One aspect of the application provides a cueing device. The device is configured to alert a user to a perishable item associated with the cueing device based on one or more cueing parameters indicative of an urgency of the perishable item and a context for alerting the user to a status of the perishable item. The device includes a visual output capable of providing multiple levels of visual alert. The device further includes an input capable of receiving, from the user, an acknowledgement to an alert, or a cueing parameter. The device further includes one or more sensors configured to detect environmental characteristics affecting the perishable item. The device further includes a wireless communication interface.