Tips & Tricks Archives - Cronometer Blog

Why You Shouldn’t Rely on ChatGPT Alone to Track Your Nutrition

Sam Francis — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:43:18 +0000

AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful for learning about nutrition, getting meal inspiration, or answering quick questions. But they aren’t a substitute for accurate tracking. When you want to know exactly what’s in your food and how it supports your health, rough estimates and generic advice fall short. Cronometer gives you the precision and detailed data needed to make informed choices, using a database of lab-analyzed foods and tools designed for real accuracy.

However, using both tools together can help you gather deeper insights and stay more informed on your nutrition journey. Keep reading to learn how to get the most out of both.

Why ChatGPT is Not Built for Nutrition Tracking

ChatGPT is a great tool for learning and exploring ideas. It can help explain nutritional concepts, suggest recipes, or answer broad questions about health. But it isn’t designed to track your nutrition with accuracy.

ChatGPT doesn’t have access to a verified food database, so it can’t give you detailed nutrient breakdowns. There’s no fact-checking or quality control on the data it generates, and it won’t track your meals, set personalized targets, or help you monitor progress over time. It’s not connected to your health data, so it can’t adapt to your unique goals or flag nutrient gaps.

If you’re serious about understanding your diet, spotting nutrient gaps, or working toward a specific health outcome, you need a tool built for accuracy. That’s where Cronometer comes in.

How to Use ChatGPT and Cronometer Together

While ChatGPT isn’t built for tracking, it can still be a helpful companion to Cronometer when used the right way. Think of it as a brainstorming tool to support your tracking, not replace it. Heres how to make them work together:

1. Get Meal Inspiration with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is great for coming up with meal ideas based on your goals, preferences, or ingredients you have on hand. You can ask for high-protein recipes, quick meals under 500 calories, or ideas that fit a specific diet. Once you find something that works, head to Cronometer to log the meal and see the full nutrient breakdown. It’s a simple way to turn inspiration into accurate tracking.

2. Use ChatGPT to Learn, Not Log

While Cronometer gives you a clear picture of your micronutrient intake, ChatGPT can help you explore how those nutrients function in your body. Start by checking your Nutrition Report to see which micronutrients you may be lacking. Check out this blog to learn more about the Nutrition Report. Then ask how magnesium impacts sleep, how vitamin C supports iron absorption, or how omega-3s influence inflammation. It’s an easy way to deepen your understanding while Cronometer keeps your tracking accurate and consistent.

3. Build Recipes with ChatGPT, Track them in Cronometer

ChatGPT can help you build recipes from scratch based on ingredients, preferences, or dietary goals. Once you have a recipe you like, enter it into Cronometer’s custom recipe builder to get accurate nutrition info and track it in your diary. It’s a great way to create meals that work for you and still stay on top of your targets.

4. Ask ChatGPT for Tips on Meal Prep, Grocery Shopping and More!

ChatGPT can help you plan your week with meal prep ideas, grocery lists, or even full meal plans tailored to your goals. You can ask for ways to eat more protein, include specific ingredients, or follow a certain diet. Use it to get organized, then rely on Cronometer to make sure your plan meets your nutrition needs.

The Bottom Line

AI tools like ChatGPT are great for expanding your knowledge and staying curious about nutrition. But when it comes to tracking your food and reaching your health goals, accuracy matters. That’s where Cronometer shines.

By using both tools together, you get the best of both worlds—reliable data from Cronometer and helpful insights from ChatGPT. Stay informed, stay curious, and most importantly, stay on track with tools that support your health journey from every angle.

The post Why You Shouldn’t Rely on ChatGPT Alone to Track Your Nutrition appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

How to Accurately Track Restaurant Meals in Your Food Tracker

Sam Francis — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 20:26:24 +0000

Eating out can be one of life’s greatest pleasures, whether it’s date night, dinner with friends, or just a break from cooking. But if you’re working toward specific health goals, it can also come with a side of stress.

What’s in that sauce? How big is that portion? Is it even possible to log this meal accurately?

Track restaurant meals with Cronometer and a few simple tips to stay as accurate as possible. You can enjoy your meal and keep your goals on track.

Why Restaurant Meals Are Harder to Track

Let’s talk about some common struggles when eating out:

Unknown ingredients: Sauces, oils, dressings, and cooking methods are often a mystery unless nutrition info is provided.
Limited nutritional data: Most local or independent restaurants don’t list calories or macros, making accurate tracking feel like guesswork.
Larger portions: Restaurant servings can be double or even triple what you’d normally prepare at home.
Social pressure or distraction: When you’re out with others, it might feel awkward—or even rude—to log your meal on your phone.

All of this can make tracking feel overwhelming. But instead of skipping it altogether, you can shift your approach to work with the situation.

4 Ways to Log Restaurant Meals in Cronometer

1. Use Photo Logging

We’ve recently released this new (Gold) feature which allows you to upload a photo of your meal and we’ll do our best to identify all of the ingredients! Photo Logging is by far the easiest way to log restaurant meals, so make sure you upgrade to Cronometer Gold to get started.

2. Use the Recipe Importer

Eating somewhere that doesn’t list nutrition info? No problem. Find a similar recipe online and use our Recipe Importer (Gold feature) to quickly create your own Custom Recipe. It takes the guesswork out and helps you estimate nutrients more effectively. Check out our How To: Use the Recipe Importer blog here.

3. Break Down Your Meal

For example, You ordered a taco. Enter approximate serving sizes for each component—like the tortilla wrap, ground beef, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, taco sauce, and any other fixings you added to your handheld happiness, such as veggies or sour cream.

For the most accurate data, try to use food entries from the NCCDB database. And don’t forget to include cooking ingredients like butter or oil, since restaurants often use more than you might expect.

4. Choose a NCCDB Entry (or similar) as a Close Match

For example, you ordered a veggie stir-fry. Perform a text-based search for “Vegetable Stir Fry” and you’ll find an option in the NCCDB titled “Vegetable Stir Fry, Carrots or Dark Green Vegetables” Take a look at your plate—does that seem like a close match? Perfect. Log it.

Tips for Logging Restaurant Meals in Cronometer

Take Photos!

If you don’t want to log at the table (or just don’t have the time), snap a quick photo of both your meal and the ingredients on the menu. Upload it into our Photo Logging feature and the rest is history.

If you’re not ready to upgrade to Cronometer Gold, this tip still applies! A photo gives you a visual reference to go back to later when you’re ready to enter everything more accurately.

Check the Menu Online

Many restaurants now have their menu online. It can be helpful to check it ahead of time and pre-log your meal or reference it afterwards to make sure you’ve got all the key ingredients. If you’re lucky, they’ll even list the calorie count and macro breakdown for each meal. ⁠

Use Tricks to Speed Up Your Logging

If you’re looking to log food faster while travelling, make sure to take full advantage of Cronometer’s features! Check out our blog on how to log food faster for tips on:

Home Screen Quick Add
Barcode Scanner
Copy and Pasting
Custom Meals
Repeat Items
And more!

Round Up Instead of Guessing Low

If you’re estimating portions or ingredients, it’s often safer to slightly overestimate—especially for high-calorie ingredients like oils, cheese, and sauces. A teaspoon of olive oil here and there adds up fast, and logging it can help you stay more aligned with your goals.

Tips to Stay on Track with Your Nutrition Goals When Eating Out

Eating out doesn’t have to derail your nutrition goals. Start by setting an intention before you go. Whether you’re aiming to stay within a calorie range or prioritize protein, having a goal helps you make more mindful choices. If the menu is available online, take a minute to preview it so you can plan ahead and even pre-log your meal in Cronometer.

When ordering, look for meals with lean proteins like chicken, fish, tofu, or legumes, along with plenty of vegetables. These foods are nutrient-dense and help keep you full. Be mindful of extras like creamy dressings, oil, and cheese. Ask for sauces on the side or skip ingredients you don’t truly enjoy.

Restaurant portions are often large, so listen to your body and stop when you’re full. Take leftovers home if needed. Most importantly, enjoy the experience. Eating slowly and tuning into your hunger cues can help you feel satisfied without overdoing it.

In Conclusion

Restaurant meals don’t have to mean hitting pause on your progress. With a few mindful choices and smart tracking strategies, you can enjoy dining out while staying aligned with your goals.

Remember, food is meant to be enjoyed. With Cronometer, you can savor your meals and stay committed to your health at the same time.

The post How to Accurately Track Restaurant Meals in Your Food Tracker appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

Smart Strategies for Tracking Food While Traveling

Sam Francis — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 20:23:19 +0000

Let’s face it: tracking your food while you’re traveling can feel like a challenge. Whether you’re on a family vacation, backpacking through Europe, or bouncing between airport terminals for work, staying on top of your nutrition habits might fall to the bottom of your to-do list.

But it doesn’t have to. With a little prep and a few smart strategies, food tracking can fit right into your adventure without slowing you down.

Why Tracking While Travelling Can Be Tricky

Before we get into the solutions, it’s worth acknowledging why logging your food on the road can be harder than at home:

Lack of Time: You’re on the go, exploring new places, navigating new schedules, and squeezing in as much as possible. Logging every bite may not be a top priority in the moment.
No Wi-Fi or Cell Signal: Whether you’re camping, traveling internationally, or stuck on airplane mode, spotty connections can make it hard to access your food diary in real time.
More Meals Out: Dining at restaurants or grabbing food on the go can make it tough to know what’s really in your meal, especially when nutrition info isn’t available. Check out this blog for practical tips on how to track restaurant meals with confidence.
Different Foods or Ingredients: Traveling often means trying new dishes, unfamiliar cuisines, and regional ingredients you don’t usually eat. Even your go-to meals at chain restaurants can vary from country to country, making logging trickier than expected. It’s part of the fun—but it can definitely complicate tracking.

If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The good news is that tracking your nutrition on the road is absolutely doable with the right mindset and the right tools. Cronometer makes it easier to stay on top of your health, no matter where your travels take you. Keep reading for some tips to help you log your food on the go without missing a beat!

5 Tips for Staying on Track with Your Nutrition Goals While Travelling

1. Set Realistic Goals

Travel usually means letting go of some control, and that’s okay. Instead of aiming for perfection, set simple intentions. Maybe it’s getting enough protein each day, eating one veggie-heavy meal per day, or sticking to your normal meal timing.

2. Prioritize Protein and Fibre

These two nutrients will help keep you full and satisfied—making it easier to avoid random snacking or overeating later. Look for high-protein options like grilled meat, eggs, yogurt, or legumes, and pack high-fiber snacks like apples, nuts, or protein bars.

3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Between long flights, walking around, and unfamiliar routines, it’s easy to forget to drink water. Staying hydrated supports digestion, energy, and appetite regulation. Keep a water bottle with you and aim to refill regularly. Check out our hydration blog here!

4. Keep Healthy Snacks Handy

When you’re hungry and the only option is fast food or a vending machine, it helps to have backup. Travel-friendly snacks like trail mix, jerky, dried fruit, or single-serving nut butters can bridge the gap until your next meal.

5. Move When You Can

Even a quick walk around the block or a short hotel room stretch can help you feel more grounded and energized. Movement supports digestion and helps regulate appetite cues, too.

Tips to Make Food Logging on the Go Easier with Cronometer

Snap a Quick Photo Before You Eat

This is one of the easiest (and most effective) ways to stay on track. A quick photo gives you a visual record so you can log everything later when you’re back online or have downtime.

Use the Recipe Importer for Local Dishes

When you’re eating out, it can be really helpful to search for a similar recipe online and use our Recipe Importer to create a Custom Recipe. It’s fast, flexible, and helps you get a more accurate nutrient breakdown.

Speed Things Up With Smart Logging Tools

If you’re looking to log food faster while travelling, make sure to take full advantage of Cronometer’s features! Check out our blog on how to log food faster for tips on:

Home Screen Quick Add
Barcode Scanner
Copy and Pasting
Custom Meals
Repeat Items
And more!

Pre-Log When You Can

If you know what you’re eating or have a good sense of the days meals, log them ahead of time. Pre-logging can give you a helpful structure, keep you mindful, and save time during your trip. You can always go back and adjust as needed!

Choose Your Entries Wisely

Example: You ordered a vegetarian quesadilla. Perform a text-based search for “Quesadilla” and you’ll see there is an option from the NCCDB titled “Quesadilla, Cheese, Two Tortilla and Filling.” Look at your plate; does that sound close enough? Excellent! Log it.⁠

Sometimes you want to be quick so we’re thankful that our favourite database has a lot of options that are both lab analyzed and popular restaurant fare.⁠ Learn more about our database on this blog.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Maybe you didn’t log every meal perfectly. Maybe you skipped a day. That’s okay. Traveling is about enjoying the moment—and food is a big part of that. Aim to stay consistent, do your best, and remember that every little bit of awareness helps. When in doubt, choose a close match from the NCCDB—like a “Quesadilla, Cheese, Two Tortilla and Filling”—even if it’s not exact. It’s better than nothing, and our favorite database is packed with lab-analyzed options that make logging on the go easier.

In Conclusion

Traveling can throw you off your routine, but it doesn’t have to derail your nutrition goals. By being flexible, using Cronometer’s smart tools, and showing yourself a little grace, you can keep logging, even when you’re living out of a suitcase.

Bon voyage and happy tracking!

The post Smart Strategies for Tracking Food While Traveling appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Nutrition Tracking

Emily Wright — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:01:10 +0000

If you’re already taking the time to track your nutrition, let’s make sure you’re getting the most out of every minute. Whether you’re a seasoned tracker or just getting started, there are a few simple ways to go from just tracking to tracking like a pro. Let’s dive in.

Choose The Best Data Sources

Not all food entries are created equal. When searching for foods in Cronometer, we recommend using text-based searches and selecting items from the NCCDB (Nutrition Coordinating Center Database) or USDA databases when possible.

Why? These databases offer the most comprehensive nutrient profiles, often with over 14 nutrients per food item, compared to barcode entries that may only provide the basics. The more data you have, the better insights you’ll get—plain and simple.

Want to learn more? Here are 7 Tips For Getting The Most Accurate Nutrition Data.

Look For Nutrient Rich Entries

Speaking of data-rich foods, aim to choose entries that report at least 14 to 16 nutrients. These foods will give you a much fuller picture of your nutrient intake, from vitamins and minerals to amino acids and fatty acids.

This is especially helpful if you’re tracking for a specific health goal—whether that’s muscle gain, better energy, or optimizing your micronutrients.

Let AI Do the Heavy Lifting

You don’t have to be a nutrition scientist to get great data. We’re using AI behind the scenes to help ensure you have access to the most complete and accurate food data available.

Our system automatically backfills missing nutrients where possible, pulling from the best sources and cross-referencing entries so that you don’t have to second-guess your logs.

Barcode Isn't Always Best

We get it—scanning a barcode is quick and convenient, and it’s a fan favorite for a reason. But here’s the thing: barcodes don’t always provide the most complete nutrient data.

If you’re serious about accuracy (and we know you are), try using text-based searches to find generic or whole-food versions of the product from NCCDB or USDA. This small switch can make a big difference in the quality of your nutrition insights.

Portion Precisely

If you really want to level up your logging, weighing your food is the way to go. Sure, it takes a little more effort, but the payoff is huge—especially for those trying to dial in specific goals.

Using a kitchen scale ensures your portion sizes are accurate, which means your nutrient data will be, too. No more guessing what “1 cup” really looks like. You’re a health optimizer—and you’re in it for precision.

Review Your Nutrition Report

Here’s where the magic really happens. Once you’ve been logging consistently, don’t forget to check your Nutrition Report. This tool will give you a clear breakdown of your nutrient intake and help you spot trends over time.

Not sure if you’re getting enough magnesium? Curious about your omega-3 intake? This is where you’ll find those answers. You can also see how you’re tracking against your targets and adjust your food choices accordingly. It’s like having a nutritionist in your pocket—minus the hourly rate.

Bottom Line

If you’re putting in the work to log your food, make it count. Use high-quality data, look for complete nutrient profiles, and don’t be afraid to go a little deeper. With Cronometer, better tracking means better insights—and that means better results.

Got a tip of your own? Share it with us on social media and tag us—we love seeing how our community is levelling up their tracking game!

The post How To Get The Most Out Of Your Nutrition Tracking appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

Tips & Tricks: Getting Started With The Cronometer App

Emily Wright — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 03:57:30 +0000

If you’re new to Cronometer let us be the first to say – welcome aboard! We are thrilled to have you and we feel like we’ve created the perfect app to help you reach your goals. Whether you’re looking to track your protein intake to gain muscle composition, keep an eye on your magnesium and omega 3 for better health or shed a couple pounds, you can count on our nutrition tracker because:

Our data is accurate.

The nutrition information found within our app comes from lab-analyzed sources, such as the NCCDB or USDA. Other nutrition tracking apps will allow users to submit their own entries, meaning there can be multiple options for a single food such as an egg, and each option will have different (and unreliable) nutrition information. We do still allow our users to submit foods into our database, but each entry is checked and verified by a staff member before being made available to the public.

You’re getting detailed information.

Cronometer gives you the ability to scroll through granular details on up to 84 micronutrients, which is more than any other app on the market. Take a deep dive on things like zinc and potassium or lysine and oxalate.

Because using a new app can occasionally be confusing we’ve compiled some tips and tricks so you can get the most out of your Cronometer account.

Swipe Right & Left

In the mobile app, you can swipe right or left on any entry in your diary. Swipe left to delete or swipe right to unlock more functionality such as copy & paste or to show more nutrition details.

You can also swipe left on the top header bar of your Diary to view your macros, highlighted targets & more!

Sync Apps & Devices

We support integrations with several mobile apps, such as Apple Health and Health Connect. We also provide support for many popular wearable devices and activity trackers such as Garmin, Fitbit, WHOOP, Oura and Suunto.

To get the most out of your existing exercise and health data, you can import it into Cronometer. Sync your device and our seamless integration will feed your activity and health data directly into your account.

Pro Tip

If you have a device that isn't on the list, see if it will sync data with Apple Health or Health Connect, then link those with Cronometer.

Create A Custom Meal

Within the web or mobile app, you can create a custom meal to make logging the things you eat on a regular basis easier than ever!

Do you drink coffee with a splash of milk and a teaspoon of sugar every morning? Create a meal so you don’t have to add all of the ingredients to your diary separately each time. Navigate to the Foods tab, then click ‘Create Meal’ to get started.

Pro Tip

Always taking the same combination of vitamins or supplements? Create a meal that includes them all to add it in one easy step.

Choose Your Food Entries Wisely

When you search for a food, you’ll notice that there are letters, like NCCDB, USDA or CRDB coming up on the right hand side of the screen. This is telling you the source of the nutrition data for that food entry.

To get the most accurate and reliable data, make sure you’re logging with generic entries from the NCCDB or the USDA. Read this blog for more tips on getting the best data.

Pro Tip

Click the orange filter button to bring up more food search options. You can filter out for just NCCDB data entries, sort by most frequent and even enable a multi-add function.

Edit Your Targets

Your daily targets for both your macronutrients (carbs, fat, protein) and your micronutrients (all of those vitamins & minerals) are fully customizable. Our default targets aren’t necessarily fit for everyone and we recommend checking with your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian to help tailor them specific to your needs. Edit these in the ‘More’ section of both the web and mobile app.

Ask For Help

We have a wonderful community around us here at Cronometer. A handful of staff members and over 10 million users are at the ready and willing to help. If you’re stuck and have a question or just need some straight up motivation, don’t be shy. Reach out to our support team, make a post in our community forums or leverage any of our social media accounts. We’re active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok & YouTube so make sure you toss us a like, a follow and let us know what you think!

Ready To Level Up?

Tips & Tricks

2 mins read

Tips & Tricks: For The Advanced Cronometer User

Way to go! If you’re landing on this page, we’re making the assumption that you’ve made it past our basics and level up tips and tricks and you’re ready to graduate to a master user. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. Below we’ll show you some high level tricks to...

Tips & Tricks

4 mins read

Tips & Tricks: Level Up With The Cronometer App

Congratulations! You’re continuing with your Cronometer journey past the basic first steps and for that, not only are we grateful, but your body will thank you. If you’ve landed on this page, we’re making the assumption that you’ve already read our Tips & Tricks – Getting Started blog, you’ve logged your first food,...

The post Tips & Tricks: Getting Started With The Cronometer App appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

Tips & Tricks: 10 Ways To Log Food Faster

Emily Wright — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 22:57:25 +0000

“It’s too time consuming to log my food.”

Yes – we know! It’s a lot of work, especially at the beginning of your Cronometer journey. We get this one all the time from users and while we think that the time spent logging your food is well worth the knowledge you gain from it, we do have a few tricks up our sleeve which will help you speed up the process.

Home Screen Quick Add

If you’re using the mobile app, it’s easy to reduce the amount of taps it takes to add a food. From the home screen of your phone, long-tap on the Cronometer icon which will bring up a quick actions menu. Tap Add Food, and you’ll get brought directly to the food search panel.

Barcode Scanner

A fan-favourite Cronometer feature is our Barcode Scanner. Don’t worry, it’s free! Simply scan the barcode of the food you’ve eaten and it will bring up the entry of that food in our database.

If the food isn’t already in our database, we’ll ask you to take a photo of the nutrition label and the packaging and the app will auto-fill the nutrition details and create a Custom Food in your account. This allows you to add the food to your Diary right away but it will also submit the item into our queue to be checked by a staff member before being added to the public database.

Access the Barcode Scanner (only available on the mobile app) in a few different ways:

Tap the + button on the main menu, select ‘Scan Food’.
Use the home screen quick actions menu mentioned above.
From the food search panel, tap the barcode icon in the top right corner.

Learn how to use the Barcode Scanner on Cronometer by checking out our Cronometer University video here!

Copy & Paste

Copy & paste is a functionality you can use in several ways across the app to save time while logging your food. Copy a single entry by swiping right on the food and tapping the ⋮ icon. Copy an entire day by tapping the ⋮ in the top right hand corner of your Diary. Gold users can also copy the contents of an entire Diary Group by swiping right on the Diary Group header.

Get a full breakdown of the many ways to use copy & paste on mobile or on web.

Custom Meals

If you’re not already using our Custom Meal feature, now is the time to start! Meals allow you to group several foods together so you can quickly add multiple foods in just a few taps.

If you’re always eating the same thing for breakfast (two eggs, toast and three coffees) or taking the same supplement cocktail every day, create a meal containing those items. That way, you’ll just need to add the Custom Meal to your Diary instead of each individual item.

Once a Custom Meal has been added to your Diary, you can use the ‘explode meal’ feature to create individual entries for each food so you can edit the measurements or delete items separately.

Check out our Custom Meal blog here to learn more!

NEW feature!

Photo Logging (Gold Feature)

Our newest and arguably most exciting feature yet! When you upgrade to Cronometer Gold, you’ll gain access to our Photo Logging feature, which allows you to upload a photo of your meal and we’ll automatically identify the ingredients.

This feature is a total game-changer when it comes to logging your food fast because you skip the process of typing and searching for each ingredient separately. We even estimate the portion sizes and give you an easy way to edit and swap out ingredients.

Set Repeat Items (Gold Feature)

By upgrading to Gold, you’ll get access to several features that will make tracking your nutrition faster and easier – you’ll no longer be interrupted by advertising, you can create recipes in a flash with our Recipe Importer and you’ll gain access to be able to schedule your foods, meals and recipes on repeat.

This feature cuts down a ton of time if you consistently consume the same foods since you can add all of your repeating items in just one click.

Check out our Cronometer University on how to set up Repeat Items here.

Multi-Add

If you’re adding multiple foods at once, you can save a little time by using the ‘Multi-Add’ functionality. When searching for a food on the mobile app, tap on the orange filter icon in the right hand side of the search bar. Toggle on ‘Enable Multi-Add’ and start your food search. Tap on the orange box to select an item and search for your next foods. You’ll be able to review before adding all of the items to your Diary or creating a Custom Recipe with your selection.

Quick Add From Diary Group (Gold Feature)

By upgrading to Gold, you’ll also gain access to Diary Groups which allow you to categorize your food entries. Most of our users will use breakfast, lunch and dinner but we applaud any creativity here.

Diary Groups also come with some little-known functionality including the quick add menu. On mobile, tap the + on the left side of the Diary Group label, which will bring up a menu allowing you to add food, exercise, a biometric, note or scan a barcode.

You can even customize the menu for each Diary Group in More > Diary Settings > Group Quick Add Preferences.

Dictate On iOS

If you use Cronometer on an iPhone, enable dictation and you’ll be able to talk instead of type during the food search process. Enabling dictation will allow you to speak anywhere there’s a text field so if you prefer to speak rather than type, this can be a handy tool.

While in the food search panel, tap the search bar and press on the microphone icon in the bottom right corner of the keyboard. Then just say the food you’re looking for and Apple will type it into the search bar for you.

Quick Add From Custom Foods & Recipes Page

On mobile, if you find yourself on your Custom Foods or Custom Recipes page (Foods > Custom Foods or Foods > Custom Recipes), swipe right on any item in the list to bring up an option to add that item to your Diary.

Well, there you have it. We hope that you learned at least one thing from these quick-adding tips. Put them into practice to help make logging your food in Cronometer an easier, breezier process.

Want to learn more Crono hacks? Here are some more tips & tricks.

The post Tips & Tricks: 10 Ways To Log Food Faster appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

Tips & Tricks: Searching For A Food

Eliisa — Thu, 16 May 2024 20:54:31 +0000

If you’re having trouble finding the right foods or want to learn how to log food more efficiently, then you’ve come to the right place! There is so much functionality in our food search that you have yet to discover. Read on for time-saving food search tips!

Getting To The Food Search

First things first, let’s get you to the food search menu. On mobile, tap the + button > Add Food. On web, click Diary > + Food

Searching For A Food

Once you’ve opened the food search menu, a list of your recently logged foods will appear. Tap on the orange sort button (shown as ‘Most Recent’ in the screenshot above) to change how these entries are sorted.

If you don’t see what you want in those selections, there are two options to search for a food:

Text-based search: To use our text-based search, which we recommend to get the most accurate and comprehensive data, simply start typing!
Barcode Scanner: If you’re on the mobile app and looking for a branded food that has a nutrition label and a barcode, using our Barcode Scanner is the easiest way to find what you’re looking for. Tap the icon to the right of the text box and hover your camera over the barcode of the item.

If the item is in our database, it will pull up the food entry and you can easily add that to your Diary.

If the food isn’t in our database, you can quickly create a Custom Food by taking two photos – one of the product and one of the nutrition label. The app will read the nutrition label and automatically create a Custom Food for you. You can add this Custom Food entry to your Diary right away and will have the option to submit it to our curation queue, which will be verified for accuracy before getting added to the public database.

Food Search Options

When you’re in the Food Search, there are several advanced options to sort, filter and categorize which help make searching for a food much easier. Below, we’ll cover the options:

Multi-Add

Our multi-add functionality allows you to search and add multiple food entries at once, speeding up your food logging process.

On mobile, tap the orange icon within the text search bar. Toggle on ‘Enable Multi-Add’. Then, you can continue to search for multiple food entries, check the boxes and they will all be added to your Diary in one fell swoop. You can even create your own Custom Recipe from these selections.

Customize How Food Entries Are Sorted

You can choose how your food entries are sorted within the food search. Choose from:

A to Z
Z to A
Most Frequent
Most Recent

On mobile, tap the orange icon and text to change or tap the icon to bring up the full list of options.

On web, tap the orange icon within the text search bar.

Using The Food Search Filters

You can use filters to hone in on specific search results, allowing you to find foods faster.

On mobile, tap the orange icon within the text search bar.

On web, click the icon within the text search bar.

Filter By Category

Use the categories to filter into more specific search results. Categories available include:

All
Favorites: scroll down to learn how to add food entries into this category.
Common Foods: This will show results from our highest quality nutrition databases and will typically have the most nutrition information available for a particular food.
Supplements
Brands: This will show store-bought, brand name products.
Restaurants: This will show foods from restaurants that are included in our database.
Custom: This will show your Custom Foods, Custom Meals and Custom Recipes that you’ve created in your Cronometer account. It will also show any Custom Foods, Meals or Recipes that have been shared with you by other users.

Filter By Database

The letters that show up on the right-hand side of a food entry indicates which database it is coming from. You’ll typically see the following:

USDA
NCCDB
CRDB
Custom

Food entries from our lab-analyzed databases like the USDA and NCCDB will have the most accurate nutrition data. If accuracy is a priority for you, use this filter to only show results from our lab-analyzed databases. You can learn more about our data sources and how to get the most accurate data here.

Adding Your Food Entry

Once you have found the food you are looking for, select it from the list. You can then change the serving size, quantity and the group it will be added to in your Diary. By upgrading to Cronometer Gold, you can also choose to add and change the Timestamp.

In this section, you can also see the full nutritional breakdown of the food. Scroll down to see calories, macronutrients and vitamins and minerals contained in this food.

We will list the data source and the number of nutrients included in this food entry, so you can quickly assess the accuracy of this entry. For example, on the entry below, you’ll see the data source as NCCDB and it has 82 listed nutrients, which is a nice, full nutrient profile.

When Better Alternatives Exist

We’re now using AI to automatically ensure you can access better, more accurate data. If a user-submitted, branded product or restaurant food has a similar food entry in one of our lab-analyzed databases, we will cross reference and automatically add the nutrients that the entry is missing. You’ll see that this is the case when there are two data sources listed and a magic wand icon appears with the listed nutrients.

Adding A Food To Favorites

Mark your frequently eaten foods as favourites to find them easily later on.

On mobile, you can tap on the star beside the name of the food or tap the icon in the top right hand side, then ‘Add to Favorites’.

On web, click the star beside the name of the food.

Then, use the favorites category filter to see all of your favorite foods in one place.

The post Tips & Tricks: Searching For A Food appeared first on Cronometer Blog.

JJ Virgin’s Top Tips For Cronometer Users

Emily Wright — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:41:56 +0000

Here at Cronometer, we don’t subscribe or push any specific diet. We are here to support you in your health and wellness goals whether you’re on a vegan, ketogenic, mediterranean or you-name-it diet. As of lately though, we have been noticing that a lot of our users are coming to us thanks to JJ Virgin, certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer. Read more about JJ Virgin here.

So, if you’re following or planning to follow any of JJ Virgin’s programs, challenges or diets, you’ve come to the right place. JJ recommends using Cronometer and here are some of her favorite tips for using the app.

"It’s not just an app, it’s my secret weapon for success!”

JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS

Let's Talk About Protein

JJ is a strong believer that a protein-first approach is the best way to balance blood sugar, optimize your metabolism, and meet your body-composition goals.

She recommends:

0.7 grams of protein per pound of ideal body weight is the minimum for healthy folks and those who want to maintain a healthy weight.
1 gram of protein per pound of ideal body weight if you’re vegan, aging, training really hard, or you’re recovering from illness, injury, or surgery.

So to get your protein target, say I am a healthy person wanting to maintain a healthy body weight. I currently weigh 175 pounds, but my ideal body weight is 160 pounds. I would take 160 * 0.7 = 112, meaning I would need to aim to eat 112 grams of protein every day.

For more info on how much protein JJ recommends, read this blog or start her 7-day Protein First Challenge here.

Setting Your Protein Target In Cronometer

It’s super easy to set this up so that Cronometer does all the work for you!

On mobile, tap More > Targets > Macronutrient Settings. Then tap ‘Set macros using’ and set this to ‘Fixed Values’. Toggle to the Grams option (as opposed to kcals) and type in your specific protein target.

On the desktop version, click More > Profile + Targets > scroll down to Macronutrient Targets. Click the drop down menu for ‘Set macro targets using’ and select ‘Fixed ratios’. Select the Grams option (as opposed to kcals) and type in your specific protein target.

Intermittent Fasting

If your program includes intermittent fasting, Gold subscribers can easily track and schedule your fasts right within the app.

Not sure if you should be fasting? It has been picking up momentum in the health and nutrition space since about 2015 and is growing in popularity across the globe, for good reason. There’s tons of scientific research to support its health benefits and it’s undeniably improving the lives of many individuals.

Sync A Device

Don’t forget to sync a device for a holistic approach to transforming into a leaner, stronger, more powerful you.

Cronometer integrates with several wearable devices and apps such as WHOOP, Oura Ring, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, Suunto and more.

About JJ Virgin

As a triple-board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, JJ is a passionate advocate of the healing power of nutrition, and is mission driven to change the way the world sees aging and longevity.

She has launched 2 multimillion-dollar businesses, including a 7-figure personal brand, and founded the Mindshare Collaborative, the most influential professional community in health, having propelled more New York Times bestsellers, PBS specials, and 7 figure brands than any other community.

JJ is a prominent TV and media personality who co-hosted TLC’s Freaky Eaters and was the nutrition expert for Dr. Phil’s Weight Loss Challenges. She’s made numerous appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and The TODAY Show. She also speaks regularly, commanding audiences of 10,000 or more, and has shared the stage with other highly sought-after experts including Tony Robbins, Seth Godin, Lisa Nichols, Gary Vaynerchuk, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dan Buettner, Mary Morrissey and more.

JJ is the author of four NY Times bestsellers: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet, and JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. Her book, Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience, shares the inspirational lessons JJ learned as she fought for her son’s life.

Evidence of JJ’s far-reaching impact can be seen in the millions of views on her YouTube channel, Instagram and Facebook, and through her popular podcast Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin, which has more than 18 million downloads and counting.

JJ is a 3x Inc. 5000 Founder and a top 10 finalist for the John C Maxwell award. As an authority on transformational leadership, she has coached some of the biggest names in health and transformed the lives of millions of people around the world.

The post JJ Virgin’s Top Tips For Cronometer Users appeared first on Cronometer Blog.