ChefBuddy
In DevelopmentAI-powered recipe manager inspired by Paprika V3 - Smart meal planning with automated pantry tracking
Problem Statement
Existing recipe apps like Paprika V3 misclassify web-scraped data and lack AI features for meal planning and pantry tracking. Manual recipe adjustment, meal planning, and ingredient tracking creates friction, leading to poor planning, food waste, and frustration with inconsistent data quality.
Technical Approach
ChefBuddy combines traditional recipe management with AI automation to eliminate manual tasks.
Core AI Features
- AI recipe scraping and summarization for accurate data extraction
- Intelligent meal planning with preference-based suggestions
- OCR receipt scanning for automated pantry tracking
- Ingredient reminders for missing or expired items
Data Architecture
Versioned JSON schema ensures data integrity and flexibility for future AI improvements.
Technology Stack
Backend
- Express.js REST API
- OpenAI recipe processing
- Cheerio web scraping
- JSON data management
Frontend
- Vue.js reactive interface
- Real-time data visualization
- Mobile-responsive design
- Meal planning interface
AI Features
- OpenAI content analysis
- OCR receipt processing
- Natural language suggestions
- Smart categorization
System Architecture
Data Layer
Flexible JSON schema with versioning supports AI interactions and future expansions. Forward compatibility ensures long-term data integrity across model updates.
API Design
Express.js REST API handles frontend-backend interactions, enabling modular integration of AI capabilities and evolving user requirements.
AI Processing Pipeline
Cheerio web scraping extracts structured data from recipe websites. OpenAI API validates and corrects scraped content, improving classification accuracy over traditional parsing methods.
Technical Challenges
Schema Design Complexity
Structuring flexible JSON schema supporting AI interactions while maintaining data integrity across model versions.
Data Quality Assurance
Ensuring accurate web scraping while handling inconsistencies across different recipe website structures.
AI Model Integration
Balancing AI processing costs with accuracy while ensuring responsive performance and reliable classification.
Future Development Plans
User Features
- Multi-user authentication for shared meal planning
- Mobile support for on-the-go accessibility
- Voice recognition integration for hands-free recipe management
Deployment
- Small-scale test deployment to gather user feedback
- Performance optimization for production
- Scalable cloud infrastructure setup
AI Enhancements
- Advanced nutritional analysis
- Dietary restriction recommendations
- Seasonal ingredient suggestions
Project Vision
AI-powered recipe manager combining OpenAI-enhanced web scraping with automated pantry tracking and intelligent meal planning through Express.js backend and Vue.js frontend.