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?
  1. How might we help users easily track and manage their groceries to reduce waste and stay healthy?

  2. How might we offer quick and budget-friendly recipe suggestions that use ingredients users already have?


  3. 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.

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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.

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