ARFID & Picky Eaters

Gerard Konopielko

ARFID & Picky Eaters: Pitaya / Case Study

Introduction

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a lesser-known eating disorder not linked to concerns about body image or weight. It is mainly characterized by the avoidance of food due to its sensory attributes, including its smell, texture, or taste.

Problem

Those with ARFID often limit themselves to a narrow range of foods, often excluding entire food groups. This makes eating in social settings challenging. Such restrictions can result in nutritional deficiencies, adversely affecting overall health and well-being.

Solution

Pitaya is a mobile app designed to assist people with ARFID and selective eaters. It offers a user-friendly way to define dietary preferences, aiming to reduce food-associated stress. This is achieved via a digital checklist connected to a database.

Persona

Name: Emily

Has ARFID - has very limited food preferences, because of that she has a hard time eating in social situations and is often anxious about food

Is self diagnosed (~56%)

Pronouns: She/Her (Most popular)

Location: USA (~65%)

Mobile OS: iOS (~55%)

Has made a list of food preferences at some point (~78%)

Would be willing to pay for an ARFID related app (~66%)

Data based on the ARFIDSupport Discord roles (n=1000+) and my own survey in this channel (n=37)

Context

I developed this app because, being someone with ARFID, I sought such a product but couldn't find one. With my idea in mind, I participated in a series of workshops in a startup incubator at my university and secured first place in a grant competition. The incubator also paired me with a mentor who guided me throughout the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) creation process.

My Role

I was single-handedly responsible for the initial conceptualization, research, design, development, and user outreach.

This deep involvement not only allowed me to thoroughly understand and address the needs of our target users, but also provided a comprehensive experience in transforming a digital concept into a completed product.

Technologically, I used Swift and SwiftUI to achieve a native iOS appearance and feel, prioritizing a seamless and intuitive user interface. For database creation and management, I utilized the GPT-4 API and Google App Scripts.

Business Model

The current version is fully free to use, it is meant to work as an MVP to validate the market. If there will be enough interest, I plan to add paid features such as a recommendation system.

User acquisition strategy

My user acquisition strategy was to reach out to the r/ARFID subreddit and ARFIDSupport Discord channel as well as other ARFID related communities.

During the beta phase I managed to get 53 contacts, out of which 33 were iOS users. 20 people installed my app, out of which I received 11 actionable feedbacks.

In this process I learned the importance of momentum - the moment I lost the most contacts was when I waited too long to invite them to try out the app.

MVP Mockup

For this project I iterated a lot on the actual prototype, but I also created a mockup to set a general scope for the features I plan to include.

Improvements from User Feedback

One invaluable approach I adopted during the testing period was inviting users for a discussion over a call instead of relying solely on written communication. This direct conversation provided me with a deeper insight into their requirements and challenges.

After one such discussion, I introduced an option that allows users to set a goal to try an item more than once, recognizing the significance of repetition in the food tasting journey. However, I was cautious not to push users too aggressively. Thus, I chose a stamp card approach—encouraging repetition without making it obligatory.

I also made it easier for users to add items to the database right away using GPT-4. I found that if they have to wait for an item to be added, they lose interest.

Results in the first week after MVP launch

400+

Downloads

350+

Created lists

100+

Lists with over 50 items

150+

Android users on the waitlist

Testimonials

u/laurenj2210

Love this app, especially how it describes food it means I know what to expect when I try it

u/samante81

Thank you so much! My son and I had a great time going through the food list and I even discovered there were foods that he liked that I didn’t know about! Big thumbs up from my 12 year old!

u/weirdsituati0n

This is rad. I’ve been trying to figure out what to focus on next with my dietician and this is a perfect tool to help me explore more foods in between our sessions! Thank youuuu 🙂

u/NationalNecessary120

Soo cool! Good job. Congrats. I downloaded it and tested it and so far what I like is that when it tracks your likes you have an easier time deciding what to eat since you get a list to look at to choose from a food you like or would like to try.

u/kush_faerie

oh i’m gonna cry. thank you for making this ❤️😭

u/SuperNarwhal36-5

Can attest, this app is amazing!

What I Learned

Momentum is crucial. People lose interest if you don’t keep them engadged.
When working alone, it’s much easier to procrastinate and delay tasks. Having clear deadlines, a defined scope, and someone to hold you accountable is very valuable.
Direct calls with users are more valuable than just written communication. It is crucial for early validation.
When creating a product, it’s important to think about outreach channels and the core value you’re offering from the start.
The most important thing is to keep moving forward, regardless of the speed and setbacks.

Future plans

Continuing this project I want to make general improvements, continuing to listen to user feedback. One of features I intend to enhance is the diary function. I want users to have the option to track all their progress, not just new food experiences. A lot of people have also expressed interest in an Android version - I’ll focus on this once the iOS version is more polished. Lastly, if there’s sufficient interest, I’ll introduce a paid recommendation system.