At 14 years old, everyone has a dream. They want to be doctors, rock stars, models, and astronauts. At 17 years old, most of those dreams are crushed under the weight of school, college applications, and social pressures. At 19 years old most people have realized what their major is, what they are interested in, and what they can fathomably complete as a major and make enough money to live comfortably. Then, there are the outliers. The people who, at 14, decide they have a dream and, at 19, are working to make that dream a reality. One such person is Rafaela Frota.
When Frota was 14 years old, she decided that she was going to change the world through an app called WAWWE (We Are What We Eat). Basically, the app is a program which concierges people to eat healthier. It takes into account your dietary needs and restrictions and seeks to create a unique dietary experience based on your needs. For example, if you were vegan, you would include that in your profile and, from there, the app would give you simple recipes and tell you what you can eat at specific restaurants. Frota says that she wants to include food logging eventually, but right now, she is focusing more on dietary preferences and needs.
For years, she has been working directly with the USDA and pulling from their databases to log over 34,000 products into her application. She tells us that credibility is her number one focus and that she works tirelessly in order to have the greatest accuracy possible.
Frota is still trying to work things out, but she has a pretty good grasp on the future of nutrition. When asked if she thinks that, in a pleasure-seeking society such as America, her goal is approachable or possible, she responded with a resounding yes, saying that “people are advocating for healthier lifestyle. They are looking for healthier choices. There is starting to be a shift in mentality and focus, we just have to raise the awareness level.”
When asked about eating healthy on a budget, Frota showed hesitation for the first time in our conversation. She tells us that it is definitely known that eating healthier is expensive, but that Chipotle and other brands make a large effort. She also notes that there is a big price difference when you make your own food. The app contains recipes and cooking tips tailored to the user’s specific needs, which makes cooking easier than ever.
Frota plans to launch the app in early 2016, however, they have run into budget issues with their Kickstarter campaign. She hopes to raise $87,000 by December, which is a lofty goal to say the least. Her main goal is to “cause a disruption”. She wants to create a community of people that are hyper aware of what they are eating and push industries today to offer healthier products. Eventually, she wants to integrate WAWWE into wearable technology.
When asked to give advice to young entrepreneurs such as herself, Frota suggests that “despite all of the odds that are against you, you should devote yourself to it and go forth. If you have a vision or a dream, you should pursue it. I truly do want to make a difference and I hope my story and journey will make a change for the better in other people’s lives.”
If you would like more information on WAWWE or if you would like to help out with the Kickstart Campaign, please visit this website.
