AI software aids school nutritionists in crafting nutritious meal plans.
National Cheng Kung University and the Ministry of Education have introduced an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) program designed to aid school nutritionists in creating nutritionally balanced, cost-effective meal plans.
Unveiled yesterday, the AI software aims to reduce administrative burdens and costs for schools, especially those serving underprivileged regions, by optimizing meal planning. According to Yeh Hsin-tsun, head of the K-12 Administration division, the algorithm can generate a month's worth of meal plans in just 20 seconds, compared to the 30 to 60 minutes it takes humans to achieve the same task.
The software offers several advantages, including the ability to control costs, utilize seasonal produce, and generate shopping lists for easy requisition. A nutritionist is still required to operate the program, though, as Yeh announced.
The meal plans generated by the AI include one main course, two side dishes, soup, and a bowl of rice. Hsu Chun-shan, a nutritionist at Kaohsiung Municipal Renwu Elementary School, noted that the AI-generated menus use approximately 400 distinct ingredients every month to guarantee variety. Food items are selected based on nutritional value, child-friendly textures, and flavors.
The AI can be tailored to cater to a child's specific taste and calorie requirements, and it intelligently avoids planning meals for weekends and national holidays. It also limits sweet dessert soups to once a week during a live demonstration by electrical and computer engineering professor Wang Jeen-shing.
The Ministry of Education has allocated NT$2.1 billion and US$1.5 billion annually to schools in underprivileged regions to enhance their kitchen facilities and subsidize their food budgets. Additionally, NT$3.8 billion in annual subsidies goes to domestic farms and seafood suppliers that meet quality standards and can provide certificates of origin.
The AI program, introduced by National Cheng Kung University and the Ministry of Education, extends its reach beyond school nutrition into the realm of education and self-development, as artificial-intelligence is now being utilized to educate and assist in learning suitable meal planning. Furthermore, the technology incorporated in this AI software is not confined to nutritional purposes; it also intelligently plans meals based on specific taste and calorie requirements, providing a personalized learning experience for each student.
