Pretty good app honestly. Logging meals is fast and the macro breakdown is easy to read. Photo scan gets confused on some Indian dishes though, fix that and it's 5 stars for sure.
Second Trimester Protein Guide and Daily Tracker โ
Weeks 13 to 27 are when the protein target climbs, and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans put it around 71 g a day, or 1.1 g per kg of body weight. Hitting that consistently is a counting problem, and counting is what NutriScan is for. Photograph the plate, speak it, or type it, and the app records protein, calories, the top micronutrients and a NutriScore against a target you set in Modify Macros. Free accounts get 5 scans a week, Premium is unlimited and adds a 28-day diet plan. This page is general nutrition information, not medical advice, so settle your own number with your midwife or doctor.
What Low Protein Means for Your Growing Baby ๐จ โ
Your second trimester is baby's fastest growth period. Between weeks 13-27, your little one gains over 2 pounds and grows 11 inches. Without enough protein, concerning signs appear:
What happens to baby:
- Slower growth (measuring small at scans)
- Weaker muscle development
- Less active movements
- Lower fluid around baby
- Smaller placenta limiting nutrients
What you might notice:
- Extreme sugar cravings
- Exhaustion despite resting
- More practice contractions than normal
- Slower weight gain
- Feeling breathless often
Any of these can have other causes, and none of them is something an app can diagnose. Take them to your antenatal appointment, and take your food log with you.
Meals that work for you can be marked as favorites and copied to today in one tap, which is how most people keep a log going through a trimester rather than for a fortnight.
Why Second Trimester Needs More Protein ๐ช โ
Why the number moves between weeks 13 and 27:
75-80g Daily Target
25% more than first trimester - like adding an extra bowl of lentils or Greek yogurt daily
Baby Building Mode
Creating millions of new cells daily for organs, muscles, and brain development
Your Blood Doubles
Making 50% more blood requires protein for new red blood cells
Bones Getting Strong
Baby's skeleton hardening needs protein to build the framework
Organs Maturing Fast
Heart, lungs, kidneys all reaching working size through protein building
How NutriScan Makes Protein Tracking Simple ๐ ๏ธ โ
Set the goal and the protein target
Pick Pregnancy in the goal picker, then open Modify Macros and set protein, carbs and fat with the sliders, in grams or percent. Auto-Set Macros by Goal builds them from your age, height, weight and activity instead. Calories follow the 4-4-9 rule, so the total moves with the protein slider.
Add a 28-day plan if you want one
The Premium diet plan form takes your goal, body stats, food preferences, restrictions, eating schedule and up to five cuisines, then builds 28 days with two options per meal slot, a recipe and portion size on every dish, daily macro and micronutrient targets, and a grocery list you can copy.
Log meals and read the week
Photograph the plate, speak it, or type it, and NutriScan returns calories, protein, carbs, fat, the top four micronutrients and a NutriScore. Free accounts get 5 scans a week, Premium is unlimited. The Week tab in Progress then shows your protein target hit rate and eleven vitamins and minerals against target.
Why Choose NutriScan Over Generic Pregnancy Apps ๐ โ
| What you need | Many pregnancy apps | NutriScan |
|---|---|---|
| Reading a meal from a photo | Not offered | Photo, voice or text, 5 scans a week free |
| Protein target you control | Fixed presets | Sliders in grams or percent, or auto-set by goal |
| Weekly protein hit rate | Daily totals only | Week and Month tabs in Progress |
| Micronutrients | Rarely tracked | Eleven vitamins and minerals against target |
| Vegetarian and vegan plans | Limited suggestions | Diet plan built only from sources you eat |
| A nutritionist to ask | FAQ pages | Monika, spoken, 4 calls a week free |
| App language | English only | Multiple languages in settings |
Protein-Rich Meals Perfect for Second Trimester ๐ฝ๏ธ โ
Easy Options for Every Meal: โ
๐ Morning Protein (15-20g each)
- Greek yogurt with honey and nuts
- Scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast
- Lentil pancakes with cottage cheese filling
- Protein smoothie with banana
๐ฅ Lunch Favorites (20-30g each)
- Kidney beans with rice
- Grilled chicken salad with chickpeas
- Cottage cheese with whole grain bread
- Quinoa bowl with vegetables
๐ฟ Smart Snacks (8-12g each)
- Roasted chickpeas with nuts
- Apple slices with almond butter
- Cheese cubes with whole grain crackers
- Protein balls made with dates
๐ฒ Dinner Options (25-30g each)
- Fish with brown rice and vegetables
- Lentil curry with rice
- Chicken with quinoa (small portion)
- Tofu stir-fry with noodles
๐ฅ Bedtime Boost (10-15g each)
- Warm milk with almonds
- Greek yogurt with berries
- Cottage cheese cubes (2-3 pieces)
- Protein shake with cinnamon
What people are saying
Real reviews from people tracking their meals with NutriScan.
Finally sticking to a diet plan because of this app ๐๐ป
Surprisingly fun to use? Lost 1 kg in 4 days just by logging stuff and keeping my NutriScore green. Still on the free side, will probably grab Premium soon.
You take a photo and seconds later you have your macros and micronutrients. That's basically why I stuck with it.
Been using it 2 days now and liking it so far. First week is free so not much to lose.
Did some homework before installing and yeah, the photo scan accuracy is legit. NutriScore is solid too. Keep building, this is great.
Just started but it looks promising. Big plus that you can try it for free.
Finally a calorie counter without ads or upsells every two screens. Photograph the meal, done. Free, simple, exactly what I needed.
Found it right when I needed help fixing my eating. Really glad I did.
Solid pick if you want to track calories and stay on a diet plan without overthinking it.
Lost weight using this. The diet plan kept me honest on bad days. People sleep on how much diet actually matters.
Tracks calories, macros, and even the small stuff like micronutrients. If you're trying to build muscle, this is the app to get.
Start Tracking for Your Baby's Best Growth Today ๐ฑ โ
Set the target once, log what you eat, and let the Week tab tell you how it went. Download NutriScan and scan tonight's dinner.
๐ Everything You Need for Healthy Baby Growth (Weeks 13-27)
Instant Photo Tracking
Snap any meal - homemade lentils, restaurant food, or packaged items. Get protein count in seconds.
Weekly protein hit rate
Progress shows how often you hit target, plus the monthly trend and your top protein sources.
Voice Logging Option
Too tired to type? Just speak what you ate. Perfect for busy days or when feeling queasy.
Pregnancy-Specific Plans
28-day meal plans adjusted for your trimester, weight, and food preferences. Diverse global foods included!
โญ 7-day free trial of Premium, and the free plan keeps working after
What you get on each plan ๐ โ
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Meal scans by photo | 5 a week | Unlimited |
| Voice and text logging | Yes | Yes |
| Protein target and macro sliders | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly protein hit rate and micronutrients | Yes | Yes |
| NutriScore per meal and per day | Yes | Yes |
| Monika, the voice AI nutritionist | 4 calls a week | Unlimited |
| 28-day diet plan and grocery list | No | Yes |
| Copy meal to today and daily repeats | Yes | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions โ โ
Why does the protein target go up in the second trimester? โ
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans put second trimester protein at about 71 g a day, or 1.1 g per kg of body weight, against roughly 46 g before pregnancy. Research using the indicator amino acid oxidation method suggests a higher figure may suit some pregnancies. Weeks 13 to 27 are when your baby gains most of its size and your blood volume rises sharply, and both draw on protein. Agree your own number with your midwife or doctor, then set it in NutriScan under Modify Macros so the app can count toward it.
I missed my protein goals in the first trimester. Does that matter now? โ
Ask your midwife or doctor, because that is a clinical question and NutriScan does not answer clinical questions. What the app can do is stop the next twelve weeks being another guess: log meals by photo, voice or text, and the Week tab in Progress shows your protein target hit rate rather than a vague sense of how it is going. If your scan raised a concern, take the log to the appointment.
I get full quickly but the target is high. How do I manage? โ
Log smaller entries more often instead of forcing large meals. Anything you log lands on the Nutrition Details page where you can adjust the portion with plus and minus or type the exact grams, and add a missing item by voice or text. Meals that work can be marked favorite, copied to today, or set to repeat daily so they post themselves. The Month tab in Progress names your top protein sources, which shows you which of the small entries is actually pulling weight.
How do I know whether I am short on protein? โ
From the numbers, not from symptoms. The Week tab in Progress gives your protein target hit rate for the week, and the Month tab shows the trend along with your top protein sources. Symptoms during pregnancy have many causes and NutriScan does not diagnose any of them, so bring the log to your antenatal appointment and let your midwife or doctor read it against everything else they know.
Can a vegetarian or vegan diet reach the target? โ
Yes, with planning. Set Veg or Vegan in the food preference form and in the Premium diet plan form, and the 28-day plan is built only from sources you eat, two options per meal slot, each with a recipe and a portion size. Combining sources across the day, rice with lentils or quinoa with chickpeas, is the usual approach. Watch your top protein sources on the Month tab to check the target is not resting on one dish.
๐ฅ Medical Disclaimer & Evidence Base โ
Medical Advisory: This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes during pregnancy. Individual protein needs may vary based on medical conditions, multiple pregnancies, pre-pregnancy weight, and other factors.
Evidence-Based Content: Recommendations are based on the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and peer-reviewed research on pregnancy nutrition. Studies support the importance of adequate protein intake during the second trimester for optimal fetal growth and maternal health.
Last Medical Review: September 2025 Sources: USDA Dietary Guidelines 2020-2025, ACOG Guidelines, WHO Nutrition Recommendations, Recent IAAO Research on Pregnancy Protein Requirements
WIC Program Information: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides 40-50g supplemental protein daily for eligible pregnant women, supporting the goal of 71g total daily protein during second trimester.
Always Consult Your Healthcare Provider For:
- Personalized nutrition planning based on your health history
- Assessment of individual risk factors and needs
- Monitoring pregnancy progress and fetal growth
- Professional guidance on supplementation if needed
- Any concerns about pregnancy symptoms or nutrition
Week 28 Is Coming - Time for Maximum Protein โ
As you approach your third trimester, your protein needs will reach their peak to support your baby's final growth push and prepare your body for labor and breastfeeding.
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