Inspiration
Food wastage is a common problem in many households, where items stored in the fridge are often forgotten and expire without being used. We observed this issue in our daily lives and realized that people usually know what is in their fridge but not when it will expire. This inspired us to build FridgeBuddy, a smart system that helps users track food freshness and make timely cooking decisions.
What We Built
FridgeBuddy is a web-based smart fridge companion that allows users to add food items with expiry dates and categories. The system automatically organizes items into freshness zones (Red, Yellow, and Green) based on remaining days. It also suggests recipes using expiring items and checks ingredient availability through a pantry system, helping users reduce waste and cook smarter.
How We Built It
We built the project using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend and logic implementation. Expiry calculations are handled dynamically using date comparison, and items are categorized in real time. Local storage is used to persist user data, ensuring that fridge and pantry items remain saved even after refreshing the page. The UI was designed to be simple, intuitive, and user-friendly.
Challenges We Faced
One major challenge was accurately calculating expiry days and updating freshness zones dynamically. Another challenge was matching pantry ingredients with recipe requirements in a clear and understandable way. We solved these issues by refining date logic, optimizing condition checks, and improving UI feedback for missing or available ingredients.
What We Learned
Through this project, we learned how to design a real-world problem-solving application, manage dynamic data on the frontend, and improve user experience through thoughtful UI design. Most importantly, we learned how technology can be used to promote sustainability and reduce everyday food waste.
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