Tech Chef

Innovating Food Restoration, Rescuing Forgotten Flavors, and Reducing Food Waste!

Inspiration

Globally, 1.3 billion tonnes of edible food is wasted or lost every year. Specifically in Canada, 47% of food waste is generated at the household level. We are on a mission to tackle this global issue by harnessing the power of AI technology to not only reduce food waste but also enable individuals to save money in the face of rising living costs across Canada.

What it does

Tech Chef enables users to capture photos of food, whether it's leftovers or ingredients they have on hand, and then generates a recipe tailored to utilize those specific food items. By simply snapping a picture, users can transform their food into delicious meals, reducing waste and making the most out of what they already have.

How we built it

Tech Chef leverages React Native and JavaScript to develop the app, integrating Clarifai API for image analysis to identify various foods captured in images. Subsequently, we utilize Cohere API to generate personalized recipes based on the identified food items.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main hurdles we encountered was accessing our own endpoint from the frontend. Despite numerous attempts, we faced difficulties in successfully transmitting data, leading to server errors. To overcome this obstacle, we opted to deploy our backend using Vercel, which ultimately resolved the issue and enabled seamless communication between the frontend and backend systems.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're thrilled to have successfully connected all components and achieved full functionality. Additionally, it's incredibly rewarding to see our code come to life on a mobile device, especially considering it was our first experience with React Native.

What we learned

In the process, we gained valuable experience with React Native, as it was our first time utilizing mobile development technology. Additionally, we acquired knowledge on deploying our backend and establishing seamless integration with our frontend.

What's next for Tech Chef

Looking ahead, we envision expanding Tech Chef's functionality to offer more tailored and refined recipe generation capabilities. Our future features aim to enhance user experience by providing options for specifying difficulty levels, preparation time frames, and preferred cuisines. These additions will ensure that searches align closely with users' expectations, resulting in a more personalized and satisfying culinary journey. In addition to expanding our app's functionality, we're committed to leveraging Tech Chef as a platform for promoting sustainability and raising awareness about the significant impacts of food waste on our environment. Through informative content, tips, and resources integrated within the app, we aim to educate users about sustainable food practices and empower them to make conscious choices to reduce waste. By fostering a community of environmentally conscious individuals, Tech Chef strives to inspire positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come.