Meal Scan
Overview
NutriScan's core functionality enables you to capture and analyze your meals with just a few taps. Simply point your camera at your food, and our advanced AI delivers detailed nutritional insights instantly.
QUICK SCAN
For fastest results, center your plate in the frame and ensure good lighting when taking your photo.
Types of Food You Can Scan
NutriScan's powerful AI can recognize and analyze a wide variety of food types across different categories:
Meals
Complete dishes, platters, and balanced meals with multiple components
- Home-cooked meals
- Restaurant dishes
- Mixed plates
- Grain bowls
Snacks
Small bites and quick foods eaten between meals
- Crackers and bread
- Fruits and berries
- Dips and spreads
- Small appetizers
Regional Food
Diverse cultural cuisines from around the world
- Asian cuisine
- Mediterranean dishes
- Latin American foods
- Traditional regional specialties
Packaged Foods
Pre-packaged commercial food products
- Chocolate and candy
- Snack bars
- Packaged desserts
- Ready-to-eat meals
Drinks
Non-alcoholic beverages of all types
- Coffee and tea
- Juice and smoothies
- Soft drinks
- Water and infusions
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages with caloric and nutritional impact
- Beer and cider
- Wine
- Spirits
- Cocktails
Fast Food
Quick-service restaurant meals and takeaway
- Burgers and sandwiches
- Fries and sides
- Pizza
- Fast casual options
Raw Foods
Unprocessed ingredients and whole foods
- Fresh fruits and berries
- Vegetables
- Grains and seeds
- Nuts and legumes
Supplements
Nutritional supplements and vitamins
- Protein powders
- Vitamin capsules
- Nutritional supplements
- Herbal products
VERSATILE SCANNING
Our AI is constantly learning and improving its ability to recognize foods from different cultures and regions. If your food isn't perfectly identified, you can always make adjustments after scanning.
Scanning Process
Step 1: Capture Your Meal
- From the Home screen, tap the Camera Icon
- Position your meal in the frame
- Take a clear picture of your food
- After 2 meal scans, you'll be prompted to fill out a Food Preference Form to personalize your experience
Step 2: Refine Your Image
| Action | Description | How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Crop Image | Adjust the frame to focus on just your food | Drag the corners of the selection box |
| Add Text | Type additional details about your meal | Tap the text input field and enter details |
| Voice Input | Add details by speaking | Tap the microphone icon and speak clearly |
| Retake | Discard and try again | Tap the "Retake" button |
NOTE
If you encounter an error, ensure you're photographing food items and have a stable internet connection.
Step 3: Processing
During processing, our AI analyzes your meal to identify:
- Individual food items
- Portion sizes
- Nutritional content
- Health implications
The system may return errors if:
- The image doesn't contain food
- There's a network connection issue
- Content doesn't meet our community guidelines
Nutrition Details
After successful processing, you'll see a comprehensive breakdown of your meal:
| Nutrition Category | What You'll See | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients | Calories, Protein, Carbs, Fat | Core nutritional values |
| Micronutrients | Top 4 nutrients (fiber, potassium, etc.) | Important for health maintenance |
| NutriScore | Color-coded health rating | Quick assessment of meal quality |
Customization Options
You can refine the analysis with these tools:
- Edit Meal Name: Make the title more specific
- Adjust Portion Size: Use + / - buttons to match your actual serving
- Remove Items: Delete foods that aren't in your meal
- Add Missing Items: Include foods the AI missed (type or voice input)
Advanced Features
Nutrition Breakdown & Ask More
Access detailed nutritional information and ask specific questions:
- Tap Nutrition Breakdown & Ask More on the meal details screen
- View comprehensive nutritional values
- Explore suggested topics or ask your own questions
- Receive AI-powered insights specific to your meal
Meal Management
Deleting Meals
- On the Home screen, long press the meal item
- Select Delete
- Confirm deletion in the popup
Copying Previous Meals
For repeated meals, skip re-scanning:
- Find the previous instance of the meal in your history
- Long press on the meal item
- Select Copy to Today
- The meal will be added to today's log with identical nutritional information
TIME SAVER
Use the copy feature for regular meals like your daily breakfast or protein shake!
Meal Insights
Your scanned meals contribute to your personalized insights:
- Calendar View: See your NutriScore colors (from red to dark green) by day
- Metrics: Track nutritional patterns by day, week, or month
- Location Data: View a map of where you've enjoyed different meals (requires location permission)
Frequently Asked Questions
Scanning Questions
Why didn't the app recognize my food correctly?
The AI works best with clear, well-lit photos where food items are visible and distinct. Try these tips:
- Ensure good lighting
- Separate different food items slightly
- Take the photo from directly above the plate
- Make sure nothing is obscuring the food
If the AI still struggles, you can manually add or remove items from the analysis.
How accurate is the nutritional information?
NutriScan uses advanced AI to estimate nutritional content with approximately 85-90% accuracy for common foods. Factors that may affect accuracy include:
- Mixed dishes with many ingredients
- Home-cooked meals with custom recipes
- Regional or specialty foods
- Unique preparation methods
You can always adjust portion sizes or add missing ingredients to improve accuracy.
What happens if I scan a non-food item?
The system will detect that the image doesn't contain food and display an error message asking you to take a picture of food. This helps maintain the quality of your nutrition data.
Data & Privacy Questions
Does NutriScan store my food photos?
Your food photos are processed in the cloud and then stored securely in your account for reference. They're used to:
- Generate nutritional analysis
- Create your meal history
- Provide insights and trends
You can delete any meal (and its associated photo) at any time from your history.
Why does the app ask for my location?
Location data is optional and used only to enhance your experience by:
- Creating a map of your dining locations
- Providing regional insights about your eating habits
- Helping you discover patterns in your nutrition based on location
You can use the app without granting location permission, but some insight features will be limited.
Feature Questions
How many meals can I scan per day?
This depends on your subscription plan:
- Free Plan: Limited to 3 scans per day
- Track Plan: Unlimited scans
- Premium Plan: Unlimited scans
Upgrade your plan for unlimited scanning capabilities.
Can I scan meals from restaurants or packaged foods?
Yes! NutriScan can analyze both:
- Restaurant meals and takeout
- Packaged foods and snacks
- Home-cooked meals
For packaged foods with barcodes, a future update will allow barcode scanning for even more accurate results.
What should I do if the app gets stuck on the processing screen?
If processing takes more than 30 seconds:
- Check your internet connection
- Close and reopen the app
- Try taking the photo again with better lighting
- If problems persist, try restarting your device
Our servers typically process images within 5-15 seconds depending on your connection speed.
Tips for Better Scans
BEST PRACTICES
Follow these tips for the most accurate meal analysis:
- Lighting matters: Take photos in well-lit environments
- Angle is key: Photograph from directly above when possible
- Separate items: Slightly space food items apart on the plate
- Size reference: Include the entire plate in the frame for better portion estimation
- Be specific: Use text or voice input to add details about preparation methods or ingredients
Need More Help?
If you're experiencing issues with meal scanning:
Contact support through Home > Profile tab > Contact Us