Nutrition apps win when recommendations feel relevant and doable today—not like a long list of “perfect” behaviors.
Sahha Archetypes help because they capture stable patterns (sleep tendency, activity habits, and overall wellness) that can guide what your app surfaces next: meal plans, recipes, grocery lists, and nutrition routines.
Docs reference: Sahha Archetypes list and definitions: https://docs.sahha.ai/docs/products/archetypes
Prerequisites (recommended)
To get value from personalization, your product should support segmentation + journeys (onboarding, weekly programs, reactivation, replenishment prompts, etc.). Many teams use a customer engagement tool like Customer.io or Klaviyo (alternatives: Braze, Iterable, etc.) to orchestrate delivery across push, email, and in-app.
Important: As of 2 March 2026, Sahha does not provide built-in customer journey delivery (campaign orchestration / messaging). Sahha provides the data outputs (e.g., archetypes) that you can route into Customer.io / Klaviyo to trigger experiences and recommendations.
Safety and responsibility (read this first)
This guide maps archetypes → generic nutrition content categories. It is not medical advice.
Before recommending any nutrition plan, recipe set, or routine, you must apply eligibility checks:
Dietary and allergen guardrails (required)
- Dietary preferences (vegan/vegetarian, halal/kosher, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.)
- Allergens (nuts, dairy, soy, fish/seafood, shellfish, etc.)
- Health constraints (e.g., pregnancy/breastfeeding, clinician-directed diets)
- Eating disorder safety: avoid restrictive messaging, offer opt-outs, and use harm-minimizing defaults
Product guardrails (recommended)
- Let users override suggestions (preferences always win)
- Avoid claims or language that imply diagnosis, treatment, or guaranteed outcomes
- Prefer “next best step” habits over extreme restriction
Sahha data can inform what category is likely to be helpful—your product remains responsible for what is safe and appropriate for the user.
Step 1 — Normalize your nutrition content catalog
Personalization gets dramatically easier when every content item (recipe, plan, article, checklist, video) is tagged with a small set of generic nutrition types.
Store this as nutrition_type_normalized.
A) Meal planning styles
| Normalized nutrition type | Includes (examples) |
|---|---|
| Balanced meal planning | simple templates, plate method, “everyday meals” |
| High-protein meal planning | protein-forward recipes, higher satiety meals |
| Plant-based meal planning | vegetarian/vegan meal templates |
| Mediterranean-style meal planning | olive oil, legumes, fish/veg-forward templates |
| Lower-sugar meal planning | reduced added sugar swaps (non-medical) |
| Energy-stable meals | steadier energy templates (balanced carbs/fiber/protein) |
| Budget-friendly meals | cost-conscious recipes, pantry meals |
| Quick meals (10–20 min) | fast recipes, low effort meals |
| Gentle gut meals | simpler, “easy on digestion” meals (non-clinical framing) |
B) Routines and habit content
| Normalized nutrition type | Includes (examples) |
|---|---|
| Meal prep routine | batch cooking, shopping lists, prep workflows |
| Snack strategy | structured snacks, timing ideas, swaps |
| Hydration routine | water prompts, habit tips |
| Fiber-first routine | gradual fiber increases, legumes/veg/whole grains |
| Caffeine timing routine | caffeine cutoffs, alternatives, habit framing |
| Mindful eating routine | pacing, hunger/fullness cues, distraction reduction |
| Craving management routine | urges, substitutions, environment design |
| Portion cues routine | simple portion heuristics (non-restrictive framing) |
C) Context-specific content
| Normalized nutrition type | Includes (examples) |
|---|---|
| Grocery basics | pantry staples, “starter list”, swaps and staples |
| Breakfast templates | easy breakfast building blocks |
| Lunch templates | repeatable lunches, desk-friendly meals |
| Dinner templates | simple dinner rotations |
| Restaurant ordering strategy | menu heuristics and swaps |
| Travel routine | portable options, hydration, snack planning |
| Post-workout fueling | meal timing concepts, balanced recovery meals |
| Sleep-supportive eating | evening meal ideas, wind-down nutrition habits |
Keep recommendations category-first. Then select eligible content and recipes using the user’s dietary preferences and allergen filters.
Step 2 — A simple recommendation strategy
A reliable (and explainable) approach is to apply archetypes in layers:
- Friction level (how hard to make it):
sleep_*,overall_wellness,mental_wellness - Demand context (what might matter most):
activity_level,exercise_frequency,primary_exercise_type - Eligibility filters (hard gates): diet, allergens, constraints, ED-safe defaults
- Timing (optional):
wake_schedule,bed_schedule,sleep_pattern
Step 3 — Mapping tables (expanded)
Each row gives you:
- Best-fit types (rank higher)
- Also works (rank lower; add variety)
This version expands suggestions so teams can support more content inventory and more user contexts.
3.1 Activity & habit archetypes → nutrition types
activity_level
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
sedentary | Balanced meal planning, Grocery basics, Quick meals (10–20 min), Mindful eating routine, Hydration routine | Fiber-first routine, Budget-friendly meals, Sleep-supportive eating, Snack strategy |
lightly_active | Balanced meal planning, Quick meals (10–20 min), Snack strategy, Hydration routine, Breakfast templates | High-protein meal planning, Meal prep routine, Fiber-first routine, Budget-friendly meals |
moderately_active | High-protein meal planning, Post-workout fueling, Meal prep routine, Hydration routine, Balanced meal planning | Snack strategy, Fiber-first routine, Grocery basics, Energy-stable meals |
highly_active | Meal prep routine, Post-workout fueling, High-protein meal planning, Hydration routine, Snack strategy | Balanced meal planning, Quick meals (10–20 min), Dinner templates, Sleep-supportive eating |
exercise_frequency
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
rare_exerciser | Grocery basics, Balanced meal planning, Quick meals (10–20 min), Mindful eating routine, Hydration routine | Fiber-first routine, Budget-friendly meals, Snack strategy, Portion cues routine |
occasional_exerciser | Balanced meal planning, Quick meals (10–20 min), Snack strategy, Hydration routine, Lunch templates | Meal prep routine, Fiber-first routine, Budget-friendly meals, Caffeine timing routine |
regular_exerciser | High-protein meal planning, Post-workout fueling, Meal prep routine, Hydration routine, Snack strategy | Balanced meal planning, Dinner templates, Energy-stable meals, Fiber-first routine |
frequent_exerciser | Meal prep routine, Post-workout fueling, High-protein meal planning, Hydration routine, Snack strategy | Dinner templates, Breakfast templates, Energy-stable meals, Travel routine |
primary_exercise_type
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
strength_oriented | High-protein meal planning, Post-workout fueling, Meal prep routine, Snack strategy, Dinner templates | Energy-stable meals, Fiber-first routine, Breakfast templates, Portion cues routine |
cardio_oriented | Hydration routine, Balanced meal planning, Snack strategy, Quick meals (10–20 min), Energy-stable meals | Meal prep routine, Lower-sugar meal planning, Lunch templates, Fiber-first routine |
mind_body_oriented | Mindful eating routine, Balanced meal planning, Plant-based meal planning, Sleep-supportive eating, Gentle gut meals | Grocery basics, Hydration routine, Portion cues routine, Caffeine timing routine |
hybrid_oriented | Meal prep routine, High-protein meal planning, Post-workout fueling, Hydration routine, Energy-stable meals | Balanced meal planning, Snack strategy, Dinner templates, Travel routine |
sport_oriented | Post-workout fueling, Meal prep routine, Hydration routine, High-protein meal planning, Snack strategy | Dinner templates, Travel routine, Energy-stable meals, Restaurant ordering strategy |
outdoor_oriented | Hydration routine, Snack strategy, Quick meals (10–20 min), Travel routine, Grocery basics | Balanced meal planning, Lunch templates, Dinner templates, Caffeine timing routine |
3.2 Sleep archetypes → friction and routine selection
Sleep trends are a powerful signal for what will be adhered to. When sleep is poor, bias toward low-friction routines and “minimum viable nutrition”.
sleep_quality
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
poor_sleep_quality | Quick meals (10–20 min), Sleep-supportive eating, Caffeine timing routine, Hydration routine, Grocery basics | Snack strategy, Mindful eating routine, Balanced meal planning, Gentle gut meals |
fair_sleep_quality | Sleep-supportive eating, Caffeine timing routine, Balanced meal planning, Quick meals (10–20 min), Hydration routine | Snack strategy, Mindful eating routine, Dinner templates, Energy-stable meals |
good_sleep_quality | Meal prep routine, Balanced meal planning, High-protein meal planning, Fiber-first routine, Dinner templates | Hydration routine, Grocery basics, Lower-sugar meal planning, Breakfast templates |
optimal_sleep_quality | Any (use demand + eligibility) | — |
sleep_duration
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
very_short_sleeper | Quick meals (10–20 min), Caffeine timing routine, Sleep-supportive eating, Hydration routine, Snack strategy | Grocery basics, Mindful eating routine, Balanced meal planning, Gentle gut meals |
short_sleeper | Sleep-supportive eating, Quick meals (10–20 min), Hydration routine, Snack strategy, Dinner templates | Balanced meal planning, Mindful eating routine, Grocery basics, Portion cues routine |
average_sleeper | Balanced meal planning, Meal prep routine, Fiber-first routine, Lunch templates, Dinner templates | High-protein meal planning, Hydration routine, Energy-stable meals, Lower-sugar meal planning |
long_sleeper | Any (use demand + eligibility) | — |
sleep_regularity
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
highly_irregular_sleeper | Grocery basics, Snack strategy, Quick meals (10–20 min), Restaurant ordering strategy, Hydration routine | Breakfast templates, Lunch templates, Mindful eating routine, Travel routine |
irregular_sleeper | Snack strategy, Quick meals (10–20 min), Hydration routine, Grocery basics, Dinner templates | Balanced meal planning, Mindful eating routine, Caffeine timing routine, Lunch templates |
regular_sleeper | Meal prep routine, Balanced meal planning, Dinner templates, High-protein meal planning, Fiber-first routine | Hydration routine, Lunch templates, Energy-stable meals, Lower-sugar meal planning |
highly_regular_sleeper | Any (use demand + eligibility) | — |
3.3 Wellness archetypes → messaging and habit selection
mental_wellness
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
poor_mental_wellness | Mindful eating routine, Quick meals (10–20 min), Grocery basics, Craving management routine, Balanced meal planning | Hydration routine, Snack strategy, Gentle gut meals, Portion cues routine |
fair_mental_wellness | Balanced meal planning, Snack strategy, Mindful eating routine, Hydration routine, Grocery basics | Quick meals (10–20 min), Fiber-first routine, Meal prep routine, Portion cues routine |
good_mental_wellness | Meal prep routine, High-protein meal planning, Fiber-first routine, Balanced meal planning, Lunch templates | Post-workout fueling, Dinner templates, Hydration routine, Energy-stable meals |
optimal_mental_wellness | Any (use goals + eligibility) | — |
overall_wellness
| Value | Best-fit nutrition types | Also works |
|---|---|---|
poor_wellness | Grocery basics, Quick meals (10–20 min), Hydration routine, Budget-friendly meals, Balanced meal planning | Snack strategy, Caffeine timing routine, Mindful eating routine, Gentle gut meals |
fair_wellness | Balanced meal planning, Meal prep routine, Snack strategy, Hydration routine, Fiber-first routine | Budget-friendly meals, Grocery basics, Dinner templates, Portion cues routine |
good_wellness | High-protein meal planning, Meal prep routine, Post-workout fueling, Fiber-first routine, Energy-stable meals | Balanced meal planning, Lunch templates, Hydration routine, Lower-sugar meal planning |
optimal_wellness | Any (use goals + eligibility) | — |
3.4 Timing archetypes → when to deliver (optional)
Timing archetypes can improve conversion by matching natural routines.
- Early risers: breakfast templates + earlier grocery prompts
- Late risers: lunch-forward templates + afternoon snack strategy
- Early sleepers: caffeine cutoffs earlier + sleep-supportive dinner ideas
Step 4 — Implementation checklist
- Tag every recipe/plan/routine with
nutrition_type_normalized - Apply eligibility filters (dietary preferences, allergens, constraints, ED-safe defaults)
- Use archetype tables to rank nutrition types (top 3–7)
- Select eligible assets (recipes/meal plans) in those types
- Send
top_nutrition_types+recommended_asset_idsto Customer.io / Klaviyo - Log impressions, saves, cooking/completion events, and retention to tune weights
Next: want a ready-to-implement mapping file?
We provide a JSON mapping file that matches these tables and a reference scoring function. You can download below.
Download supplement mapping JSON