Count calories from a photo: snap it, confirm the portion
When you eat something outside the plan, photograph your plate or scan the barcode of a packaged product. YiYo brings up the calories and macros; you confirm the portion, and the result is written to your meal record.
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The quick way to log an off-plan meal
The meals in your plan already come with their calories and macros. Photos and barcodes are for the meals that don't fit the plan.
Snap it when you stray
When you eat something outside the plan, photograph your plate or scan the package barcode. No scale, no hunting for gram values; you just confirm the portion.
Photo and barcode results are estimates; you always confirm the portion yourself. Barcodes are looked up in the Open Food Facts database.
How do you get calories from a food photo?
Photograph your plate with the calorie camera, or pick a food photo from your gallery. Here's what happens next:
- It's shrunk on your phone. The photo is compressed and sent to an image model for analysis only.
- The plate is analyzed. The dish name, estimated weight, calories and macros are worked out.
- You confirm. When you confirm the portion, the result is written to your meal record; the photo itself is not stored.
Calories by barcode scan: for packaged foods
If you ate a packaged product, scan the barcode on the package instead of taking a photo. The product's nutrition facts are fetched from the Open Food Facts open database.
- No image is saved. The camera only reads the barcode; the only thing looked up is the barcode number.
- Your identity isn't sent. No information about you is sent to Open Food Facts.
- It's added to your log. When you confirm the portion, the product's name, brand and nutrition facts are added to your meal record.
Why an estimate, not an exact measurement?
Both photo analysis and the barcode database rely on estimates. These are the main reasons the numbers can be off.
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With photos
Portion and weight estimates can be noticeably off depending on the lighting, the camera angle and how much of the food on the plate is visible.
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With barcodes
The information comes from an open, community-maintained database; a product's entry may be incomplete, outdated or wrong.
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With both
You always confirm the portion yourself. Check the values once before you save.
What happens to your photo?
- Photos are not stored. The photo of your plate is sent to the AI provider for analysis only; the result is written to your meal record, and the photo is not kept. There is no permanent photo archive.
- Permission only when needed. Camera and gallery access is requested only when you use these features; saying no doesn't block the rest of the app.
- Photo analysis is optional. You don't have to consent to your photos being analyzed; you can also add your meals manually or by barcode.
Questions about calories by photo
Do I need to buy a kitchen scale?
No. Every meal in the plan already comes with its calories and macros. When you eat something outside the plan, you photograph it or scan the package barcode, then confirm the portion.
How accurate are the calorie values?
They are estimates. Photo analysis and the barcode database are not exact; you always confirm the portion yourself. Treat the numbers as a direction, not a precise measurement.
Can I use a photo from my gallery?
Yes. You can use a photo you take on the spot or a food photo you pick from your gallery. Either way, the photo isn't stored; only the analysis result is written to your meal record.
Do I need an internet connection?
Yes. Your plan and daily tracking are also stored on your device, but you need a connection to sign in, generate plans and recipes, and analyze photos and barcodes.
Start today.
The moment you finish the questions, your first weekly plan is ready. Free.
On a computer? Scan it with your phone's camera and the App Store page opens.
YiYo is not a health institution, a dietitian or a medical doctor. The plans it offers are for information only and do not replace medical advice. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, and for people with kidney disease, diabetes that requires medication or insulin, or a history of eating disorders, the app should only be used under the supervision of a doctor or dietitian.
