Multi-objective Model for Students’ Diet Problem: A Case of Muslim University of Morogoro

Abstract

The study on solving diet problems using an optimization approach as the intervention for menu plans for college students, particularly in developing countries like Tanzania, where context-specific data, such as what foods are available locally and student eating habits, are often missing from models in Tanzania. Therefore, this study aims to formulate a multi-objective optimization model that simultaneously solves the two objectives (energy maximization and cost minimization) for the student diet problem. The model has been transformed into the lexicographic preemptive goal programming model for the real data implementation. The model was written in GNU Linear Programming Kit (GLPK) software and solved. The combination of cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and a few foods derived from animals made up the ideal daily diet that can be used as a guide for students' dietary plans. The chosen food combination had 2250 kcal of energy, whereas 2200 kcal were needed, and 68 g of protein were consumed instead of the suggested 50 g. The intake of fat stayed within the allowed range  while the intake of carbohydrates slightly exceeded the required amount. Thus, we may serve nutritious foods that maximize daily total energy consumption and minimize the cost of the foods while taking recommended nutritional intake into account for Tanzanian university students utilizing locally accessible foods.