MealMate wins Rep. David Scott’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Georgia’s 13th District

When asked what inspired the creation of MealMate, the student said, “The inspiration behind creating MealMate stemmed from my desire to solve a personal challenge: finding healthy, affordable meals that don’t take hours to prepare. As a busy student juggling academics, extracurricular activities, and personal projects, I often found myself reaching for fast food or convenient, unhealthy options simply because I didn’t have the time or resources to cook balanced meals. I realized that many others around me faced the same challenge, whether they were fellow students, working professionals, or families with busy schedules. I wanted to create a solution that simplifies the process of eating healthier. There are plenty of recipe apps available, but many are either overwhelming with too many options or include complicated, expensive recipes that aren’t realistic for everyday use. 

My goal with MealMate was to combine simplicity with practicality—offering recipes that use common ingredients and can be made in a short amount of time. In addition, I wanted to make healthy eating more accessible. A lot of people believe that healthy food is too expensive or time-consuming to prepare, which leads them to make less nutritious choices. By using MealMate, users can discover that eating well doesn’t have to break the bank or take up a lot of time. The AI chatbot feature allows people to interact with the app in a conversational way, making it even easier to find recipes tailored to their needs and preferences.”