Overview
An app to reduce food waste, manage groceries, find recipes, and track nutrition to promote healthier, sustainable living.
Solution
Combine inventory tracking, recipes, and a macro tracker to reduce waste and support mindful eating.
Problem
Busy lifestyles cause wasted groceries, unhealthy eating, and overspending, negatively impacting users and the environment.
Goal
Help users reduce food waste and adopt healthier habits through simple, intuitive tools.
Tools
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop
Scope
UX/UI Design and Research
Timeline
2 months
Save good,
savor food
Savora
Research
The Impact of Edible Garbage
Food waste, also known as edible garbage, is a big problem worldwide. About one-third of all the food we make gets thrown away each year, hurting the environment and making hunger worse for millions of people. This situation highlights the urgent need for action against food waste.
Let's Talk About Why We Waste Food
Saving food can be tough with our eating and spending habits. We often buy too much, forget what we have, or let busy schedules lead to waste. Additionally, research from the USDA shows that spending on takeout and delivery is now at an all-time high, with over half of food budgets going to dining out—leaving groceries unused and more likely to go to waste.
48.30%
51.70%
2020
2023
55.70%
44.30%
Study shows a 7.4% change in spending on food for home in only 3 years.
Highlighting Target Behavior
This survey focuses on university students to understand food waste behaviors, including both home cooking enthusiasts and those who prefer dining out.
45%
10%
15%
30%
Primary Reasons for Waste
Overbuying
Expired
Storage
Other
Top reasons for food waste are overbuying (45%) and expired items (30%), with storage issues also contributing (15%). These findings highlight the need for smarter food management tools.
40%
10%
20%
30%
Frequency of Food Waste
Several / month
Rarely
Several / week
Once+ / week
Survey results show that food waste is common among university students, with 40% wasting food several times a month and 30% several times a week. Managing food effectively remains a struggle for this group.
What was your most recent encounter with food waste?
Akari M
“I struggle with tracking what’s in my pantry and end up buying duplicates. I end up wasting food because I forget what I already have."
Joshua F
"I plan to eat healthy meals, but it’s hard to stick to it when junk food delivery is just a click away. My groceries end up going bad."
Isabel R
"Sometimes, I buy ingredients for a specific recipe but don’t get around to making it. The ingredients end up expiring before I can use them."
These experiences shed light on the everyday challenges we face in reducing food waste.
The problem at hand is clear…
How can users efficiently manage their groceries, maintain healthy eating habits, and simplify meal planning to reduce food waste?
How might we help users easily track and manage their groceries to reduce waste and stay healthy?
How might we offer quick and budget-friendly recipe suggestions that use ingredients users already have?
How might we provide personalized nutrition insights to support users’ healthy lifestyle and goals?
Target Personas
Built from research insights, these personas highlight the real challenges faced by the target users.
Linda Chang 58
Retired
New York
Background
Linda is a retired teacher passionate about healthy living and sustainability. Not very tech-savvy, but is eager to reduce household food waste, Linda seeks a solution to maintain her healthy diet and contribute to a greener planet.
Pain points
Waste
Health
Savings
Time
Background
Linda is a retired teacher passionate about healthy living and sustainability. Not very tech-savvy, but is eager to reduce household food waste, Linda seeks a solution to maintain her healthy diet and contribute to a greener planet.
Pain points
Waste
Health
Savings
Time
Jameson Flann 26
Developer
Nevada
Intentional Eating: A Holistic Approach
The issue of food waste is just one part of a larger challenge. Behind the wasted food are our daily choices, eating habits, and the way we approach food management. Intentional Eating shifts the focus from simply reducing waste to encouraging thoughtful, health-conscious consumption.
The Hooked Model
The project will leverage the Hooked Model to encourage users to adopt sustainable habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Trigger
Action
Reward
Investment
External
Push/widget notifications
Internal
Desire to reduce
waste + improve health
Log meals
Check reminders
Scan reciepts
Search tailored recipes
Health awareness
Personalized recipes
Variable
Medals at task completion
Health tracking accuracy
Medals earned
Tailored/favorited recipes
Goal streaks
Design
Structuring the Solution
Outlined taskflows and wireframes illustrate how the app guides users through key actions like inventory tracking, macro logging, and recipe discovery.
While the core taskflows stayed consistent, many visual and interaction details evolved through user feedback and iteration.
Designing With Feedback
Design Inspired by Nature and Wellness
The moodboard establishes a calming, health-focused visual tone with fresh greens and earthy hues for a natural, mindful feel. Soft, modern elements and clean layouts help create a UI that is approachable, intuitive, and seamlessly connected to intentional living.
Designing for Everyone
The design combines simplicity, accessibility, and functionality to cater to diverse users, from budget-conscious young adults to health-focused older individuals. The calming green tones and clean layouts reflect the app's focus on mindfulness, sustainability, and intentional living.
ABCDEFGHIJLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890?!@#$%^&*()[]{}
17px
Regular
Aa
Medium
Aa
Bold
Aa
Inter
Rasmus Anderson
TYPEFACE
#6FAA6B
Exploration Green
#ECEBE2
Gypsum
#EFBD3E
Golden Mary
#424242
Black Panther
#AAAAAA
Dhūsar Grey
COLOR PALETTE
INTERACTIVES
WIREFRAMES
Result
Bringing It All Together
Savora’s features tackle food waste and intentional eating with ease. Smart reminders, personalized health tracking, and recipe discovery seamlessly address food waste and intentional eating, empowering users to make mindful, sustainable choices.
Working on Savora challenged me to think beyond conventional app ideas, balancing its role as a reminders tool while integrating features that promote healthier living and reduce food waste. One of the toughest hurdles was ensuring the MacroMonitor remained a supporting feature without overshadowing the app's primary mission, requiring thoughtful iterations and a focus on user needs. This project taught me the value of finding creative solutions to traditional problems, leading to features that not only solve practical issues but also keep users engaged.
Next projects…
© 2025 Rick Takeda. All Rights Reserved.