Promoting Healthy Eating and Reducing Food Waste
Ofek Cohen || UX Researcher & Designer (in collaboration with Adar Bitan)
Year 2025
Overview
About
EcoBite is a conceptual mobile application designed to promote healthier eating habits while significantly reducing food waste at the household level. Developed as part of a behavioral design seminar, this project integrates user experience research and psychological theory to tackle two interconnected challenges: poor nutritional habits and widespread food waste.
Despite growing awareness of health and sustainability, many individuals struggle to maintain balanced diets and avoid throwing away edible food. Barriers such as lack of time, low motivation, limited planning tools, and confusion around expiration dates often lead to poor decision-making in the kitchen.
Through extensive user research — including surveys, interviews, persona development, and journey mapping — we discovered that users are motivated to improve their habits, but lack the structure and guidance to do so. Based on these insights, we designed EcoBite, a digital tool that helps users manage their food inventory, receive recipe suggestions based on existing ingredients, and adopt more sustainable consumption behaviors.
The solution offers not just practical support, but also encourages long-term behavior change by embedding principles from behavioral science into the user experience. By combining intuitive interaction with smart nudges and personalized insights, EcoBite empowers users to reduce waste, make informed nutritional choices, and build healthier daily routines — all without the overwhelm.
UX Research
Journey Mapping
User Interviews
Responsive Design
Sketching
Visual Communication
FigJam
Figma
Google Forms
Miro
Overview
About
EcoBite is a conceptual mobile application designed to promote healthier eating habits while significantly reducing food waste at the household level. Developed as part of a behavioral design seminar, this project integrates user experience research and psychological theory to tackle two interconnected challenges: poor nutritional habits and widespread food waste.
Despite growing awareness of health and sustainability, many individuals struggle to maintain balanced diets and avoid throwing away edible food. Barriers such as lack of time, low motivation, limited planning tools, and confusion around expiration dates often lead to poor decision-making in the kitchen.
Through extensive user research — including surveys, interviews, persona development, and journey mapping — we discovered that users are motivated to improve their habits, but lack the structure and guidance to do so. Based on these insights, we designed EcoBite, a digital tool that helps users manage their food inventory, receive recipe suggestions based on existing ingredients, and adopt more sustainable consumption behaviors.
The solution offers not just practical support, but also encourages long-term behavior change by embedding principles from behavioral science into the user experience. By combining intuitive interaction with smart nudges and personalized insights, EcoBite empowers users to reduce waste, make informed nutritional choices, and build healthier daily routines — all without the overwhelm.
UX Research
Journey Mapping
User Interviews
Responsive Design
Sketching
Visual Communication
FigJam
Figma
Google Forms
Miro
define
The Problem
The Problem
People often struggle to maintain a healthy diet and manage their food efficiently due to lack of time, motivation, knowledge, or proper tools — resulting in poor nutrition and increased food waste.
People often struggle to maintain a healthy diet and manage their food efficiently due to lack of time, motivation, knowledge, or proper tools — resulting in poor nutrition and increased food waste.
My Solution
EcoBite is a mobile-first solution designed to bridge a rare gap in the digital landscape: the intersection of healthy nutrition and food waste reduction. Unlike most tools that focus on either diet tracking or sustainability, EcoBite brings both together—empowering users to improve their eating habits while minimizing food loss at home. The app offers inventory management, recipe suggestions based on existing ingredients, and smart planning features like expiration reminders and personalized filters. Grounded in behavioral design principles (Fogg, Hooked, Nudge), EcoBite helps turn good intentions into lasting habits through intuitive UX, subtle guidance, and real-life practicality.
My Solution
EcoBite is a mobile-first solution designed to bridge a rare gap in the digital landscape: the intersection of healthy nutrition and food waste reduction. Unlike most tools that focus on either diet tracking or sustainability, EcoBite brings both together—empowering users to improve their eating habits while minimizing food loss at home. The app offers inventory management, recipe suggestions based on existing ingredients, and smart planning features like expiration reminders and personalized filters. Grounded in behavioral design principles (Fogg, Hooked, Nudge), EcoBite helps turn good intentions into lasting habits through intuitive UX, subtle guidance, and real-life practicality.
Focus
Designing a user-centered system that supports both health and sustainability, by making food related decisions easier, more mindful, and more impactful day by day.
Focus
Designing a user-centered system that supports both health and sustainability, by making food related decisions easier, more mindful, and more impactful day by day.
Research Insights
Many users reported a strong desire to eat healthier, but lacked clear definitions of what “healthy eating” actually means. Without a solid understanding of what makes a diet balanced, users often relied on intuition, habits, or social influence rather than nutritional knowledge. This highlighted the importance of providing concrete, accessible guidance through the app.
There’s a clear gap between knowledge and action when it comes to nutrition. While users are aware of the importance of healthy eating, 88% admitted they do not follow a structured approach. Time constraints, lack of planning tools, and emotional eating were cited as barriers to making healthier choices consistently.
Household and family dynamics played a central role in shaping food-related behaviors. Families varied in who took responsibility for planning, buying, and cooking—sometimes leading to overlapping efforts or gaps. In homes with multiple adults or children, decisions were often made independently and not always communicated clearly. These situations frequently resulted in either a surplus or shortage of essential ingredients.
Shopping and inventory habits were marked by a lack of structure and visibility. 77% of users reported not planning their grocery shopping in advance, instead relying on impressions or urgency in the moment. Many also expressed difficulty keeping track of existing items at home, and some were unsure how to assess expiration dates. This led to both unnecessary purchases and premature disposal of edible food.
Research Insights
Many users reported a strong desire to eat healthier, but lacked clear definitions of what “healthy eating” actually means. Without a solid understanding of what makes a diet balanced, users often relied on intuition, habits, or social influence rather than nutritional knowledge. This highlighted the importance of providing concrete, accessible guidance through the app.
There’s a clear gap between knowledge and action when it comes to nutrition. While users are aware of the importance of healthy eating, 88% admitted they do not follow a structured approach. Time constraints, lack of planning tools, and emotional eating were cited as barriers to making healthier choices consistently.
Household and family dynamics played a central role in shaping food-related behaviors. Families varied in who took responsibility for planning, buying, and cooking—sometimes leading to overlapping efforts or gaps. In homes with multiple adults or children, decisions were often made independently and not always communicated clearly. These situations frequently resulted in either a surplus or shortage of essential ingredients.
Shopping and inventory habits were marked by a lack of structure and visibility. 77% of users reported not planning their grocery shopping in advance, instead relying on impressions or urgency in the moment. Many also expressed difficulty keeping track of existing items at home, and some were unsure how to assess expiration dates. This led to both unnecessary purchases and premature disposal of edible food.
Many users reported a strong desire to eat healthier, but lacked clear definitions of what “healthy eating” actually means. Without a solid understanding of what makes a diet balanced, users often relied on intuition, habits, or social influence rather than nutritional knowledge. This highlighted the importance of providing concrete, accessible guidance through the app.
There’s a clear gap between knowledge and action when it comes to nutrition. While users are aware of the importance of healthy eating, 88% admitted they do not follow a structured approach. Time constraints, lack of planning tools, and emotional eating were cited as barriers to making healthier choices consistently.
Household and family dynamics played a central role in shaping food-related behaviors. Families varied in who took responsibility for planning, buying, and cooking—sometimes leading to overlapping efforts or gaps. In homes with multiple adults or children, decisions were often made independently and not always communicated clearly. These situations frequently resulted in either a surplus or shortage of essential ingredients.
Shopping and inventory habits were marked by a lack of structure and visibility. 77% of users reported not planning their grocery shopping in advance, instead relying on impressions or urgency in the moment. Many also expressed difficulty keeping track of existing items at home, and some were unsure how to assess expiration dates. This led to both unnecessary purchases and premature disposal of edible food.
This highlighted the importance of providing accessible, evidence-based guidance to help users define and achieve balanced nutrition.
This gap emphasized the need to reduce complexity and emotional friction around healthy choices. It pointed to the importance of translating abstract knowledge into simple, supportive, and repeatable actions.
Shared responsibilities and low inventory awareness revealed a need for better coordination. Clearer planning and visibility at home can help prevent waste, confusion, and duplicated effort.
Design Overview
EcoBite was designed as a behavioral tool—not just a meal planner. The visual language emphasizes ease, encouragement, and everyday utility. Screens are clean, familiar, and modular, with tailored flows for different user types: from experienced household managers to spontaneous cooks.
The design directly responds to user challenges: unstructured food habits, confusion around healthy choices, emotional friction, and a lack of household coordination. The interface integrates planning, inventory, and meal discovery into one accessible system. Every feature is grounded in behavior change principles like clarity, autonomy, and smart nudging—making healthier, more sustainable decisions feel easier, not harder.
Key FEATURES
Personalized, Health-Focused Recipes
Many users struggle to eat well not because of lack of motivation, but because of decision overload and unclear options. This feature bridges the gap between what’s available at home and what users feel comfortable preparing. Recipes are suggested based on actual inventory, but also fully personalized through filters like dietary preferences (e.g. vegetarian, low-carb), nutritional goals, cooking difficulty, available time, and even who is preparing the meal.
Users can set their own preferences—such as avoiding allergens, favoring specific ingredients, or cooking with/for others—so every recommendation feels relevant and achievable. The goal is to reduce friction, increase variety, and support users in making healthy, satisfying choices that fit their lifestyle, even on their busiest days.
Smart Inventory & Expiry Tracking
The inventory feature gives users a clear, structured view of their household food in real time. For each product, users can see its name, storage location, quantity in stock, expiration date, and a visual indicator of remaining shelf life.
Items can be sorted or filtered by freshness, storage type, or quantity—helping users quickly identify what to prioritize.A checkmark icon allows for fast marking of items as "used," automatically updating the inventory.
This lightweight interaction reduces mental load and helps prevent waste, while supporting better planning and more intentional use of what’s already available.
Appreciation
Thanks for checking it out!
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Key FEATURES
Personalized, Health-Focused Recipes
Many users struggle to eat well not because of lack of motivation, but because of decision overload and unclear options. This feature bridges the gap between what’s available at home and what users feel comfortable preparing. Recipes are suggested based on actual inventory, but also fully personalized through filters like dietary preferences (e.g. vegetarian, low-carb), nutritional goals, cooking difficulty, available time, and even who is preparing the meal.
Users can set their own preferences—such as avoiding allergens, favoring specific ingredients, or cooking with/for others—so every recommendation feels relevant and achievable. The goal is to reduce friction, increase variety, and support users in making healthy, satisfying choices that fit their lifestyle, even on their busiest days.
Smart Inventory & Expiry Tracking
The inventory feature gives users a clear, structured view of their household food in real time. For each product, users can see its name, storage location, quantity in stock, expiration date, and a visual indicator of remaining shelf life.
Items can be sorted or filtered by freshness, storage type, or quantity—helping users quickly identify what to prioritize. A checkmark icon allows for fast marking of items as "used," automatically updating the inventory.
This lightweight interaction reduces mental load and helps prevent waste, while supporting better planning and more intentional use of what’s already available.
Appreciation
Thanks for checking it out!
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