The Problem (Pain Level: 8/10)
“What’s for dinner?” - This daily question becomes a significant mental load for families.
Current problems:
- Decision fatigue: Exhaustion from daily meal decisions
- Nutritional imbalance: Defaulting to quick and easy options
- Food waste: Shopping without a plan leads to unused ingredients
- Time consumption: Searching recipes, making shopping lists
Discovered on Reddit: “I built an AI to handle the ‘what’s for dinner?’ mental load for families”
Target Market
- Primary: Local market first (localization needed for global)
- Segment: Dual-income couples, families with children, single households
- Estimated TAM: AI meal planning app market $972M (2024) → $11.5B (2034), 28% CAGR
Users report saving over $200/month on delivery/dining out and 2.3 hours/week in planning time.
What is MealPlanAI?
MealPlanAI is an app that uses AI to automatically generate weekly meal plans and shopping lists based on family preferences, nutritional goals, and available ingredients.
Key Features
- AI meal recommendations: Reflects preferences for each family member
- Fridge ingredient utilization: Suggests meals using available ingredients
- Auto shopping list: Recipe-based shopping lists
- Nutrition analysis: Weekly nutritional balance check
- One-click swap: Instantly replace unwanted meals
Competitive Analysis
| Competitor | Price | Key Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Ollie | Premium | English-focused, limited local ingredients |
| Fitia | $89.99/year | Diet-focused, not for general families |
| Meal Prep Pro | $9/mo | Meal prep focused, not for real-time meals |
| Recipe Apps | Free | No AI recommendations, manual search |
Market Status: RED_OCEAN - Globally competitive but localization opportunities exist
Differentiation Opportunity: AI recommendations specialized for local ingredients/recipes
MVP Development
Tech Stack
- Frontend: Next.js, React, TailwindCSS
- Backend: Node.js, TypeScript
- Database: PostgreSQL, Supabase
- AI: OpenAI API, local recipe dataset
- APIs: Grocery store APIs (Instacart, local alternatives)
MVP Features (16-20 weeks)
- Family profile setup (allergies, preferences)
- AI weekly meal plan generation
- Recipe detail pages
- Shopping list generation
- Basic nutritional information
Tech Stack Fit: 8/10
Achievable with web development experience.
Revenue Model
- Model: Subscription
- Price Range: $4.99-$9.99/month
- Projected MRR:
- 6 months: $300-$800
- 12 months: $1,500-$4,000
Monetization Strategy
- Free: 3-day meal plan, basic recipes
- Pro ($4.99/mo): 7-day plans, unlimited swaps, nutrition analysis
- Family ($9.99/mo): Family sharing, store integration, premium recipes
Risk Analysis
| Risk | Level | Mitigation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | LOW | Leverage OpenAI API |
| Market | HIGH | Strong competitors exist |
| Execution | HIGH | Recipe data collection required |
Who Should Build This
- Those focusing on a specific local market
- Anyone interested in food/cooking
- Developers seeking B2C experience
- Those wanting high market growth potential
Considerations
- Time needed for recipe data collection
- Strong competition requires clear differentiation
- Localization required (payments, store integrations)
If you’re building this idea or have thoughts to share, drop a comment below!