Safeats
Problem
AAs a parent, I know how overwhelming food allergies can be — a small mistake can trigger anything from mild discomfort to a life-threatening emergency, so every meal demands caution and the worry never fully fades. That's why allergy-safe meals mean more than food: they're the reassurance and peace of mind that your child is safe, protected, and cared for with every bite.
Solution
Safeats is a mobile app that helps families plan and prep allergy-safe meals in advance, so every child can eat with a sense of belonging, while parents save time on grocery shopping, cooking, and daily decision-making. It makes healthy, allergy-conscious meal prep personal, easy, and genuinely supportive.
Goals
Safeats aligns user needs (quick, healthy, allergy-safe meal ideas and simple grocery guidance), business goals (trustworthy recipes, strong brand, customer satisfaction), and technical capabilities (high-quality visuals, reliable video features, efficient content tools) around a shared mission: helping families feel confident, supported, and included at mealtime. This alignment makes Safeats user-centered, sustainable, and technically achievable.
My Process
Research
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Define
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Ideate
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Design
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Prototype
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Test
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Iterate
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Research * Define * Ideate * Design * Prototype * Test * Iterate *
I frequently search online for suitable dairy free substitutes ~ Cher
Research
My research for Safeats is rooted in a combination of comprehensive competitor analysis and meaningful user interviews.
Competitive Analysis
Safeats stands out by filling gaps competitors miss:
Allergy-safe options built into meal planning.
AI-powered leftover-to-meal conversion, helping reduce food waste and support busy parents.
A focus on kids’ dietary restrictions, where competitors are either too broad (Tasty) or lack tech-enabled solutions (Yummy Toddler Food).
A structured planning approach (grocery checklist, substitutions, allergen filters).
My child has a seafood allergy, so I have to avoid anything with even a hint of fish. It’s stressful with hidden ingredients ~ Yumi
Interview Data
Before
Prototype
Final thoughts
By studying existing allergy-focused and meal-prep apps, I was able to identify gaps in the market—such as limited substitution options, repetitive meal choices, and insufficient allergy-safe guidance.
Parents expressed a strong desire for short, simple recipe videos, easy allergy-friendly meal ideas, and clear substitution options for common allergens. They also want time-saving recipes, meals they can prepare together with their children, and colorful, visually appealing dishes that encourage kids to eat and enjoy a wider variety of foods.
My child has a nut allergy, so I constantly worry about cross-contamination ~ Nate
Key findings
Parents expressed a strong desire for short, simple recipe videos, easy allergy-friendly meal ideas, and clear substitution options for common allergens. They also want time-saving recipes, meals they can prepare together with their children, and colorful, visually appealing dishes that encourage kids to eat and enjoy a wider variety of foods.
Define
Low Fidelity Wireframe
High Fidelity Wireframe
Safeats is designed with Irene in mind — a parent who needs clear guidance, reliable allergy-safe recipes, and simple, efficient tools that reduce her daily stress while ensuring her children feel included, healthy, and cared for at every meal
Test
Iterate
Feature Organization and UX Structure
Before
Introduced an AI-powered assistant to reduce decision fatigue by generating personalized meal ideas, supporting meal planning, and recommending recipes—transforming the experience into a guided, intelligent journey.
One of my biggest challenges is getting my child to eat vegetables and he has milk allergies. ~ Nina
From the feedback I received, several key improvements were identified to make Safeats even more intuitive and kid-friendly. These updates help Safeats become even more supportive, organized, and personalized—making allergy-safe meal planning simpler and more enjoyable for families.
Key Iterations:
Search Funtionality
Meal Personalization Filter
Categorized Meals
AI Robot (Safebot)
AI Recipe Helper
Reorganized the interface to improve usability and clarity by structuring key features into search functionality, meal personalization filters, and categorized meal sections. This creates a clear hierarchy that allows users to quickly find, filter, and explore meals with ease.
After
Safeats reflects my commitment to empathy-driven design for families navigating food allergies. Through user interviews and usability testing, I identified that parents needed both safety and simplicity, leading to a colorful, kid-friendly interface that makes allergy-safe eating feel joyful rather than restrictive.
Features like clear meal categories, personalized allergy filters, search functionality, and AI-powered recommendations reduce the mental load of meal planning, turning a daily stressor into a moment of confidence. This project sharpened my ability to design for high-stakes, emotionally charged problems and reaffirmed that great UX can make everyday life safer and more meaningful for the families who need it most.
In Safeats, users begin by logging in or creating an account through a simple onboarding process. Once on the homepage, they view personalized meal suggestions and select a meal plan. After choosing a recipe—such as breakfast ideas—they can review ingredients and decide which items to add to their shopping list. Safeats then provides clear nutritional information and generates a curated list of allergy-safe ingredients the user can confidently shop for.
This streamlined flow ensures parents quickly move from planning to purchasing with clarity, confidence, and ease.
Design
This sketch shows the early flow of Safeats: a warm welcome screen, quick dietary and allergy setup, simple sign-up, and personalized recipe recommendations. After onboarding, users are greeted with tailored meal ideas and daily inspiration, keeping allergy-safe meal planning easy and reassuring for busy parents.
Ideate
After
AI-Powered Recipe Assistance
The high-fidelity wireframes showcase Safeats as a playful, kid-friendly app that helps families prepare allergy-safe meals with ease. Parents can quickly set dietary preferences, explore colorful recipe ideas, view simple step-by-step instructions, and create safe shopping lists in one tap. Overall, the design emphasizes a fun, safe, and reassuring experience for children with food allergies.
High Fidelity Prototype
Total participants : 8 (5 adults and 3 kids)
Goal : Evaluate how users easily start a meal plan process for kids with allergy and complete it without frustrations. Identifying pain points for user satisfaction.
Overall Satisfaction: Users found the app visually clean and attractive with healthy colorful food options looking delicious to eat.
Success rate: Average satisfaction score of 88%
Desired Features: Utilizing AI to recommend recipies based on available pantry ingredients.
Feedback:
Meals should be categorized into breakfast, lunch and dinner
Include filter to personalize meals
Create a search bar to find recipies
They would like to see AI features added for easy meal planning.
My child is allergic to beef, so I constantly have to find alternative protein options that are safe for them - Aser
