Show HN: Tinder, but to decide what to eat

kiru_io | 266 points | 8mon ago | whatdinner.com

Hello HN,

My girlfriend and I waste too much energy to decide what to eat. Every day, we would text each other, "what do we eat tonight" messages, and go over options and many times spend too much time on deciding. I am an indie dev and created this app to solve my own problem: decide with my girlfriend what to eat for dinner.

Initially, I created a simple app, in which we listed all the recipes we ever prepared, and it would propose randomly three of them. We would then choose together one of them. This app[0] turned into a tinder-like app, which would propose every day a set of recipes to my girlfriend and me - we would swipe and go for the first match.

If have some time, give it a try and feedback is very appreciated!

Cheers, Kiru

[0] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meal-planner-dinner-ideas/id64...

juliushuijnk|8mon ago

I work for a startup that provides meal plans. This and competing apps let you set requirements (kcal, intolerances, etc), also includes breakfast, etc. These apps are aimed at people that want to eat healthy and are looking for some inspiration.

You seem to go with user generated content, so the inspiration part is out, the health part is out, but you focus very much on the problem of forming a choice just for diner.

I do think this way your audience is huge, but the added value is a bit limited.

So you can decide to slowly move towards those other apps. Or, perhaps move away from it somehow. Maybe it's a generic tool to help you grow and maitain your relationship with your partner by providing tools that deal with each other preferences and choices within that relationship. Both practical and more emotional. But I guess I'm now more brainstorming :).

You can also just keep it small and have fun tinkering in a way that works for you. I read a comment:

> There are servers needed for the app to work, right? So I guess subscription makes sense?

Perhaps you don't really need servers. Keep the data just local on the app. Let people use regular chat for getting to a compromise. That way you could ask a one time fee of $5. It could be a (very) small passive income that doesn't require you much work, no moderation, no security risks.

Either way, good luck!

47282847|8mon ago

If you add machine learning to the mix like Tiktok, those that want healthy food will quickly end up with almost exclusively healthy recipes, and those that strongly prefer junk food will get their junk food. No need to programmatically take any of that into account besides time to swipe.

whiplash451|8mon ago

Great points. The health part can be incorporated back into the mix later as their app gets traction, as a subtle bias in the proposed choices and based on what they ate the previous days.

woodylondon|8mon ago

I like the idea and face the same challenge. I’ve just installed it and, from my first impressions, it seemed a bit basic. Here’s what I expected:

Hundreds of recipes that I could swipe left and right through, allowing me to build up a typical selection of what I would usually eat. Instead, I was presented with only three choices, none of which I would generally consider.

A simple way to send the code to my wife — via imessage, Telegram, etc. Instead, I had to tell her in person! :)

This presents the perfect opportunity to delve into shopping lists where the wife wants something healthy, and the I crave a burger. I can think of quite a few features you could add if the app develops further.

Also, like the comment below about having a stranger over for dinner (not for dating purposes), it could involve a couple or someone visiting a new country who would appreciate a local showing them around and perhaps covering the dinner cost. Once the app learns your food preferences and interests, that could be quite exciting! There might already be an app that does this; I’m not sure. Swiping left and right on both food likes / dislikes and also general interests.