diff --git a/backend/app/api/meals.py b/backend/app/api/meals.py
index 4829385..2b38c7a 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/meals.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/meals.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import text
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, joinedload
 from app.database import get_db
 from app.models import (
-    MealPlan, MealPlanItem, MealPlanVote, Recipe,
+    MealPlan, MealPlanItem, MealPlanVote, Recipe, Ingredient,
     FamilyProfile, FamilyMember, ApprovalToken,
     MealPlanStatus, MealPlanItemStatus, MealType, ApprovalTokenStatus
 )
@@ -304,6 +304,18 @@ def get_meal_item(item_id: UUID, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
     ).first()
     if not item:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Meal plan item not found")
+
+    # Enrich ingredient names from the Ingredient table
+    if item.recipe and item.recipe.ingredients:
+        ing_ids = [ing.get("ingredient_id") for ing in item.recipe.ingredients if ing.get("ingredient_id")]
+        if ing_ids:
+            ingredients = db.query(Ingredient).filter(Ingredient.id.in_(ing_ids)).all()
+            name_map = {str(i.id): i.name for i in ingredients}
+            for ing in item.recipe.ingredients:
+                ing_id = str(ing.get("ingredient_id", ""))
+                if ing_id in name_map and not ing.get("name"):
+                    ing["name"] = name_map[ing_id]
+
     return item