Nutrition

What food to stock up on? The path to the optimal supply made easy

Miriam Weitz

December 16, 2022

By the way: Hundreds of rolls of toilet paper and just as many liters of sunflower oil are not an adequate supply. When shopping, also think of your fellow human beings and don't buy entire shelves empty if you don't actually need the items.

Starting is not hard - building up the stock

Above all, non-perishable food items are exceptionally suitable for stockpiling. With our PantryApp, you can reliably monitor which products are slowly but surely approaching their expiration date and use them up - before they end up in the trash. Because sensible stockpiling also has to do with sustainability - but more on that in another blog. You don't have to rush to the nearest supermarket and discount store now and spend several hundred euros. You can build up a supply bit by bit. Simply take an extra package of pasta with you on your next shopping trip. If you want to save additional money, you can of course take advantage of special offers.

You should only stock up on food that will actually be eaten. What's the use of having a great supply if the products end up rotting because no one eats them? That's neither sustainable nor sensible stockpiling.

These food items should always be kept in the house

In this section, we adhere very closely to the recommendations issued by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. However, we would also like to point out that these recommendations are not set in stone. For instance, someone who does not eat green beans in any form does not need to include them in their supplies.

Let's start right away with the topic of fruits and vegetables. Here, the ministry mainly recommends relying on canned goods. It actually makes sense, as these have an extremely long shelf life. By the way, the guide can be downloaded for free.

You can record the expiration date of the canned goods in the SpeisekammerApp and thus always keep track of what needs to be used up or repurchased.

For storage, it is recommended, for example,

· Peas and/or carrots

· Red cabbage

· Sauerkraut

· Corn

· Cherries

· Pineapple

· Tangerines

You should always have dry supplies in the house, for example

· Oatmeal

· Flour

· Pasta and/or rice

· Lentils and/or other legumes

· Special bread

The ministry recommends a total amount of about 3.5 kg. One should have about 0.357 grams of fats and oils at home and about 1.5 kg of fish, meat, and eggs or whole egg powder.

So much for the topic of 'basic equipment'. However, not all of us are enthusiastic amateur chefs who can conjure up a five-course meal from three ingredients. Therefore, it can certainly be advantageous to also have ready-made meals, for example the famous canned ravioli, at home. Coffee should also not be missing. Honey and sweeteners are practically everlasting, but with sugar, you should make sure it doesn't absorb water. Also think of your pets, if you have any.

The drinking water supply

The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance recommends that every household stock up on supplies in case of potential supply shortages. Of course, water is of utmost importance.

An adult needs approximately 1.5 liters of fluid per day to survive. It is recommended to stockpile about two liters per person, with 0.5 liters intended for flushing, for example. For a 10-day supply, one should therefore calculate with about 20 liters of water. If you have pets, you should accordingly plan for more.

In addition to water, longer shelf-life fruit juices or other long-lasting beverages are also suitable for storage. The SpeisekammerApp of course offers the option to record the expiration date.

How do I store my beverage supply properly?

Beverages should be stored cool and dark. As the best before date approaches, it is advisable to consume the respective drink and replace it with a new one, which should also be recorded in the SpeisekammerApp. By the way, glass bottles have clear advantages over plastic bottles. The biggest one is probably that they are less harmful to the environment. But also in terms of taste, glass clearly has the upper hand. For one, carbonation can escape from plastic bottles over time. On the other hand, acetaldehyde can be released from the plastic if stored incorrectly, which is not a health concern, but it does alter the taste.

Tap water that has not been boiled can become contaminated quite quickly if stored improperly. However, there is also a solution in the form of tablets or powder, or water filters with activated charcoal.

Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨

At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. 💛

We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.

What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."

Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.

Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿

We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.

Your
Smantry-Team

October 16, 2025
1 min read

🌱 Staying on track made easy: How to stay motivated to create order and avoid food waste

We all know it: Initially, the motivation is high! You finally want to get your kitchen organized, keep an eye on your supplies, and shop more consciously. But after a few weeks, everyday life creeps back in – and the good resolutions start to falter.

With Smantry we want to support you not only in getting started, but also in sticking with it in the long term. 💪✨

1. Be aware of why you are doing this

Order and sustainability are not short-term trends – they grant you freedom, time, and a good feeling. If you know why you want to keep your supplies in check or throw away less food, it becomes much easier to stay consistent.
👉 Tip: Write down your 'why' in the app note or as a reminder.

2. Set small, achievable goals

Nobody becomes an organizing pro overnight. Start small:

  • Today I'm just organizing the spice rack.
  • Check the fridge this week.
  • On your next shopping trip, purposefully buy only what you really need.
    Small steps lead to success – and success motivates!

3. Make it easy for yourself – with smart helpers

Smantry automatically reminds you of expiring products, helps you keep track of your inventory, and assists you with shopping. This way, you have to think less and can enjoy more.
👉 The less effort required, the easier it is to stick with it!

4. Celebrate your progress 🎉

Creating order or avoiding waste is a process, not a sprint. Regularly review what you have already accomplished – you may already see that you need to throw away less or that your supply is finally manageable. That's great!

5. Make it part of your routine

Schedule fixed 'Smantry moments': for example, briefly check the inventory on Sundays or update the shopping list before going shopping. Routines provide structure and make sustainable actions a matter of course.

💚 Conclusion:
Motivation is not a perpetual flame – but with the right tools and habits, you can reignite it time and again.
With Smantry, you have a smart companion by your side that helps you stay organized, consume more consciously, and incidentally do something good for yourself and the environment.

October 9, 2025
2 min read

More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent

Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.

Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database

The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.

An overview of the most important scores

1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?

Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.

  • A (green) means: very balanced.
  • E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.

The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.

2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?

Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:

  • 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
  • 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
  • 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
  • 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes

👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.

3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?

Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:

  • CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
  • Packaging and recyclability,
  • Origin and seasonal factors.

The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.

What this means for you as a Smantry user

Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.

Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass

The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.

September 21, 2025
3 min read

Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes

That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.

And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.

👉 Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.

September 11, 2025
1 min read