1. EMPATHIZE
Who are they?
Nowadays, many university students are primarily self-reliant, often living independently and lacking fundamental cooking skills. As a result, they have the dilemma of changing their eating habits to either healthier or unhealthier styles. They behave with a mix of excitement and determination as they face the challenges of adapting to an unfamiliar environment and becoming self-sufficient. Their characteristics include unwillingness to learn how to contribute on their own and avoiding the responsibility of having the willingness to learn the skill of healthy cooking. They should learn the act of meal planning, grocery shopping and food preparation to enhance their self-reliance. Most of them adopt the thinking of '' I can't afford healthy food''. Consequently, many of these students resort to inexpensive frozen meals or fast-food options, which adversely affects their overall health. They yearn for affordable and nutritious homemade alternatives to address this issue.
2. DEFINE
The issue of inadequate nutrition among university students presents a range of symptoms, including vitamin deficiencies that hinder concentration. Furthermore, students on a poor diet often exhibit poor academic performance, suffer from persistent fatigue, and are susceptible to fluctuations in their mental well-being. Over time, their susceptibility to illnesses increases, potentially culminating in obesity. The root causes of this predicament are primarily twofold: limited financial resources and time constraints imposed by rigorous academic schedules. Another significant factor is a lack of culinary skills or motivation to acquire them, leading them to favour convenient yet unhealthy food choices. Finally, there is a pressing need to enhance the nutritional well-being of university students through accessible and affordable cooking recipes.
3. IDEATE
All the ideas
Following an analysis of the primary issue, we initiated the formulation of potential solutions, including some long-term strategies.
3.1 Promotions for healthy foods. Provide discounts to students for healthy foods and give them vouchers.
3.2 Healty club. To organize trips for healthy activities.
3.3 Nutrition apps. Develop or promote smartphone apps in collaboration with nutritionists.
3.4 Easy recepies website/apps. For students to find easy recepies to cook at home.
3.5 Access to healthy foods (putting vending machines near the university).
3.6 Meal planning and preparation (teach students basic cooking skills and meal preparation techniques).
3.7 Role modelling (cooking demonstrations and workshop by school and communities).
3.8 University lunch (ensure that university lunch restaurant offer nutritious and dietary guideline meals).
3.9 Nutrition workshop (host regular workshop to educate about balance diet importance).
3.10 Supportive environment (encourage healthy eating environments).
3.11 Campus garden. Establish campus community gardens where students can participate in gardening activities.
3.12 Social support. Create peer support through a community for motivating students for healthy living.
3.13 Physical activity. Encourage regular physical activity to complement a healthy diet.
3.14 Education. Provide nutrition education in schools to teach students about the importance of balanced diet.
FINAL IDEA
We decided to develop for university students a collection of healthy, cheap, and fast-to-prepare recipes catering for meat eaters and vegetarians. In addition, we will create a social media page where university students can learn how to cook quick, easy and healthy recipes after a long day at university. Students will contribute to this social media site by submitting their recipes to the student community.