Nittany Bites

A web-based platform where Penn State dining locations and cafes can list surplus food at a discounted rate. Students can browse, reserve, and pick up meals before they go to waste.

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Food waste at Penn State has reached over 264 tons annually, even with composting initiatives in place. At the same time, many students on campus struggle with high food costs and limited meal plan flexibility. We were inspired to create a solution that bridges this gap—minimizing waste while maximizing student access to affordable meals.

Nittany Bites is a web-based platform that allows Penn State dining halls, cafés, and food vendors to list surplus meals at a discounted price for students. Students can:

View available food by location and time

Filter by dietary preference

Reserve items for pickup Vendors benefit by reducing waste, and students get access to affordable, quality food—building a more sustainable campus ecosystem.

Students can browse, reserve, and pick up meals before they go to waste.

How we built it: We designed and built Nittany Bites using a lightweight, frontend-first approach to focus on rapid prototyping and usability.

Frontend: 1Built with vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, keeping it simple and fast for quick iteration. We designed clean UI screens including profile pages, navigation bars, and alert-driven navigation to simulate user experience.

Backend & Auth: We used Firebase to handle: 1 Authentication (login, user identification)

  1. Firestore for storing listings and user interactions
  2. Future-ready for analytics tracking and live data updates

Server Logic: Node.js is set up to manage server-side logic and potential integrations for vendor-side functionality and food listing automation.

This stack helped us focus on building a clear MVP with working login, data handling, and a polished interface in the limited hackathon time.

Challenges we ran into:

  1. Balancing UX for both students and vendors in a short time frame was tough.
  2. Creating a reliable mock inventory system with time-sensitive availability required clever handling of states and UI timers.
  3. Integrating a realistic authentication system without access to PSU APIs meant building a mock login to simulate the experience.

What we learned:

  1. How to develop a platform that addresses real campus challenges using full-stack web development.
  2. The importance of prioritizing features and scope management in a time-boxed project.
  3. How to translate environmental issues into actionable tech solutions.
  4. Working collaboratively with a team under pressure, applying rapid prototyping methods.

Whats Next:

  1. Real PSU Integration: Secure access via LionPATH/SSO and real-time dining data.
  2. Mobile App Version: For easier, on-the-go access for students.
  3. Analytics Module: To track long-term impact on food waste reduction.
  4. Delivery or Locker Pickup: For better accessibility.
  5. Partner with local shelters for leftover redistributions beyond student demand.
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