Assignment 7: Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

(1) Opportunity
Gym goers in the US are unable to consume the needed calories on a day-to-day basis to fuel their gains because they don't have the time and effort to make themselves a healthy, homemade snack to consume throughout the day. 

(2) Who, What, Why
The Who: Gym goers in the US
The What: They are unable to consume the needed calories on a day-to-day basis to fuel their gains
The Why: They don't have the time and effort to make themselves a healthy, homemade snack to consume throughout the day.

(3) Hypothesis
Testing the Who: Not only do gym goers have the need, but also college students, auto collision workers, 9-5 workers, athletes, and kids.

Testing the What: The boundaries of the need include the people who consume the product. Consumers may have different allergies that may prevent them from consuming some snacks. Another boundary may be for athletes where they are usually sticking to a specific diet.

Testing the Why: I believe that most of the people I identified in my who have the "why" where they don't have the time and/or effort to make themselves a healthy, homemade snack to ensure that they supply their body with the needed calories on a day-to-day basis. The only exception may be for college students who just may not have the effort, while other college students may just not have enough time in the day.

(4) Interviews
Interview 1: Jake
Who do you think has the problem with calorie deficiency?
I think that a lot of people aren't getting the amount of calories needed throughout the day. People that I find to be having this problem would have to be gym goers. They don't seem to be getting the necessary calories to feed their progress.
What do you think is stopping people from making healthy snacks?
I don't think some people have the time to be making their own snacks in the morning because of their schedule. Me, as a college student, don't have the time in the mornings or throughout the day because I am busy with going to classes, studying, and going to the gym.
Why do you think people have the problem with making healthy homemade snacks?
Like I said in the previous question, I just don't have the time to be making my own snacks. I would much rather buy my own snacks from stores who have protein bars and such. If I had time to make my own snacks, I would but I currently just don't have the time to do so.

Interview 2: Geo
Who do you think has the problem with calorie deficiency?
By far people who go to the gym and athletes. They need these calories to fuel the gains.
What do you think is stopping people from getting the necessary calories?
I think whats stopping people from getting the necessary calories is that people don't like what is on the market right now so want to make their own snacks that they can consume throughout the day. Plus, the protein bars that are in stores are expensive to keep buying because of the cost for each singular bar. Also, you don't know what you're actually putting into your body when you consume them. I much rather would make my own if I had the time.
Why do you think people have the problem with making healthy homemade snacks?
I think that the main reason people have the problem with making their own snacks is that they don't really have the time. For me, I just don't have the time. I have a 9-5 job that I can't really find time to go through the hassle of making my own healthy snacks.

Interview 3: Carol
Who do you think has the problem with calorie deficiency?
I don't really have a calorie deficiency by accident but rather on purpose because I want my body to burn more calories than I'm consuming to lose weight. However, I think that some other people that may have the problem would be office workers.
What do you think is stopping people from getting the necessary calories?
People would much rather buy their granola bars and such at grocery stores. For me, I normally purchase Fiber One bars at Target because they taste good and they get the job done. But I do think it's hard for some others because they have allergies where they may be allergic to peanuts and such. This limits the selection of snacks that they can buy and consume from the grocery store.
Why do you think people have the problem with making healthy homemade snacks?
I think what's stopping people from making homemade snacks is that they may not know how to make them. There's definitely a bunch of recipes online but, I don't think that people want to go through the hassle of making it themselves. Plus, for most people the first batch doesn't normally come out good so they just end up giving up on making them.

Interview 4: Beau
Who do you think has the problem with calorie deficiency?
I think people who work outside jobs are the most calorie deficient because they burn more than they're able to consume. In Florida, the heat is terrible because of the humidity and the direct sunlight. Not even the shade can really save you. But I work in collision so I'm always outside.
What do you think is stopping people from getting the necessary calories?
I think people just make a shake or get healthy snacks from the grocery store. My go to is usually a 2000 calorie health shake that I make in the morning to help ensure that I'm getting sufficient calories every day. But these shakes aren't always the greatest things because they have a very thick consistency and they don't always taste good.
Why do you think people have the problem with making healthy homemade snacks?
I think people are lazy and they don't want to go through the hassle of making their own stuff. After working all day in the sun, its hard for me to muster up the energy to even work out at the end of the day. Plus, my job as an auto collision worker, I have to be at my job at 8:00 to work. 

Interview 5: Mike
Who do you think has the problem with calorie deficiency?
I think that people who work outside are the most deficient on calories. The sun drains the energy from their bodies and causes them to sweat. But I can see people in the gym who want to get bigger to have the same problem as well because you usually want something that you can easily pop in your mouth after a workout to make sure your body is getting the necessary carbs.
What do you think is stopping people from getting the necessary calories?
I think what's stopping people from getting the necessary calories is the way people function. Some people are just used to going just three meals a day where they aren't hungry in between meals. Snacks really aren't an issue for them so they can survive without it.
Why do you think people have the problem with making healthy homemade snacks?
I don't think people want to go through the effort of making homemade snacks, and they don't want to go through buying the needed supplies to do a recipe they found online that they'll use only once.

(5) Summary of Interviews
Overall, I believe that I was nearly spot on on what the opportunity called for. I knew that people who were in college, 9-5 workers, and auto collision workers had calorie deficiency; however, many brought up external workers which encompasses more than just auto collision workers. I learned that some people made shakes in place of snacks to ease their hunger and get their calorie number up. Mostly the ones I talked to who went to the gym claimed to be taking protein shakes rather than the grocery store bought snacks while those who didn't always go to the gym bought mostly protein bars and health bars. I found out that people do try and make their own, but they normally do it maybe once or twice before they give up doing it.