RECIPE

A research project · Netherlands & Denmark

RECIPE: sustainable, plant-rich meals with high quality protein.

AI-supported meal optimisation for a healthy protein transition in healthcare

RECIPE develops and tests an AI-driven recommender system that helps dietitians and chefs create plant-rich meals that are nutritionally adequate, high in protein quality, palatable and sustainable. The project focuses on healthcare institutions where protein quality is especially important for older adults and patients.

Explore the project Meet the consortium

From a meal to an optimised healthcare menu Co-created with chefs and dietitians, and embedded in the Alpha-Tool.

Plant-rich meal

A candidate dish on the menu

AI recommendation

Alpha-Tool: substitutions, taste optimisation & food pairing

Plant-rich meal with high protein quality

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Amino-acid profiling & digestibility

Healthcare menu

Adequate, palatable & sustainable

High protein quality Taste optimisation Sustainability Feasibility Co-creation with chefs & dietitians

The challenge

A transition that has to be done nutritionally well.

Healthcare is moving towards more plant-rich menus. That shift is desirable when it comes to sustainability; the task is to carry it out without losing protein quality where it matters most.

Plant-rich menus are coming

Healthcare institutions are moving towards more sustainable, plant-rich menus.

Protein quality matters

Plant-rich meals can be lower in digestible essential amino acids, which matters for patients and older adults.

Professionals need practical tools

Chefs and dietitians often lack easy-to-use tools that combine and optimise protein quality, taste, feasibility and sustainability.

Our solution

Three layers, working as one tool.

RECIPE combines nutrition science, an AI recommender and real-world testing, building on existing technology rather than starting from a vague AI idea.

Nutrition science

Protein quality, amino acid profiles, digestibility and meal-level optimisation.

AI recommender within the Alpha-Tool

Embedded in the existing Alpha-Tool infrastructure, it generates automated ingredient substitutions that account for protein quality, flavour-based food pairing, sustainability and feasibility.

Food pairing science

Flavour-based food pairing to keep optimised plant-rich meals palatable and appealing.

What we will deliver

Concrete outputs for science and practice.

A tested AI recommender system

To support plant-rich meal optimisation for healthcare settings, integrated into the Alpha-Tool.

Over the three-year project, the recommender system matures from an early prototype into a validated tool that helps chefs and dietitians optimise plant-rich meals, hosted within the existing Alpha-Tool platform.

Prototype to validated tool
Pilot-tested with chefs & dietitians
Hosted in the Alpha-Tool

Details

Better insight into protein quality of healthcare menus, and into the perspectives of healthcare providers

Including current and improved menu options.

Evaluation across Dutch and Danish hospitals and elderly care institutions reveals the protein quality of current and improved menus, alongside the confidence and perspectives of the dietitians and chefs who plan them.

Current vs. improved menus
NL & DK healthcare institutions
Provider perspectives

Details

Professional education

An accredited online module and workshops for dietitians, chefs and foodservice professionals.

An accredited online module and hands-on workshops help professionals put plant-rich meal planning into practice. Developed with professional associations and made relevant for international healthcare settings.

Accredited online module
Workshops on location
For dietitians, chefs & foodservice

Details

Scientific and practical outputs

Publications, implementation insights and communication materials.

RECIPE shares its learnings widely: peer-reviewed publications, linked Dutch and Danish protein-quality databases, implementation insights and ongoing public communication through partner networks and social media.

Peer-reviewed publications
Linked NL + DK databases
Public dissemination

Details

Project structure

Three work packages.

WP1 · Recommender system

Building & piloting the engine

Lead: University of Copenhagen

Development and pilot testing of the AI recommender system with chefs and dietitians.

WP2 · Evaluation & implementation

Testing in the real world

Lead: Wageningen University

Evaluation in healthcare institutions, database development and project coordination.

WP3 · Education & dissemination

Sharing knowledge widely

Lead: WUR Continuing Education / WUR · Fork Ranger

Accredited education, workshops, social media communication and public dissemination.

Where RECIPE will be tested

Across the Netherlands and Denmark.

Evaluation and implementation with healthcare institutions, including hospitals and elderly care organisations.

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Netherlands

Hospitals & elderly care organisations

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Denmark

Hospitals & healthcare catering

We are actively looking for healthcare institutions in NL and DK to take part in evaluation and implementation. If your organisation is interested, we'd love to hear from you.

Take part in RECIPE

50+

The project aims to evaluate the recommender system with more than 50 healthcare institutions.

An ambition, not yet a status

The consortium

An international collaboration.

RECIPE brings together universities, hospitals, caterers, food companies and data organisations across the Netherlands and Denmark.

Wageningen University & Research WUR Continuing Education University of Copenhagen Fork Ranger AMS Institute Food Pioneers AMSTA Alliantie Voeding in de Zorg Dijklander ziekenhuis Bispebjerg Hospital Aalborg University Hospital GS1 Denmark Greendish Unilever Sodexo

Partners are listed by name. Logos and trademarks are shown only with each partner's prior approval, in line with the consortium agreement. Partner names to be confirmed before publication.

News & updates

Following the project as it unfolds.

The website is also a dissemination channel. We'll post project milestones and, twice a year, social media updates via Fork Ranger.

Milestone

Project awarded

Short announcement that the RECIPE project has been funded and is starting.

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Update

Consortium kick-off

Photo and a short update from the first consortium meeting, once available.

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Coming later

Recruitment & participation

A call for healthcare institutions, dietitians or chefs to take part.

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For healthcare professionals

Are you a dietitian, chef, menu planner or foodservice professional working in healthcare?

RECIPE will involve professionals in usability testing, workshops and evaluation studies. Interested in learning more or participating?

Contact the RECIPE team