Meal Logging
Two modes for accurate meal tracking: Entry mode for weighing home-cooked ingredients, and Barcode mode for scanning packaged foods and restaurant items.
When to Use Each Mode
Entry Mode
Use for:
- Home-cooked meals with multiple ingredients
- Novel meals requiring calibration (first 3 weigh-ins)
- Fresh produce and bulk ingredients
- Meals where you want maximum accuracy
Barcode Mode
Use for:
- Packaged snacks and convenience foods
- Restaurant meals (if barcode available)
- Pre-packaged grab-and-go items
- Quick logging when you don't have a scale
Entry Mode: Weigh-As-You-Cook
Entry mode is the foundation of research-grade accuracy. You weigh each ingredient as you add it to your meal, building up a complete nutrition profile.
The Entry Workflow
Tap "Add Item" and search for your ingredient (e.g., "chicken breast", "rice", "olive oil"). The database includes thousands of common ingredients.
Place the ingredient on your kitchen scale. Enter the weight in grams. Use the tare function between ingredients for accuracy.
The ingredient appears in your meal list with calculated nutrition. Repeat for all ingredients in your meal.
Tap "Save Meal" to log. The system learns your portion distribution after 3 weigh-ins of the same meal type.
Calibration Progress
Entry mode is critical for the first 3 weigh-ins of each meal type. This calibrates your Gaussian portion distribution (mean ± standard deviation).
Example: Log "Chicken & Rice" with Entry mode 3 times:
- 1st weigh-in: 380g total → System learns baseline
- 2nd weigh-in: 405g total → System starts building distribution
- 3rd weigh-in: 390g total → Calibrated! Gaussian = 392g ± 13g
After calibration, this meal appears in Quick Log for one-tap logging.
Entry Mode Features
- Item search: Database of 100K+ ingredients with alternative names
- Unit conversion: Enter weights in grams, ounces, or ml (auto-converts using density)
- Meal naming: AI auto-generates meal name from ingredients (e.g., "Chicken Breast, Rice, Broccoli" → "Chicken & Rice Bowl")
- Nutrition preview: See real-time macro totals as you add ingredients
- Storage location tracking: Items are automatically linked to your pantry for reconciliation
Barcode Mode: Scan-and-Go
Barcode mode uses your phone's camera to scan packaged foods. The nutrition data is instantly retrieved from the product database.
The Barcode Workflow
Open Barcode mode and point your camera at the product barcode. The system recognizes UPC, EAN, and other standard formats.
The product name and image appear. Verify it's correct. Nutrition data is pre-loaded from the database.
Enter how many servings or units you consumed (default: 1 serving as listed on package).
Tap "Save" to record. The meal is instantly logged with nutrition data.
Unknown barcode? If the barcode isn't in the database, the system will prompt you to capture 3 photos (front label, nutrition label, quantity label) for background processing. The nutrition data will be auto-updated within 24-48 hours.
Barcode Mode Limitations
Barcode mode is convenient but has accuracy tradeoffs:
- Serving size assumptions: Package serving sizes may not match your actual portion (e.g., eating 1.5 servings instead of 1)
- No calibration: Barcode meals don't build Gaussian distributions, so they won't appear in Quick Log
- Lower reconciliation: Packaged foods may have ingredient variance vs database values
For best accuracy, use Entry mode for your main meals and reserve Barcode mode for occasional packaged snacks.
Switching Between Modes
You can switch modes at any time during meal logging:
- Within a single meal: Tap the mode toggle at the top of the screen. Example: Start with Barcode for a protein bar, switch to Entry to add a banana and yogurt.
- Mixed meals: You can combine barcoded items with weighed ingredients in the same meal log
- Default mode: The system remembers your last-used mode for faster access next time
Accuracy Comparison
90-95% meal-level accuracy after calibration. Supports reconciliation against pantry inventory for ground truth verification.
85-90% meal-level accuracy. Limited reconciliation. Best for occasional use, not primary tracking method.
Common Questions
Do I need to use Entry mode for every meal?
Only for the first 3 weigh-ins of each meal type to calibrate your Gaussian distribution. After calibration, use Quick Log for one-tap logging of that meal type.
Can I edit a meal after logging?
Yes. Go to the Tracking dashboard, find the meal, and tap to expand. You can delete individual ingredients or delete the entire meal if needed. However, you cannot edit weights after saving—this maintains data integrity for reconciliation.
What if I don't have a kitchen scale?
You'll be limited to Barcode mode for packaged foods and Quick Log for previously calibrated meals. However, research-grade accuracy (95%) requires weighing during calibration. We recommend a digital kitchen scale (±1g precision) for best results.
Can I log restaurant meals with Entry mode?
Yes, if you're dining at home with leftovers or can estimate ingredient weights. For in-restaurant meals, use Barcode mode (if menu item has barcode) or Quick Log (if it's a meal you've calibrated before). Restaurant meals have inherently lower accuracy due to unknown ingredient amounts.
Next Steps
- →Learn how to log your first meal with Entry mode
- →Understand Quick Log and how calibration enables 2-second meal logging
- →Read about reconciliation and how it validates your meal logs against pantry inventory