How our algorithm works
A transparent look at how ShelfCents generates your personalized meal plans, grocery lists, and savings estimates.
The process
Pantry analysis
The algorithm scans your pantry inventory, checking item quantities, categories, and expiration dates to understand what you have available right now.
Meal matching
It matches your available ingredients against a database of recipes, prioritizing items closest to expiry and meals that use the most pantry ingredients.
Plan generation
A balanced weekly meal plan is assembled, considering your dietary preferences, prep time constraints, and the goal of using existing ingredients first.
Grocery optimization
The grocery list fills in gaps for complete meals, optimizing for budget constraints and minimizing the number of new items needed.
Expiry scheduling
Items approaching expiry are prioritized in the meal plan and flagged with reminders to ensure they get used before spoiling.
Savings calculation
Estimated savings are calculated by comparing your optimized plan against typical grocery spending for similar meals and ingredients.
Design principles
Use what you have first
The algorithm always prioritizes items already in your pantry, especially those closest to expiry. This reduces waste and avoids duplicate purchases.
Stay within budget
Every meal plan and grocery list respects your spending limits. The system finds the most nutritious and varied meals possible within your budget.
Minimize waste
Recipes are selected to use ingredients efficiently. Items are matched to meals that use complementary ingredients to prevent partial usage and spoilage.
Balance nutrition and variety
Meal plans include a balanced mix of proteins, vegetables, grains, and other food groups. The system avoids repetitive meals and ensures nutritional coverage.
See the algorithm in action
Try ShelfCents yourself and see how personalized meal planning and smart grocery lists can save you money every week.
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