Eat At State+ App Proposal

Inspiration

As a pescatarian for seven years, I have frequently struggled to find satisfying meal options on campus. The lack of balanced, non-meat options in dining halls often leaves students like me with limited choices. While meat eaters have multiple options at every meal, those with dietary preferences or restrictions feel like an afterthought. After hearing similar frustrations from other students, I was inspired to create Eat At State+, an app that enhances the dining experience by providing accurate menus, nutritional details, and feedback opportunities for students and staff.

What I Learned

Through conversations with students and staff, I gained valuable insights into the dining experience on campus. Many students expressed a desire for more transparency about the nutritional content of meals, more appealing non-meat options, and a better way to provide feedback to dining services. I also learned that the existing Eat At State website is underutilized because it lacks key information and is sometimes inaccurate. Additionally, I discovered that dietary needs are not being met equitably across all campus dining locations.

How I Built My Project

To develop Eat At State+, I started by conducting informal research through student and staff conversations. I compiled feedback on common dining frustrations and used this data to shape the app's core features:

• Accurate, Real-Time Menus: Ensuring the app reflects what is actually available in the dining halls.
  
• Nutritional Transparency: Providing clear ingredient lists and dietary labels for informed choices.
  
• User Feedback System: Allowing students to directly share meal preferences with dining hall staff.
  
• Enhanced Dietary Support: Expanding non-meat, halal, and allergen-friendly options across all dining locations.
  

I created user personas based on real student feedback to guide app design decisions. Additionally, I proposed integrating the app with the existing Eat At State platform to maximize usability.

Challenges Faced

One of the biggest challenges was gathering accurate and diverse feedback. While many students shared their experiences, accessing official dining service data on meal planning and ingredient sourcing was more difficult. Another challenge was ensuring that the app would be user-friendly and feasible for integration with existing campus dining systems. Lastly, balancing the needs of different dietary groups while maintaining practicality for dining hall operations required careful consideration.

Conclusion

The Eat At State+ App aims to bridge the gap between students and dining services by improving meal accessibility, transparency, and satisfaction. By addressing common frustrations with campus dining, this project will help create a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for all students.

Built With

• canva