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Turning “I can’t cook” into “I can try.”
Hungry Koala is a beginner-friendly recipe app that helps users discover approachable recipes, understand their cooking level, and follow each step with more confidence.
Overview
Eating well should not feel out of reach.
Food is part of our everyday rhythm. It affects how we feel, how we care for ourselves, and how we move through the day. Yet for people who are new to cooking, making a meal can feel less like a simple daily act and more like a challenge filled with uncertainty.
Hungry Koala was created to lower that barrier. Through a friendly onboarding experience, a cooking level quiz, and approachable recipe recommendations, the app helps beginners find meals they can actually try and build confidence in the kitchen over time.
66%
experience decision fatigue
around meal planning.
77%
have days when they are too
exhausted to cook after work.
78%
want to eat healthier …
but face barriers
Too expensive
Lack of time
Difficulty finding
ingredients
41%
26%
19%
User Research
What makes everyday cooking difficult
to start and follow through?
Deciding what to cook every day is a struggle.
Cooking takes too much time and money.
Finding recipes that fit my needs is hard.
Having a guide would make the process feel easier.
It feels discouraging when I put in the effort and the meal doesn’t turn out well.
Cookbooks and online recipes can be hard to follow, especially as a beginner.
Interview Key Takeaway
The issue was not just cooking itself.
It was the mental load around choosing, preparing, and trusting the process. Participants were not only looking for recipes. They wanted reassurance that the meal was realistic, manageable, and worth the effort.
Pain Points & Solutions
Turning Insights into Direction
Decision Fatigue
Beginners often feel stuck before cooking even starts. Choosing what to make every day can feel mentally tiring, especially when there are too many recipes and no clear direction.
Time and Cost Pressure
Cooking can feel too demanding for a regular day. Time, cost, ingredients, and cleanup make even simple meals feel harder to start.
Lack of Guidance
Beginners need more than a recipe. They need clear steps, reassurance, and guidance that help them feel confident throughout the process.
Curated Recommendations
Hungry Koala suggests approachable recipes based on each user’s level, needs, and preferences.
Manageable Meal Options
Hungry Koala helps users find recipes that feel realistic by showing time, effort, and ingredient needs upfront.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Hungry Koala breaks recipes into simple steps and supports users from choosing a meal to completing it.
Competitor Analysis
How do existing recipe services support beginner cooks?
I analyzed popular recipe platforms to understand what kind of support they provide for everyday cooking. While many services help users discover recipes, read community feedback, and follow guided steps, choosing what feels realistic as a beginner often still depends on the user’s own judgment.
Recipe Library
Community
Guided Steps
Personalization
Beginner Fit
Most platforms help users find recipes, but fewer help beginners know where to start.
Information Architecture
Structuring the Experience Around the Solutions
Log in
Splash
Home
Notification
Search
Recommended
Recipes
Recommended
Users
Recipes
Search
Category
Recommended
Recipe Books
Generate
Recipes
Upload
Upload Recipe
Upload Photo
MyFridge
Search
Shopping List
Generate
Recipes
Feed
Search
Upload Post
Posts
Recommended
Users
Profile
Settings
Level Test
Activity
History
I’ll stick with the tree, thanks.
Branding
Why Hungry "Koala"?
Did you know?
Koalas are naturally solitary animals. They will choose to go up and hug a tree rather than another koala.
In a similar way, cooking can also be a solitary activity. Hungry Koala was named with the hope that users could build confidence in the kitchen and eventually feel comfortable cooking on their own.
Main (Title) Type
Comfortaa
Aa Bb Cc Dd
12345 @#!?*
Secondary (Body) Type
Manrope
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff
12345 @#!?*
Illustration
Sugar
Branding
Why Hungry "Koala"?
Did you know?
Koalas are naturally solitary animals. They will choose to go up and hug a tree rather than another koala.
In a similar way, cooking can also be a solitary activity. Hungry Koala was named with the hope that users could build confidence in the kitchen and eventually feel comfortable cooking on their own.
I’ll stick with the tree, thanks.