Designing and evaluating a nutrition recommender system for improving food security in a developing country

Background: Due to the increased price of foods in recent years and the diminished food securityin Iran, nutrition recommender systems as a novel nutrition informatics technology can suggestthe most suitable and affordable foods and diets to users based on their health status and foodpreferences to ensure their food security.Objective: The present study aimed to design and evaluate a recommender system to suggesthealthy and affordable meals and provide a tele-nutrition consulting system.Methods: This applied three-phase study was conducted in ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰. In the first stage, thefood items’ daily prices were extracted from credible sources, and accordingly, meals were determinedin three price categories. After conducting a systematic review of similar systems, therequirements and data elements were specified and confirmed by experts. In the second stage, thesoftware was designed and developed based on the findings. In the third stage, system usabilitywas evaluated by four experts based on Nielsen’s heuristic evaluation.Results: Initially, ۷۲ meals complying with nutritional principles were determined in three pricecategories. Following a literature review and expert survey, ۳۱ data elements were specified forthe system, and the experts confirmed system requirements. Based on the information collectedin the previous stage, the Web-based software TanSa in the Persian language was designed,developed, and presented on a unique domain. During the evaluation, the mean severity of theproblems associated with Nielsen’s ۱۰ principles was ۱.۲, which is regarded as minor.Conclusions: To promote food security, the designed system recommends healthy, nutritional, andaffordable meals to individuals and households based on user characteristics. To improve accessto nutritionists and enhance the nutritional status of society, this system also allows users to receivea tele-nutrition consulting system. Regarding the current conditions of Iran, nutritionists andresearchers are recommended to use this system.