also carefully considered accessibility and the options available to users on each tab while mapping out the app's functionality

By considering my research findings, user persona, and information architecture, I explored various design patterns and rapidly developed low-fidelity wireframe options to visualize potential solutions. After evaluating multiple options, the team selected the most promising ones to develop into high-fidelity wireframes.

We constructed the information architecture to organize the content and ensure that the navigation is intuitive and logical for users.

We utilized a vibrant color scheme, incorporating various color options and playful typography, as it is appropriate for a school application.

Shown her are only some of the changes that were made*

In order to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of our application, we conducted user testing on Zoom with a sample group of 20 parents. The purpose of this testing was to gather feedback on areas of improvement and make necessary revisions. Through this process, we completed approximately 3 rounds of iteration before finalizing the application

Working as a designer at an early-stage startup has been a valuable experience for my growth as a designer. I have been involved in every stage of the product development process, from start to finish, which has allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the design process and the various factors that must be taken into account when creating a product. Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to collaborate closely with the founders and other members of the team, including developers and the marketing team, which has been essential in ensuring that the product is aligned with the needs of the target market and the overall business goals.

We are currently in the process of conducting in-person testing of the children's interface with a group of children. Additionally, we are actively working on developing the backend application for schools and Food Suppliers.

• Track daily nutritional intake, including calories and macronutrients consumed

• View meals consumed by children throughout the day, with nutritional information included

• Monitor progress over time by viewing nutritional information for specific days

Nutritional Dashboard