Smart & Sustainable Meal Planning
Minimizing Food Waste Through AI-Driven Pantry Optimization
Project Overview
Developed a meal-planning app that uses AI and receipt scanning to suggest personalized recipes, reduce food waste, and track nutrition—offering a more sustainable way to eat.
Problem
Many people struggle with food waste due to poor meal planning and untracked pantry items. Despite the rise of nutrition apps, most fail to consider what users already have, resulting in overspending and expired ingredients.
Households are wasting ingredients due to poor inventory tracking
Solution
We built a mobile app that combines real-time pantry tracking, personalized recipe suggestions, and a reward system for sustainable choices. Users can scan receipts to auto-update their pantry, receive expiry alerts, and plan meals based on what they already own.
Pantry-synced recipe suggestions that reduce food waste
Tools
- React
- Flask
- Firebase
- Figma
- Google Cloud Vision
- Jira
Timeline
- Week 1–2: Research and competitive analysis
- Week 3–4: Wireframing and technical planning
- Week 5–8: Frontend and backend development
- Week 9–12: AI integration, testing, and final refinements
Team
- 3 Full-Stack Developers
- 3 UX Designer
- 1 PM (rotated weekly across team members)
My Role
- Conducted competitor analysis and industry research
- Designed app workflows and visual UI in Figma
- Built frontend features and integrated Google Vision API for receipt scanning
- Collaborated on backend logic for inventory syncing and meal suggestions
My Design Process
Research & Ideation
Explored gaps in current food apps and user behavior data around food waste. Identified key features like expiry tracking, nutrition info, and personalized suggestions.
Wireframing & Design
Sketched low-fidelity wireframes and iterated on designs in Figma with a focus on reducing cognitive load and increasing user retention.
Development
Implemented frontend using React and backend with Flask and Firebase. Integrated APIs for image recognition to enable seamless pantry tracking.
AI Integration & Feedback
Used machine learning to personalize meal suggestions based on dietary habits and past choices. Conducted usability walkthroughs with peers and mentors.
Testing & Launch
Finalized the product with real-time pantry sync, expiry alerts, and a sustainable choice reward system. Conducted final demo and documentation.
Process Documentation
Literature review on food waste and user behavior, identifying key features for the app
Research
Methods
- Competitive analysis of existing food and sustainability apps
- Literature review on user behavior and food waste
- Usability feedback sessions with mentors and peers
Key Insights
- Users preferred automatic tracking over manual entry for pantry items
- Personalized, low-effort recipe recommendations significantly boosted engagement
- Gamified rewards encouraged more sustainable shopping behavior
Research Artifacts
Figma mockup of the app (login, achievements, pantry, and recipe pages). The design evolved through multiple iterations based on feedback
Outcomes
- Gained experience combining AI, design, and sustainability into a single product
- Created a differentiated solution that addresses food waste through smart technology