Diet plan generation method, apparatus and computer implemented algorithm thereof

Abstract

A method for generating a meal plan is provided. The method can include obtaining dietary preference information of a user, obtaining existing ingredient information, determining a first set of dishes from a predetermined set of dishes based on the existing ingredient information and the dietary preference information of the user, obtaining user information, determining target values for each intake category based on the user information, obtaining at least one general rule, determining actual values for each intake category in the first set of dishes, determining a second set of dishes from the predetermined set of dishes based on differences between the target values and the actual values in the first set of dishes and the at least one general rule, and generating a meal plan including the first set of dishes and the second set of dishes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating meal plans and a computer-implemented algorithm thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Nutrition is a key driver of human health and well-being, and it is typically obtained from food (including beverages). Nutritional intake is particularly critical for certain populations, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with nutrition-related conditions (e.g., diabetes), and specific groups like the elderly with special nutritional needs. Therefore, it is essential to control / personalize nutritional intake based on the individual circumstances of each target person.

[0003] Some people plan their daily meals primarily based on their own eating habits and preferences, without paying much attention to nutritional balance and total energy intake. As a result, food diversity is limited, or people obtain far more energy than they need, which can lead to malnutrition, obesity, or other nutrition-related problems.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a system that provides intelligent meal planning to help people plan their daily meals.

[0005] To ensure that people can easily obtain the appropriate amount of all essential nutrients and follow recommended dietary plans, this invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer-implemented algorithm for generating dietary plans. These methods, apparatus, and algorithms are designed to optimize and personalize nutrient intake while simultaneously considering user preferences, available food sources, medical history, specific stages of life (e.g., pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum, or lactation), and activity levels. Target users may include pregnant women, pregnant women with diabetes, men, infants, children, the elderly, or any other individual. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a method and apparatus for generating meal plans, as well as a computer-implemented algorithm / method thereof.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide users with personalized meal plans.

[0008] This invention is defined according to the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 The method for generating meal plans is shown.

[0010] Figure 2This illustrates a method for classifying the first group of dishes after determining the first group of dishes from a predetermined set of dishes.

[0011] Figure 3 The method for determining the second group of dishes is shown.

[0012] Figure 4 A detailed method for determining additional meal options is shown.

[0013] Figure 5 The detailed method for determining the breakfast menu is shown.

[0014] Figure 6 The detailed method for determining the lunch menu is shown.

[0015] Figure 7 The detailed method for determining the dinner menu is shown.

[0016] Figure 8 An apparatus configured to perform some or all of the steps in this invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments, but should be understood to include all modifications, variations, equivalent devices and methods, and / or alternative embodiments of this disclosure.

[0018] The terms “have,” “may have,” “include,” and “may include” used in this document indicate the presence of a corresponding feature (e.g., an element such as a number, function, operation, or component), and do not exclude the presence of additional features.

[0019] The terms “A or B”, “at least one of A and / or B”, or “one or more of A and / or B” as used herein include all possible combinations of the items listed therein. For example, “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” means (1) including at least one A, (2) including at least one B, or (3) including at least one A and at least one B.

[0020] Terms such as "first" and "second" used herein may modify various elements regardless of their order and / or importance, and are not limiting. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another. For example, "first printing form" and "second printing form" may refer to different printing forms, regardless of their order or importance. For example, without departing from the scope of the invention, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

[0021] It should be understood that when an element (e.g., the first element) is "(operationally or communicatively) coupled to" or "connected to" another element (e.g., the second element), the element can be directly coupled to the other element, and an intermediate element (e.g., a third element) may exist between the element and the other element. Conversely, it should be understood that when an element (e.g., the first element) is "directly coupled to" or "directly connected to" another element (e.g., the second element), there is no intermediate element (e.g., a third element) between the element and the other element.

[0022] Depending on the context, the expression “configured as (or set to)” as used herein may be used interchangeably with “suitable for,” “capable of,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “manufactured as,” or “able to.” The term “configured as (or set to)” does not necessarily mean “specifically designed for” at the hardware level. Rather, the expression “the device is configured to…” may mean that the device, in a particular context, is “capable of…” together with other devices or components.

[0023] The terminology used to describe the various embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms used herein are intended to include the plural forms as well. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Unless explicitly defined herein, terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the same or similar meaning as in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or exaggerated meaning. As appropriate, even terms defined in this disclosure should not be construed as excluding embodiments of this disclosure.

[0024] This invention provides a method for generating a meal plan. The method may include: obtaining a user's dietary preference information; obtaining existing ingredient information; determining a first group of dishes from a predetermined set of dishes based on the existing ingredient information and the user's dietary preference information; obtaining user information; determining a target value for each intake category based on the user information; obtaining at least one general rule; determining the actual value for each intake category in the first group of dishes; determining a second group of dishes from the predetermined set of dishes based on the differences between these target values ​​and the actual values ​​in the first group of dishes, and the at least one general rule; and generating a meal plan including the first group of dishes and the second group of dishes.

[0025] Dietary preference information may include at least one of taste preference, seasoning preference, cooking type preference, ingredient preference, and cuisine preference, wherein the dietary preference information is pre-stored or obtained from an input module including a speech recognition module and / or a text recognition module.

[0026] The existing ingredient information may include information about one or more ingredients, and the existing ingredient information may be obtained through the user's text input, or identified from an image, or selected by the user from a predetermined database.

[0027] Each dish in the first group of dishes may include at least one of one, two or more ingredients included in the existing ingredient information.

[0028] The pre-selected menu may include a set of dishes stored in a pre-selected database, which may further include information about at least one food category and pre-selected dish combinations. Each of these dish combinations may include at least two dishes, and if one of the at least two dishes is included in the first set of dishes, both of the at least two dishes may be included in the meal plan. The at least one food category may include at least one of grains and cereals, fruits, dairy products, nuts, eggs, meat, and vegetables.

[0029] The user information may include at least one of the following: allergens, restricted foods, genetic / DNA information, number of meals per day, height, current weight, expected weight, gender, activity level and / or occupational information, location information, dietary history data, user pattern data, family history information and / or the stage the user is in, wherein the stage the user is in may be one of preconception, pregnancy, postpartum or lactation.

[0030] The intake category can be one of total calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, and at least one food category.

[0031] The meal plan may include at least one of the following: a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, a dinner menu, and an additional meal menu, and the additional meal menu may include at least one snack from at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, and the dinner menu.

[0032] This "at least one snack" can include at least one snack containing dairy products, nuts, and fruit.

[0033] The at least one general rule may include at least one predetermined rule regarding the following: daily energy allocation, the weight of each food category during the day, the number of dishes in at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, the dinner menu, and the supplementary meal menu, and / or the dish categories in at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, and the dinner menu, wherein these dish categories may include staple dishes, soup dishes, meat dishes, and vegetable dishes.

[0034] The predetermined rules regarding this energy allocation may include: the actual calorie value of the breakfast menu and at least one snack of the breakfast menu may be 30% of the total calorie target value; the actual calorie value of the lunch menu and at least one snack of the lunch menu may be 40% of the total calorie target value; and the actual calorie value of the dinner menu and at least one snack of the dinner menu may be 30% of the total calorie target value.

[0035] The weight of each food category can be determined based on the user's stage of life, which can be pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum, or breastfeeding.

[0036] The breakfast menu may include three dishes.

[0037] The lunch menu may include three dishes.

[0038] The lunch menu may include main dishes, a soup, meat dishes, and / or vegetable dishes.

[0039] The dinner menu may include three dishes.

[0040] The dinner menu can include main dishes, soups or meat dishes, and vegetable dishes.

[0041] The additional meal menu may include two snacks from the breakfast menu, two snacks from the lunch menu, and one snack from the dinner menu.

[0042] The additional meal menu can include categories such as nuts, dairy products, and fruits.

[0043] After determining the first group of dishes from the predetermined menu, the method may further include: if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a first label, classifying the at least one dish with the first label into an additional meal menu; if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a second label, classifying the at least one dish with the second label into a breakfast menu. If at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a third label, the dish with the third label shall be classified into the lunch menu; and if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a fourth label, the dish with the fourth label shall be classified into the dinner menu.

[0044] Determining the second group of dishes from the predetermined menu may include: determining a target value for each intake category in the additional meal menu based on the at least one general rule, and, if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes categorized into the additional meal menu is less than the target value for the corresponding intake category in the additional meal menu, determining one or more dishes with the first label from the predetermined menu to be included in the additional meal menu based on the at least one general rule; determining a target value for each intake category in the breakfast menu based on the at least one general rule, and, if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes categorized into the breakfast menu is less than the target value for the corresponding intake category in the breakfast menu, determining one or more dishes with the second label from the predetermined menu based on the at least one general rule. Multiple dishes are included in the breakfast menu; a target value for each intake category in the lunch menu is determined based on the at least one general rule, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the lunch menu is less than the target value of each corresponding intake category in the lunch menu, one or more dishes with the third label are determined from the predetermined set of dishes based on the at least one general rule to be included in the lunch menu; and a target value for each intake category in the dinner menu is determined based on the at least one general rule, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the dinner menu is less than the target value of each corresponding intake category in the dinner menu, one or more dishes with the fourth label are determined from the predetermined set of dishes based on the at least one general rule to be included in the dinner menu.

[0045] The method may further include: sending a notification to the user when the actual intake of an ingredient included in the dietary history is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold and / or generating a dietary plan without dishes containing that ingredient based on at least one general rule, wherein the dietary history is a daily history or a weekly history.

[0046] The dietary preference information can be pre-stored or obtained from an input module that includes a speech recognition module and / or a text recognition module.

[0047] The user information can be pre-stored or obtained from an input module that includes a speech recognition module and / or a text recognition module.

[0048] The determination of this target value can be further based on standard nutrient recommendations according to the user's user information.

[0049] The determination of this target value can be further based on the user's biometric information, microbiome information, and / or blood glucose information.

[0050] This application provides an apparatus. The apparatus can be configured to include at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor can be configured to perform the above-described method for generating a meal plan.

[0051] This application provides a storage medium. The storage medium can be configured to store computer instructions, wherein these instructions can be configured to control at least one processor to execute the method described above for generating a meal plan.

[0052] Figure 1 A method for generating a meal plan is illustrated. The meal plan can be a plan that includes multiple dishes selected from a predetermined set of dishes (e.g., including a first set of dishes and / or a second set of dishes). A dish can be a food (including a beverage), such as a solid or paste-like food, colloid, liquid / solution, snack, or beverage. Dishes can be based on one or more recipes. The predetermined set of dishes can be obtained from at least one database from different food platforms (e.g., cooking apps or food delivery platforms). Preferably, the predetermined set of dishes is obtained from a database that integrates dishes from databases of different food platforms (e.g., excluding duplicate dishes) or only contains duplicate dishes from databases of different food platforms.

[0053] The meal plan may include at least one of a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, a dinner menu, and an additional meal menu. The breakfast menu may include at least one dish; the lunch menu may include at least one dish; the dinner menu may include at least one dish; and the additional meal menu may include at least one snack. The additional meal menu may include at least one snack from at least one of the breakfast menu, lunch menu, and / or dinner menu. For example, the additional meal menu may include, but is not limited to, nuts, dairy products, and / or fruit. Preferably, the additional meal menu may include one nut snack (with a predetermined serving size by weight or volume), one dairy snack (with a predetermined serving size by weight or volume), and three fruit snacks (each with a predetermined serving size by weight or volume). Nuts may include, but are not limited to, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, etc. Dairy products may include, but are not limited to, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Fruits may include, but are not limited to, apples, pears, cherries, oranges, etc. For example, one nut snack may be 100 grams of almonds, one dairy snack may be 50 grams of blue cheese, and three fruit snacks may be 80 grams of apples, 80 grams of grapes, and 50 grams of oranges or 50 ml of orange juice. The breakfast menu may include, but is not limited to, at least one dish, such as noodles, porridge, steamed buns, dumplings, omelets, or cereals. Preferably, breakfast may include three dishes, including an egg dish, a noodle / porridge dish, and a cooked pasta dish (such as steamed buns or dumplings). The lunch and / or dinner menus may each include at least one dish from lunch and / or dinner. For example, the lunch and / or dinner menus may include, but are not limited to, at least one of stir-fries, salads, boiled vegetables and meats, or steamed dishes. Preferably, the lunch and / or dinner menus may include three dishes. Preferably, the lunch and / or dinner menus may include at least one staple food dish. For example, the lunch and / or dinner menus may include, but are not limited to, at least one of rice, noodles, or cooked pasta.

[0054] In step 101, the user's dietary preference information is obtained. Dietary preference information may include at least one of the following: taste preference, seasoning preference, cooking type preference, ingredient preference, and cuisine preference. Specifically, taste preference may include, but is not limited to, preferences for salty, sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, and umami flavors. Seasoning preference may include, but is not limited to, preferences for, for example, garlic, ginger, scallions, black pepper, white pepper, and mint. Cooking type preference may include, but is not limited to, methods such as roasting, frying, boiling, steaming, stir-frying, and stewing. Ingredient preference may include, for example, preferences for meat, seafood, eggs, soy products, and vegetables. Ingredient preference may further include preferences for specific food categories. For example, a user may prefer pork to beef, and / or shrimp to seafood. The user's dietary preference information may be obtained via text or voice input, or by user selection from a first predetermined database, wherein the first predetermined database may be a predetermined database storing various information related to dietary preference information. Dietary preference information may be obtained via input from a keyboard, microphone, touchscreen, or any other input method from a device.

[0055] In step 102, existing ingredient information is obtained. This information can be about available ingredients or ingredients the user wants to include in the meal plan. The existing ingredient information can be obtained via text or voice input from the user, or by recognition from an image, or by user selection from a second predetermined database. The second predetermined database may be the same as or different from the first predetermined database.

[0056] In step 103, a first set of dishes is determined from a pre-selected menu based on existing ingredient information and the user's dietary preferences. The pre-selected menu may include dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and additional meal menus. For example, the pre-selected menu may be a set of dishes selected from different platforms. Preferably, the pre-selected menu may include duplicate dishes from different platforms and / or a set of dishes with a rating higher than 8.5. The pre-selected menu may be stored in a third pre-selected database, which may further include information about at least one food category and pre-selected dish combinations. The third pre-selected database may be the same as or different from the first and / or second pre-selected databases. A pre-selected dish combination may include at least two dishes, wherein if one of the at least two dishes has been included in the first set of dishes, both dishes may be included in the meal plan. The at least one food category may include at least one of grains and cereals, fruits, dairy products, nuts, eggs, meat, and vegetables.

[0057] After obtaining the user's dietary preferences and existing ingredient information, a first group of dishes can be determined from a pre-defined menu. Each dish in the first group can include at least one, two, or more ingredients listed in the existing ingredient information. For example, after receiving dietary preference information that the user prefers pork to beef, prefers spicy food, and prefers stir-fries, and receiving information that the user has potatoes in their refrigerator, dishes that meet the criteria (user's dietary preferences and existing ingredient information) are then included in the first group. For example, spicy pork stir-fry with onions and stir-fried potato slices can be included in the first group and can be recommended to the user later in a meal plan.

[0058] In step 104, user information is obtained. User information may include information related to the user, such as at least one of the following: allergens, restricted foods, genetic / DNA information, number of meals per day, height, current weight, expected weight, gender, activity level and / or occupational information, location information, user pattern data, dietary history, family history information, and / or the user's stage of life, such as preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, or lactation. User information may further include other information, such as health status, diseases, body mass index (BMI), age, etc. For example, diseases may include hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hypertension, hypotension, etc.

[0059] User pattern data may include data on at least one of the following: meal plans (e.g., recently selected (or saved, searched, commented, viewed beyond a predetermined time period, etc.) meal plans) or ingredients. User pattern data may further include other user data when the user uses this method to obtain meal plan recommendations (e.g., when using an application / software implementing this method). Location information may be the user's current or previous location, such as birthplace, location where the user spent the most time in a past predetermined time period, etc. Family history information may be relevant information about the user's family members, such as family member medical records, family member weight, family member dietary preferences, etc. User weight data may include the user's current weight, user weight change data over a past time period, user weight change data related to meal plans, expected weight, etc. User weight change data can be very important because it provides clues about dynamic changes in body / weight, allowing for more accurate meal plan recommendations / ratings based on these changes. For example, overweight users who are losing weight too quickly may be unhealthy, so the recommended diet may temporarily include more energy / calories; or users who are gaining weight too quickly should slowly reduce the energy in the recommended diet rather than immediately reducing calories.

[0060] User information can be obtained through text or voice input by the user, or by user selection from a fourth predetermined database. For example, user information can be obtained via at least one of the following methods: a keyboard, microphone, camera, touchscreen, or any other means. The fourth predetermined database for storing user information can be the same as, or different from, the database storing preference information and / or ingredient information and / or predetermined menus.

[0061] In step 105, a target value (or multiple target values, which are used interchangeably in this document) is determined for each intake category based on user information. The target value can be a standard or recommended intake (e.g., mass, volume, or according to any other measurement method) during a specific time period (e.g., a day, a week, a month, the entire pregnancy, etc.). The target value can include at least one of the target values ​​for each intake category, and the intake category can be one of calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, and at least one food category, wherein the macronutrients, micronutrients, and at least one food category can be predetermined. For example, a food category can include at least one of the following: cereals / grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, legumes / nuts, sweets / sugars, water, meat, poultry, fish, etc. Macronutrients can include at least one of the following: energy, fat, protein, carbohydrates, etc. Micronutrients may include at least one of the following: calcium, iron (Fe), zinc, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin E, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), etc.

[0062] The target value can be further determined based on at least one lookup table that provides a mapping between user information and standard target values. Data for these lookup tables can be obtained from hospitals, nutrition research institutions, etc. The target value can also be determined based on at least one trained AI model. Each of the at least one trained AI model can be a model capable of determining the user's target value based on user information. Once trained, the at least one trained AI model can output the target value based on the user information input. Data for these trained AI models can be obtained from hospitals, nutrition research institutions, etc.

[0063] Preferably, if the user is in a specific stage, the target value can be further determined based on the user's stage information. Stage information can be about the user's current stage, such as pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy, pregnancy (e.g., mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy), postpartum, or lactation, where the postpartum period can represent the time after childbirth when the woman is not breastfeeding her infant. For example, this period could be six months.

[0064] For example, calorie targets can be determined based on at least one of the following: weight gain in early pregnancy, weight gain in mid and late pregnancy, and weight gain during lactation within a predetermined period. In this example, the correlation between target values ​​and stage information is shown in Tables 1 through 3; that is, target values ​​can be determined based on Tables 1 through 3. The data in Tables 1 through 3 are advantageous and can provide users with recommendations / determinations of healthy / appropriate target values ​​based on studies of large population samples.

[0065] Table 1

[0066] Table 2

[0067] Table 3 Preferably, the target value can be further determined based on the user's activity level information and / or occupational information. Activity level information can be information indicating the user's physical activity level. Activity levels can be categorized into three different activity levels (i.e., low activity level, moderate activity level, and high activity level) and can have different effects on the target value. Users whose calorie consumption is below or equal to a first calorie threshold can be identified as having a low activity level; users whose calorie consumption is above the first calorie threshold but below or equal to a second calorie threshold can be identified as having a moderate activity level; and users whose calorie consumption is above the second calorie threshold can be identified as having a high activity level. More levels can be defined in a similar manner when determining the target value. Occupational information can be used to reflect activity level information and therefore can be used to determine the target value. For example, if the user is male and an athlete, the user's target value can be much higher than the standard recommendation for the actual value. An example of the correlation between target values ​​and activity levels for males is shown in Table 4, based on studies of large population samples, and the target value can be determined accordingly.

[0068]

[0069] Table 4 In Table 4, low activity levels indicate that a user's occupation does not involve much physical activity. For example, low activity levels could represent the activity level of users who work in offices and are always sedentary, and / or users who only engage in limited physical activity (such as occasional yoga or walking). Moderate activity levels indicate that a user's occupation requires standing or walking. For example, moderate activity levels could represent the activity level of users who may sometimes jog, dance, do housework, etc. High activity levels indicate that a user's occupation involves much physical activity. For example, high activity levels could represent users who may be engaged in physically demanding work and / or who frequently participate in sports such as cycling, sprinting, skiing, etc.

[0070] As an example, for women, based on studies of large population samples, the correlation between target values, stage information, and activity level information is shown in Tables 5 to 9, which can be used to determine target values.

[0071]

[0072] Table 5

[0073] Table 6

[0074] Table 7

[0075] Table 8

[0076] Table 9 As an example, for women, based on studies of large population samples, Tables 10 to 16 show the correlation between target values, stage information, and activity level information, which can be used to determine target values. In these tables, ht(m) 2 This represents the square of the user's height (in meters).

[0077]

[0078] Table 10

[0079] Table 11

[0080] Table 12

[0081] Table 13

[0082] Table 14

[0083] Table 15

[0084] Table 16 When determining one or more target values ​​for a user, the target values ​​for different intake categories can be determined in separate AI models, or the target values ​​for different intake categories can be determined in the same AI model, or some of the target values ​​for different intake categories can be determined in different AI models and some of the target values ​​for different intake categories can be determined in the same AI model.

[0085] In step 106, at least one general rule is obtained. This at least one general rule may include at least one predetermined rule regarding at least one of the following: daily energy allocation, the weight of each food category throughout the day, the number of dishes in at least one of the breakfast menu, lunch menu, dinner menu, and supplementary meal menus, and the dish categories in at least one of the breakfast menu, lunch menu, and dinner menu, wherein these dish categories may include staple dishes, soup dishes, meat dishes, and vegetable dishes. Meat dishes may contain only meat or a mixture of meat and vegetables. Vegetable dishes may contain only vegetables.

[0086] For example, a day's energy allocation could be as follows: the actual calorie value of the breakfast menu and at least one snack from the breakfast menu could be 30% of the total calorie target; the actual calorie value of the lunch menu and at least one snack from the lunch menu could be 40% of the total calorie target; and the actual calorie value of the dinner menu and at least one snack from the dinner menu could be 30% of the total calorie target, where the total calories could be the sum of the calories for the day, including the calories of all dishes in the extra meal menu, breakfast menu, lunch menu, and dinner menu.

[0087] For example, a meal plan may include at least one of a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, a dinner menu, and an additional meal menu, wherein the additional meal menu may include at least one snack from at least one of the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. The breakfast menu may include, but is not limited to, at least one dish, such as noodles, porridge, steamed buns, dumplings, omelets, cereals, etc. Preferably, breakfast may include three dishes, including an egg dish, a noodle / porridge dish, and a cooked pasta dish (such as steamed buns, dumplings, etc.). The lunch and / or dinner menu may include at least one dish from lunch and / or dinner. For example, the lunch and / or dinner menu may include, but is not limited to, at least one of stir-fries, salads, boiled vegetables and meats, steamed dishes, etc. Preferably, the lunch and / or dinner menu may include three dishes. Preferably, the lunch and / or dinner menu may include at least one main dish. For example, the lunch menu may include, but is not limited to, one main dish, one soup, one meat dish, or one vegetable dish. For example, the dinner menu may include, but is not limited to, one main dish, one soup or one meat dish, and one vegetable dish. Meat dishes may contain only meat or a mixture of meat and vegetables. Vegetable dishes may contain only vegetables. Additional meal plans may include two snacks from the breakfast menu, two snacks from the lunch menu, and one snack from the dinner menu. Preferably, additional meal plans may include one nut snack, one dairy snack, and three fruit snacks.

[0088] For example, the weight of each food category for a day can be obtained based on user information, preferably further based on the user's stage of life and / or occupational information. The user's stage of life can be, for example, pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy, pregnancy (e.g., mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy), postpartum, or lactation, where the postpartum period can represent the time a woman does not breastfeed her infant after childbirth (e.g., 6 months). As an example, based on a study of a large population sample, the weight of each food category for a day can be determined as shown in Table 17.

[0089]

[0090] Table 17 In step 107, the actual value for each intake category in the first group of dishes is determined. The actual value for each intake category in the first group of dishes can be determined based on the portion size (by weight or volume) of each intake category included in the first group of dishes.

[0091] In step 108, a second set of dishes is determined from a predetermined set of dishes based on the difference between the target value and the actual value in the first set of dishes, and at least one general rule. The second set of dishes can be a set of dishes determined from the predetermined set of dishes based on at least one general rule to compensate for the intake difference between the target value and the actual value in the first set of dishes. The predetermined set of dishes can be stored in a third predetermined database, which includes, for example, a set of dishes for breakfast menus, a set of dishes for lunch menus, a set of dishes for dinner menus, and a set of dishes / snacks for extra meal menus from different platforms. The predetermined set of dishes used to determine the second set of dishes can be the same as the predetermined set of dishes used to determine the first set of dishes.

[0092] In step 109, a meal plan including a first set of dishes and a second set of dishes is generated.

[0093] Figure 2 A method for classifying a first group of dishes after determining it from a predetermined menu set (e.g., step 103) is illustrated. This method can be used to determine whether a rule is met. A third predetermined database storing the first group of dishes may further include tag information. The tag information may be information about at least one tag. Each dish in the predetermined menu set has a corresponding tag, and this tag can be used to indicate whether the dish can be classified into a breakfast menu, lunch menu, dinner menu, or additional meal menu. For example, a first tag can be used to indicate that the corresponding dish can be classified into an additional meal menu, a second tag can be used to indicate that the corresponding dish can be classified into a breakfast menu, a third tag can be used to indicate that the corresponding dish can be classified into a lunch menu, and a fourth tag can be used to indicate that the corresponding dish can be classified into a dinner menu.

[0094] In step 201, if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a first label, the at least one dish with the first label can be classified into the additional meal menu.

[0095] In step 202, if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a second label, the at least one dish with the second label can be classified into the breakfast menu.

[0096] In step 203, if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a third label, the at least one dish with the third label can be classified into the lunch menu.

[0097] In step 204, if at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a fourth label, the at least one dish with the fourth label can be classified into the dinner menu.

[0098] Figure 3This illustrates a method for determining a second group of dishes based on a first group of dishes and at least one general rule (as an example of step 108, which can be combined with...). Figure 1 (any other combination of steps in the process), wherein the first set of dishes can be determined based on existing ingredient information and user preference information (e.g., step 103). Specifically, after receiving existing ingredient information and user preference information, the first set of dishes can be determined from a third pre-defined database, and the third pre-defined database can store pre-defined dish sets. For example, the pre-defined dish sets may include a set of dishes for a breakfast menu, a set of dishes for a lunch menu, a set of dishes for a dinner menu, and a set of dishes for additional meal menus. However, the actual value of at least one intake category in the first set of dishes may not meet the target value for that at least one intake category. In this case, a second set of dishes can be determined as follows to meet the target value for each intake category (e.g., as in step 108).

[0099] In step 301, if the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes categorized into the additional meal menu is less than a first threshold value for the corresponding at least one intake category in the additional meal menu, it can be determined that the second group of dishes should include at least one snack based on the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding target value of the at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. The first threshold can be predetermined or input by the user.

[0100] For example, if the first set of dishes includes only one serving of fruit snack, then the second set of dishes for the supplementary meal menu can include one dairy snack, one nut snack, and two additional fruit snacks. The intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding target value of the dishes in the supplementary meal menu can be less than or equal to a first threshold.

[0101] In step 302, if the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the breakfast menu is less than the target value of the corresponding at least one intake category in the breakfast menu, one or more dishes with a first label can be further determined from the predetermined set of dishes for the breakfast menu based on the intake difference between the at least one target value and the corresponding actual value of the at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0102] For example, if the first group of dishes contains one or more dishes, such as steamed buns, porridge, or cereals, then at least one dish from the first group of dishes with a second label can be categorized into the breakfast menu. If the actual calorie value of at least one dish from the first group of dishes with a second label is less than a second threshold value, it can be determined, based on the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding calorie target value and at least one general rule as defined in step 106, that the second group of dishes with a second label should further include one or more dishes for breakfast. The second threshold can be predetermined or input by the user.

[0103] For example, if the first set of dishes includes meat buns but not any other dishes for breakfast, two additional dishes can be determined for the second set of dishes for breakfast according to at least one general rule as defined in step 106, such that the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding target value of the dishes in the breakfast menu can be lower than or equal to the second threshold.

[0104] In step 303, if the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the lunch menu is less than the target value of the corresponding at least one intake category in the lunch menu, one or more dishes with a third label can be further determined from the predetermined set of dishes for the lunch menu based on the intake difference between the at least one target value and the corresponding actual value of the at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0105] For example, if the first group of dishes contains one or more dishes, such as Mapo Tofu and Peking Duck, at least one dish with a third label from the first group can be categorized into the lunch menu. If the actual calorie value of at least one dish with a third label from the first group is less than a third threshold than the corresponding calorie target value, it can be determined that the second group of dishes should further include one or more dishes with a third label for the lunch menu, based on the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding calorie target value and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. The third threshold can be predetermined or input by the user.

[0106] For example, if the first group of dishes includes Peking duck, Mapo tofu, and stir-fried cabbage but not any other dishes with the third label, then the second group of dishes can be defined as having one soup and one main dish with the third label, such that the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding target value of the dishes in the lunch menu can be lower than or equal to the third threshold. This lunch menu includes one soup and one main dish from the second group of dishes, and one dish from the first group of dishes (e.g., a meat dish or a vegetable dish selected from Peking duck, Mapo tofu, and stir-fried cabbage). The meat dish can contain only meat or a mixture of meat and vegetables. The vegetable dish can contain only vegetables.

[0107] In step 304, if the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the dinner menu is less than the calorie target value of the dinner menu, one or more dishes with a fourth label can be further determined from the predetermined set of dishes for the dinner menu based on the intake difference between at least one target value and the corresponding actual value of the at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0108] For example, if the first group of dishes contains one or more dishes, such as Mapo Tofu, Peking Duck, and Stir-fried Cabbage, then at least one dish from the first group with a fourth tag can be categorized into the dinner menu. The fourth threshold can be predefined or input by the user.

[0109] For example, if the first group of dishes includes Peking duck, Mapo tofu, and stir-fried cabbage but not any other dishes for dinner, then since two of the Peking duck, Mapo tofu, and stir-fried cabbage dishes (e.g., Peking duck and Mapo tofu) have already been selected for lunch, the remaining dish (i.e., stir-fried cabbage) can be selected for dinner. To satisfy at least one general rule, such as dinner including either a meat dish or a vegetable dish, a soup dish, and a staple food dish, a staple food dish and a soup dish with a fourth label can be further identified to be included in the second group of dishes for dinner, such that the intake difference between the actual value and the corresponding target value of the dishes in the dinner menu can be lower than or equal to the fourth threshold.

[0110] Figure 4A detailed method for determining an additional meal menu is shown (as an example of step 301). The additional meal menu may include at least one snack for breakfast, lunch, and / or dinner. If the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes with a first label does not meet the target value determined for the corresponding at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106, nuts and / or dairy products and / or fruits may be randomly selected from a third predetermined database to meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule (as shown in 401 and 402).

[0111] For example, if the ingredient information includes nuts but excludes dairy and fruit, the first set of dishes may not include dairy and fruit. To satisfy at least one general rule as defined in step 106 and the target value for each intake category, one dairy snack and three fruit snacks can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database. The recommended additional meal menu can then include one nut snack, one dairy snack, and three fruit snacks. The actual values ​​for each intake category in the additional meal menu can satisfy the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0112] Figure 5 The detailed method for determining the breakfast menu is shown (as an example of step 302).

[0113] If the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes used in the breakfast menu does not meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106, one or more dishes with a second label for the breakfast menu can be further determined from a third predetermined database to be included in the second group of dishes, such that the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule are met. For example, if the first group of dishes includes a meat bun dish but does not include any egg dishes or any porridge / noodle dishes, then an egg dish and a porridge / noodle dish can be included in the second group of dishes to meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule. Thus, the breakfast menu may include a meat bun dish, an egg dish, and a porridge / noodle dish. At least one actual value of the breakfast menu can meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule.

[0114] When determining the dishes for the breakfast menu, it can be first determined whether a staple dish is included in the first group of dishes. A staple dish with a second label for breakfast could be, for example, a meat bun, a vegetable bun, or bread. If the first group of dishes does not include a staple dish with a second label for breakfast, a staple dish with a second label for breakfast can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database to be included in the second group of dishes to meet the target values ​​determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first group of dishes includes a staple dish with a second label for breakfast, the actual calorie value of that staple dish can be calculated. If the actual calorie value of a staple dish with a second label is greater than the calorie target value for the breakfast menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of that staple dish can be adjusted until the actual calorie value of that staple dish is less than the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu. If the actual calorie value of that staple dish is less than the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu, it can be determined whether an egg dish with a second label is already included in the first group of dishes.

[0115] If the first set of dishes does not include an egg dish with a second label for the breakfast menu, an egg dish with a second label can be randomly selected from a second predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes an egg dish with a second label for breakfast, the actual calorie values ​​of the main dish with the second label and the egg dish can be calculated. If the actual calorie values ​​of the main dish with the second label and the egg dish are greater than the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the main dish with the second label and the egg dish can be adjusted until the actual calorie values ​​of the main dish with the second label and the egg dish are less than the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu. If the actual calorie values ​​of the main dish with the second label and the egg dish are less than the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu, it can be determined whether the first set of dishes already includes a porridge / noodle dish with a second label.

[0116] If the first set of dishes does not include a porridge / noodle dish with a second label for breakfast, a porridge / noodle dish with a second label for the breakfast menu can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database to be included in the second set of dishes to meet the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes a porridge / noodle dish with a second label for breakfast, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the porridge / noodle dish with the second label is determined based on the actual calorie values ​​of a staple dish and an egg dish and the target value determined for each intake category of the breakfast menu. For example, the quantity of the porridge / noodle dish is determined based on the intake difference between the actual calorie values ​​of the staple dish and the egg dish with the second label and the calorie target value determined for the breakfast menu, and at least one general rule.

[0117] Once the breakfast menu has been determined, including one main dish with a second label, one egg dish, and one porridge / noodle dish, the determined dishes can be added to the meal plan as the breakfast menu and recommended to users.

[0118] Figure 6 A detailed method for determining a lunch menu is illustrated (as an example of step 303). If the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes for the lunch menu does not meet the target value determined for that at least one intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106, one or more dishes with a third label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database to be included in the second group of dishes, such that the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106 are met. For example, if the first group of dishes includes two meat dishes but no vegetable or soup dishes, one main dish and one soup dish with a third label can be randomly selected to be included in the second group of dishes, such that the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule are met. Thus, the lunch menu may include one meat dish, one main dish, and one soup dish. The actual value of each intake category in the lunch menu can meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. Preferably, the lunch menu may include one main dish with a third label, one soup dish, and one meat or vegetable dish.

[0119] When determining the dishes for the lunch menu, it can be first determined whether the first set of dishes already includes a meat dish or a vegetable dish with a third label. The meat dish can contain only meat or a mixture of meat and vegetables. The vegetable dish can contain only vegetables. A meat dish with a third label could be, for example, Peking duck. A vegetable dish with a third label could be, for example, Mapo tofu or stir-fried cabbage. If the first set of dishes does not include a meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label for the lunch menu, a meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the target values ​​determined for each intake category of the lunch menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label is greater than the calorie target value for the lunch menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label can be adjusted until the actual calorie value of the meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label is less than the calorie target value determined for the lunch menu. If the first set of dishes already includes a meat dish or a vegetable dish with a third label for the lunch menu, the actual calorie value of that meat dish or vegetable dish with the third label can be calculated. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or vegetable dish with a third label is less than the calorie target value determined for the lunch menu, it can be determined as follows whether the first set of dishes already includes a soup dish with a third label.

[0120] If the first set of dishes does not include a soup dish with a third label for the lunch menu, a soup dish with a third label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the target value determined for each intake category of the lunch menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes a soup dish with a third label for the lunch menu, the actual calorie value of that meat dish or dish and soup dish with the third label can be calculated. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or vegetable dish and soup dish with a fourth label is greater than the calorie target value determined for the lunch menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the meat dish or vegetable dish and soup dish with the third label can be adjusted until the actual calorie value of the meat dish or vegetable dish and soup dish with the third label is less than the calorie target value determined for the lunch menu. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or a vegetable dish and a soup dish with a third label is less than the calorie target value determined for the lunch menu, then it can be determined as follows whether a main dish with a third label has been included in the first group of dishes.

[0121] If the first set of dishes does not include a main dish with a third label for the lunch menu, a main dish with a third label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the target value determined for each intake category of the lunch menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes a main dish with a third label for the lunch menu, the amount of the main dish with a third label is determined based on the actual calorie value of a meat dish or a vegetable dish and a soup dish and the target value determined for each intake category of the lunch menu. For example, the amount (e.g., weight) of the main dish with a third label is determined based on the intake difference between the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of a meat dish or a vegetable dish and a soup dish with a third label and the target value determined for each intake category of the lunch menu, and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0122] Once the lunch menu has been determined to include a main dish with a third label, a meat dish or a vegetable dish, and a soup dish, these dishes can be added to the meal plan as the lunch menu and recommended to users.

[0123] Figure 7A detailed method for determining the dinner menu is illustrated (as an example of step 304). If the actual value of at least one intake category in the first group of dishes for the dinner menu does not meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106, one or more dishes with a fourth label can be further randomly selected from a third predetermined database to be included in the second group of dishes, such that the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule as defined in step 106 are met. For example, if the first group of dishes includes two meat dishes but no vegetable dishes or soup dishes, one vegetable dish and one staple food dish with a fourth label can be further randomly selected to be included in the second group of dishes, such that the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule are met. Thus, the dinner menu may include one meat dish or one soup dish with a fourth label, one vegetable dish, and one staple food dish. The actual value of each intake category in the dinner menu can meet the target value determined for each intake category and at least one general rule.

[0124] When determining the dishes for the dinner menu, it can be first determined whether the first group of dishes already includes a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label. The meat dish can contain only meat or a mixture of meat and vegetables. Meat dishes can be, for example, Peking duck. Soup dishes can be, for example, tomato egg soup, spinach egg soup, etc. If the first group of dishes does not include a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second group of dishes, thereby satisfying the target values ​​determined for each intake category of the dinner menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label is greater than the calorie target value determined for the dinner menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label can be adjusted until the actual calorie value of the meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label is less than the calorie target value determined for the dinner menu. If the first set of dishes already includes a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, the actual calorie value of that meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label can be calculated. If the actual calorie value of a meat dish or soup dish with a fourth label is less than the calorie target value determined for the dinner menu, it can be determined whether the first set of dishes already includes a vegetable dish with a fourth label as follows. The vegetable dish may contain only vegetables.

[0125] If the first set of dishes does not include a vegetable dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, a vegetable dish with a fourth label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the target value determined for each intake category of the dinner menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes a vegetable dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of that meat dish or soup dish with the fourth label and that vegetable dish can be calculated. If the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of that meat dish or soup dish with the fourth label and that vegetable dish is greater than the calorie target value determined for the dinner menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of that meat dish or soup dish with the fourth label and that vegetable dish can be adjusted until the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of that meat dish or soup dish and that vegetable dish is less than the calorie target value determined for the dinner menu. If the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of a meat dish or a soup dish and a vegetable dish with the fourth label is less than the calorie target value set for the dinner menu, then it can be determined as follows whether a main dish with the fourth label has already been included in the first group of dishes.

[0126] If the first set of dishes does not include a main dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, a main dish with a fourth label can be randomly selected from a third predetermined database for inclusion in the second set of dishes, thereby satisfying the target value determined for each intake category of the dinner menu and at least one general rule as defined in step 106. If the first set of dishes already includes a main dish with a fourth label for the dinner menu, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the main dish with a fourth label is determined based on the actual calorie values ​​of a meat dish or a soup dish and a vegetable dish with a fourth label and the target value determined for each intake category of the dinner menu. For example, the quantity (e.g., weight) of the main dish with a fourth label is determined based on the intake difference between the sum of the actual calorie values ​​of a meat dish or a soup dish and a vegetable dish with a fourth label and the target value determined for each intake category of the dinner menu, and at least one general rule as defined in step 106.

[0127] Once you have determined the dishes for your dinner menu, which will include a main dish, a meat dish, or a soup and a vegetable dish, you can add these dishes to the meal plan as the dinner menu and recommend them to users.

[0128] In the method provided by this invention, if the actual intake of a certain ingredient included in the dietary history is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold, a notification is sent to the user and / or a dietary plan without dishes containing that ingredient is generated based on at least one general rule. The dietary history is a daily or weekly history, allowing the user to have a more balanced dietary plan. For example, if a user has eaten pork five times in the past week, a notification can be sent to the user indicating excessive pork intake, and / or dishes containing pork in the generated dietary plan can be replaced with dishes containing beef, lamb, or fish.

[0129] The present invention may further include an apparatus comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor may be configured to perform some or all of the steps of the present invention.

[0130] Figure 8 A block diagram of an example device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0131] The device 800 may be configured to perform some or all of the steps in this invention, and may include an input module 801, a storage unit 802, a processor 803, and a display 804. The electronic device 800 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, etc.

[0132] The input module 801 can be used for user input of information. This information can be at least one of the following: dietary preference information, existing food information, user information, etc. For example, the input module 801 can be a keyboard, microphone, touch screen, camera, etc.

[0133] Storage unit 802 may store information from the method of the present invention (e.g., Figures 1 to 7 The storage unit 802 may store at least one of the following: dietary preference information input by the user or predetermined information; existing ingredient information; user information; at least one general rule; label information; dietary history; and procedures and / or instructions for determining a first group of dishes from a predetermined set of dishes; determining a target value for each intake category; determining the actual value for each intake category in the first group of dishes; determining a second group of dishes from the predetermined set of dishes; and generating a meal plan. Optionally, the storage unit 802 may further store procedures and / or instructions for classifying at least one dish from the first group of dishes into an additional meal menu, a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, and a dinner menu based on label information, and procedures and / or instructions for sending a notification to the user and / or generating a meal plan when the actual intake of an ingredient included in the dietary history is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold.

[0134] Storage unit 802 may include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. Storage unit 802 may be disposed within a device. Alternatively or additionally, storage unit 802 may be disposed on a server connected via a network (such as the Internet) (e.g., cloud storage). Storage unit 802 may be an accumulative storage device, wherein data is added each time new input occurs. Therefore, storage unit 802 may include all input data.

[0135] Processor 803 may be configured to perform some or all of the steps in this invention (e.g., Figures 1 to 7 (The method described in the text). For example, processor 803 can be configured to determine a first group of dishes from a predetermined menu set, determine a target value for each intake category, determine the actual value for each intake category in the first group of dishes, determine a second group of dishes from the predetermined menu set, and generate a meal plan. Optionally, processor 803 can be further configured to categorize at least one dish from the first group of dishes into an additional meal menu, a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, and a dinner menu based on corresponding tags, and can be further configured to send a notification to the user and / or generate a meal plan if the actual intake of an ingredient included in the dietary history is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold.

[0136] In the method of the present invention, the display 804 may be configured to display at least one of, for example, information input by a user, information determined by a processor, and information generated by a device.

[0137] The input module 801 and the display 804 can be separate components of the electronic device. Alternatively, the input module 801 and the display 804 can be integrated. For example, the input module 801 can be part of the display 804.

[0138] The present invention may further relate to a storage medium including program instructions for instructing an electronic device to perform any of the methods described above.

[0139] Furthermore, while specific embodiments have been described in this disclosure, it should be noted that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to or construed as limited by the described embodiments, but rather by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for generating a meal plan, the method comprising: Obtain users' dietary preferences; Obtain information on existing ingredients; Based on the existing ingredient information and the user's dietary preference information, the first group of dishes is determined from the pre-ordered dish set; Obtain user information; Based on this user information, target values ​​for each intake category are determined; Obtain at least one general rule; Determine the actual value for each intake category in this first group of dishes; Based on the differences between these target values ​​and the actual values ​​in the first group of dishes, and the at least one general rule, a second group of dishes is determined from the predetermined set of dishes. Generate a meal plan that includes the first set of dishes and the second set of dishes.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, This dietary preference information includes at least one of the following: taste preference, seasoning preference, cooking type preference, and cuisine preference.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The existing ingredient information includes information on one or more ingredients, and the existing ingredient information is obtained through the user's text input, or identified from an image, or selected by the user from a predetermined database.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Each dish in the first group of dishes includes at least one of one, two or more ingredients included in the existing ingredient information.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The pre-ordered menu includes a set of dishes stored in a pre-ordered database, which further includes information about at least one food category and pre-ordered dish combinations.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, Each of these pre-ordered meal combinations comprises at least two dishes, wherein if one of the at least two dishes is included in the first set of dishes, both of the at least two dishes are included in the meal plan.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The at least one food category includes at least one of grains and cereals, fruits, dairy products, nuts, eggs, meats, and vegetables.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The user information includes at least one of the following: allergens, restricted foods, genetic / DNA information, number of meals per day, height, current weight, expected weight, gender, activity level and / or occupational information, location information, dietary history data, user pattern data, family history information, and / or the stage the user is in, wherein the stage the user is in is one of preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, or lactation.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The intake category is one of total calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, and at least one food category.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The meal plan includes at least one of the following: a breakfast menu, a lunch menu, a dinner menu, and an additional meal menu, wherein the additional meal menu includes at least one snack from at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, and the dinner menu.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, This minimum snack includes at least one snack containing dairy products, nuts, and fruit.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one general rule includes at least one predetermined rule regarding the following: daily energy allocation, the weight of each food category during the day, the number of dishes in at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, the dinner menu, and the supplementary meal menu, and / or the dish categories in at least one of the breakfast menu, the lunch menu, and the dinner menu, wherein these dish categories include staple dishes, soup dishes, meat dishes, and vegetable dishes.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The pre-defined rules regarding this energy allocation include: The actual calorie value of the breakfast menu and at least one snack from the breakfast menu is 30% of the total calorie target. The actual calorie value of the lunch menu and at least one snack on the lunch menu is 40% of the total calorie target; and The actual calorie value of the dinner menu and at least one snack on the dinner menu is 30% of the total calorie target.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The weight of each food category is obtained based on the user information, preferably based on the user's stage, which is one of preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, or lactation.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein, The breakfast menu includes three dishes.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein, The lunch menu consists of three dishes.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein, The lunch menu includes main dishes, soups, meat dishes, or vegetable dishes.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein, The dinner menu consists of three dishes.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein, The dinner menu includes main courses, soups or meat dishes, and vegetable dishes.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The additional meal menu includes two snacks from the breakfast menu, two snacks from the lunch menu, and one snack from the dinner menu.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The additional meal menu includes categories of nuts, dairy products, and fruits.

22. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, after determining the first group of dishes from the predetermined menu set, the method further comprises: If at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a first label, the at least one dish with the first label will be classified into the additional meal menu; If at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a second label, the at least one dish with the second label shall be classified into the breakfast menu; If at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a third label, the at least one dish with the third label shall be classified into the lunch menu; as well as If at least one dish in the first group of dishes has a fourth label, then that at least one dish with the fourth label will be categorized into the dinner menu.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein, The second group of dishes, determined from the pre-ordered menu, includes: Based on the at least one general rule, a target value for each intake category in the additional dietary menu is determined, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the additional dietary menu is less than the target value of each corresponding intake category in the additional dietary menu, one or more dishes with the first label are determined from the predetermined dish set to be included in the additional dietary menu based on the at least one general rule. The target value for each intake category in the breakfast menu is determined based on the at least one general rule, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the breakfast menu is less than the target value of each corresponding intake category in the breakfast menu, one or more dishes with the second label are determined from the predetermined set of dishes to be included in the breakfast menu based on the at least one general rule. Based on the at least one general rule, a target value for each intake category in the lunch menu is determined, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes categorized into the lunch menu is less than the target value for the corresponding intake category in the lunch menu, one or more dishes with the third label are determined from the predetermined set of dishes to be included in the lunch menu based on the at least one general rule; and Based on the at least one general rule, a target value for each intake category in the dinner menu is determined, and if the actual value of each intake category in the first group of dishes classified into the dinner menu is less than the target value of each corresponding intake category in the dinner menu, one or more dishes with the fourth label are determined from the predetermined set of dishes to be included in the dinner menu based on the at least one general rule.

24. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The method further includes: If the actual intake of an ingredient included in the dietary history is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold, a notification is sent to the user and / or a dietary plan without dishes containing that ingredient is generated based on at least one general rule, wherein the dietary history is a daily history or a weekly history.

25. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The dietary preference information is either pre-stored or obtained from an input module that includes a speech recognition module and / or a text recognition module.

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The user information is either pre-stored or obtained from an input module that includes a speech recognition module and / or a text recognition module.

27. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The determination of this target value is further based on standard nutrient recommendations according to the user's user information.

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The determination of this target value is further based on the user's biometric information, microbiome information, and / or blood glucose information.

29. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to perform any one of claims 1 to 28.

30. A storage medium for storing computer instructions, wherein, These instructions are configured to control at least one processor to perform any one of claims 1 to 28.

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