Simplifying Dinner Decisions with Design Thinking

What to cook for dinner? - one of the most common yet biggest dilemmas my family and I face every day, and I am sure many of you can relate to this challenge. After a hectic day, we spend too much time discussing our options.

So, how can we make it easier?

Let us understand the simple yet essential concept we can implement to solve this Problem.

Design Thinking

Many of you would have heard about the term "Design Thinking."

Let's understand what it means - It is an approach to solving complex issues while focusing on the user's needs(outcome). - In our case, it reduces decision fatigue (what to cook?) and brings more joy to our evenings.

The approach involves multiple principles.

Empathy: focusing and understanding what the user wants

Define: clearly defining the problem statement of the user

Ideate: think about the multiple solutions for that particular Problem

Prototype: Create a model to test the solution

Test: Evaluating prototypes and gathering feedback.

Iterate: Keep refining ideas based on user feedback.

Let's come back to our Problem and implement this principle.

Understanding the Problem

First, we clearly defined the Problem: how might we make dinner decisions more accessible and more enjoyable for our family? The goal was to reduce decision fatigue and bring more joy and efficiency to our evenings.

Ideation and Creativity

We gathered around the kitchen table and brainstormed solutions. Ideas ranged from creating a weekly meal plan every Sunday to developing a rotating recipe schedule. The focus was on generating a wide range of potential solutions.

Prototyping and Testing

We decided to prototype a basic weekly meal plan. We planned the week's meals on Sunday nights, making sure there was a good mix of simplicity and diversity. To ensure we had all the items for the meal plan, we also scheduled our grocery shopping around it. And for two weeks, we put it into practice.

Collaboration and Feedback

We gathered feedback from everyone in the family. After each dinner, we discussed what worked well and what didn't. This collaboration was crucial in refining our approach. While the weekly meal plan was helpful, we found it needed more flexibility.

Implementing Solutions

Based on our feedback, we added a few flexible nights where we could choose from a list of favorite easy-to-make meals. We created a shared list in the kitchen where everyone could see the meal plan for the week and suggest changes. It streamlined our grocery shopping and reduced midweek trips to the store.

Conclusion

Applying this concept eliminated our dilemma. By understanding the Problem, brainstorming solutions, gathering feedback, and implementing adjustments, we turned a nightly frustration into a streamlined routine. Now, instead of debating what to eat, we can spend more time enjoying our meals and each other's company. Design thinking isn't just a concept to implement in professional world problems— it's a tool that can solve everyday problems and bring more joy and efficiency to our lives.

So, the next time you're stuck, remember that anything is possible with creativity and collaboration.

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