CTrackAI

How do you choose restaurant dishes that fit your calorie goal?

By CTrackAI · Updated

Photograph the restaurant menu with CTrackAI's menu scan to see which dishes fit your day. In the US, restaurant chains with 20 or more locations must also show calories on their menus. After you eat, snap your plate to log it, check the estimate, and adjust any item before saving.

How do you use menu scan, step by step?

  1. Open menu scan in CTrackAI.
  2. Photograph the menu so the dish names are readable.
  3. See which dishes fit your day.
  4. After the meal, snap your plate with the AI food scanner, check the numbers, adjust any item and save.

What do the calorie numbers on US menus mean?

Under the FDA's menu labeling rule, restaurants and similar food places that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations, doing business under the same name and selling substantially the same menu items, must show calories for standard menu items on menus and menu boards. They must also say that more written nutrition information is available on request, and that 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary [1].

Your own target may be higher or lower. The FDA notes that calorie needs depend on age, sex, height, weight and physical activity level [2].

How can you make restaurant meals easier to log?

  • Snap the plate before you start eating so every item is visible.
  • Ask for sauces and dressings on the side so you can see how much you used.
  • Adjust the portion if you share a dish or take half home.
  • Use the menu's calorie number, when there is one, to sense-check your entry.
CTrackAI Analytics and Progress screen with weekly and monthly views
Weekly and monthly charts show how meals out fit into your week.

How CTrackAI helps

With menu scan you photograph the menu and see which dishes fit your day. Then the AI food scanner logs what you ate, with a calorie and macro breakdown for every item. You can also ask the AI nutrition coach what to eat next, based on your goals.

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Frequently asked questions

Do all restaurants have to show calories?

No. In the US, the FDA menu labeling rule covers restaurants and similar food places that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations. Restaurants outside that rule may not show calories, which is where a menu scan or a plate photo helps.

Can I log a restaurant meal from a photo?

Yes. CTrackAI's AI food scanner works with restaurant meals and gives a calorie and macro breakdown for every item. Photo results are estimates, so check the numbers and adjust any item before saving.

Is menu scan free?

Menu scan is an AI feature. On the free plan it unlocks with a short ad, up to 5 AI scans a day. Premium removes ads and adds unlimited scans.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Menu Labeling Requirements
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label

Health note: CTrackAI is a general wellness tool. Photo results are estimates, so check the label when precision matters. It is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before changing your diet, especially if you are pregnant, under 18 or living with a medical condition.
About this guide: Published by CTrackAI. It was drafted with AI assistance from the CTrackAI App Store listing and the sources above.