Calorie counter that logs by photo, barcode or search
A calorie counter needs two things: a daily target and a way to log what you eat against it. Here is how Mealyno sets the target, with the arithmetic written out, and how the logging side works.
Updated September 2026 · How Mealyno builds its plans
The target: a worked example
Take a 35-year-old woman who is 168 cm tall, weighs 68 kg and trains lightly a few days a week. The Mifflin-St Jeor equation gives her resting energy use, and an activity multiplier turns that into a daily estimate.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Resting energy: 10 × 68 + 6.25 × 168 − 5 × 35 − 161 | 1,394 kcal |
| With activity (× 1.375, light) | 1,917 kcal |
| Goal adjustment | −400 kcal |
| Daily target | 1,517 kcal |
The last line is where a goal enters. This example subtracts 400 kcal from maintenance, which gives 1,517 kcal. The nearest free plan is the 1500 kcal plan. Someone with a different goal would subtract less, add instead, or keep the maintenance figure.
The example is arithmetic. It is not a recommendation for you. The calorie calculator runs the same steps with your own numbers.
Why the target is an estimate
Equations like Mifflin-St Jeor were fitted to groups of people. Your own resting energy use can sit above or below the group average, and the activity multiplier is a rough category. Treat the number as a starting point.
The useful test is your own trend. If you log consistently for two to three weeks and your weight moves in a direction you did not expect, adjust the target rather than assuming the log is wrong.
The log: four ways to add a meal
Logging is the part most people drop. Mealyno offers several routes so that a busy day has a fast one.
- Search or type a food and its portion, for meals you already know.
- Photo analysis: take a picture of the plate and the AI model returns an estimate of foods, portions, calories and macros with a confidence score. Light, visible portions and no hidden sauces give better results.
- Barcode scan for packaged food, which reads the label data instead of estimating it.
- Export a planned meal from a saved plan straight into the diary for the days you chose.
Photo estimates depend on lighting and on what the camera can see. Treat them as a starting point and edit any entry you know is wrong.
What the day view shows
The diary adds up calories, protein, carbs and fat for the day and compares them with the goals from your profile. The calendar marks days that landed close to the goal, so a weekly pattern is easy to read.
Protein is shown as grams next to calories because a calorie total alone hides how the day was built. Two 1,500 kcal days can have very different protein.
When the estimate looks off
- Weigh one recurring food once. A cooked portion from a scale is a better entry than a guess, and you can save it as a recipe to reuse.
- Log the sauces and oils. They are the most common missing calories.
- Prefer barcode entries for packaged foods.
- If a meal is a one-off restaurant plate, log a reasonable approximation and move on. One rough entry does not decide a week.
Common mistakes when counting calories
- Skipping cooking oil, dressing and sauces. A tablespoon of oil is around 120 kcal and rarely gets logged.
- Logging cooked food as raw, or the reverse. Rice and meat change weight when cooked, so choose the entry that matches the state you weighed.
- Estimating the same portion differently each time. A consistent error is easier to correct than a random one.
- Logging only the meals that went well. A complete rough log beats a precise partial one.
- Changing the target every few days. Give a number two to three weeks before you judge it.
When the target should change
Body weight and activity both feed the equation, so the target should be recalculated when either changes by a meaningful amount. Update your profile after a real change in weight or routine, and the app recalculates the calorie and macro goals.
A target is also a decision. If you lose weight faster or slower than you expected over several weeks, change the number instead of forcing the log to agree with it. A doctor or a registered dietitian can help you choose a sensible direction.
What to log first if you are new
- Start with the five or six meals you eat most. They cover most of a week, and once logged they are quick to repeat.
- Add drinks with calories, cooking oil and snacks in the second week, when the habit is already there.
- Log at the time you eat. Memory at night rounds everything down.
- Look at the weekly average before you judge a single day.
Set your target, then pick a plan
- How to count calories from a photoWhat a photo estimate can and cannot tell you
- Calorie calculatorRuns the steps above with your numbers
- TDEE calculatorMaintenance calories by activity level
- 1500 kcal high-protein meal planThe free plan closest to the example target
- Nutrition trackerWhat the daily log looks like
Calorie counter questions
- How does Mealyno calculate my daily calories?
- With the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for resting energy use, multiplied by an activity factor, then adjusted for your goal. The worked example above shows each step.
- Is photo logging accurate?
- It is an estimate. Accuracy depends on lighting, portion visibility and how many ingredients are hidden. The app shows a confidence score and lets you edit the entry.
- Can I scan a barcode?
- Yes. Barcode scanning is meant for packaged foods, where the label data is more reliable than a photo estimate.
- Does it count protein as well as calories?
- Yes. Every entry carries calories, protein, carbs and fat, and the day view compares them with your goals.
- Is the calorie counter free?
- The calculators are free without an account. The diary and photo analysis are part of the app, which starts with a 3-day free trial and no card.
General information for healthy adults, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what is right for you.
Log your first day
Start with a 3-day free trial. No card needed to sign up.