Munchi

Smarter Shopping, Better Meals, Waste Less.

Iris Hu

How might we help busy NYC college students mindfully manage groceries to reduce food waste — to waste less, save more, and feel better doing it?

Iris Hu explores how behaviorally informed, emotion-centered design can transform everyday routines into moments of mindful living.

Rather than relying on guilt or strict planning, Munchi invites you to build self-awareness through small steps, embrace small wins, and create sustainable change with simple, supportive systems.

From cart to kitchen, Munchi helps you make every grocery count.

Munchi is a behaviorally informed system designed to help busy college students reduce food waste by supporting mindful shopping and eating habits across digital and physical touchpoints.

In the U.S., college campuses alone generate an estimated 22 million pounds of food waste each year, contributing to a national total of nearly 120 million pounds annually (Stone Pier Press) (RTS Sustainability Guide). But waste isn’t just logistical—it’s emotional. Many students feel overwhelmed or guilty, yet lack tools that truly fit their lives.

1. The Mobile App serves as the core platform. It allows you to track groceries, receive timely reminders before food expires, and get personalized recipe suggestions based on your shopping habits. It also offers habit insights and visual progress summaries, empowering you to see how your choices improve over time. A built-in digital reward system celebrates small wins and encourages long-term engagement.

2. The Apple Watch Extension provides you with a lightweight, just-in-time companion. It focuses on grocery list visibility, smart reminders, and brief consumption summaries and waste patterns, right when you're making decisions. It’s there to support you, not distract you.

3. The Munchi Bracelet is a physical tool that keeps you connected to your intentions. You can write your shopping list directly on the band and wear it on your wrist, keeping your plan literally at hand while helping you shop with more intention.

Rooted in behavioral psychology and designed with empathy, Munchi doesn’t just aim to reduce food waste. It’s here to help you feel more in control, more aware, and more at ease with the way you eat, shop, and live — one small step at a time.