A meal data object is generated by a user, where the meal data object includes recipes and food items. The meal data object may more specifically include a description and a meal type for the meal data object. For each recipe of the meal data object, the meal data object may include a description, a dish type, and/or a meal part for the recipe. The meal data object may also include a description for each food item. The meal data object is published so that it is viewable by other users. The users can navigate the meal data objects to select desired meals. A shopping list for the food items of the meal data object can be generated, such that each food item is listed once in the shopping list regardless of the number of recipes of the meal data object within which the food item is present.