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.
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.
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.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!