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Food Logging
Updated February 6, 2026
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Food logging turns intention into a measurable plan so your watch-fed calorie targets and coaching stay grounded in what you actually ate.
Quick start
Food logging works when the record is consistent.
- Grant Apple Health write permission for the nutrition categories you want Fuel to track
- Pick one primary capture method for most meals for the next 7 days, then use it repeatedly
- Verify serving size and protein before saving, since those errors move the day the most
- Treat repeats as templates so the week is easier to compare and coaching stays specific
What Fuel logs
Fuel treats a log entry as structured nutrition data that can power daily targets, weekly reviews, and Apple Health summaries.
Macros and energy
Calories, protein, carbohydrate, and fat stay front and center because they drive the daily plan and the weekly coaching context.
Micronutrients and performance signals
Micronutrients, water, and caffeine are first-class fields so hydration, recovery, and dietary quality show up alongside macros instead of being hidden in notes.
Fast ways to log
Fuel is built around low-friction logging paths that still produce structured data.
Across photo, text, and scanning, the workflow is the same. Fuel uses AI to translate messy real-world inputs into structured nutrition fields, then you confirm the draft so the Apple Health record stays consistent.
The draft is usually close enough that verification takes seconds. Edits happen when the input is low quality or ambiguous, such as a blurry photo, a partial label, or a description that does not include portion size.
If something is off, treat that as a normal part of logging. A short feedback pass is how you get accuracy without turning the log into manual data entry.
Photo logging
Photo logging works best when you capture the full plate and any packaging or labels that matter, then confirm the result so the data stays consistent across days.
Fuel can read mixed plates, sides, sauces, and drinks. If a nutrition label is present in the frame, it can anchor serving size and macro totals instead of guessing.
Food scanning
Food scanning is the fastest path for packaged foods with clear labels, since the entry is easier to verify and easier to repeat. Use Food Scanning when the meal has a barcode or label that should anchor the record.
Scanning is not limited to perfect barcode shots. If you capture the nutrition panel or front of package, Fuel can extract serving size, macros, and many micronutrients, then you can correct any mismatch before saving.
Text logging
Text logging is the fastest path when you already know the meal and want an accurate result without opening a database.
You can start vague and refine. If the first pass misses an ingredient, uses the wrong cut, or gets portion size wrong, give feedback in plain language and re-run the draft before you confirm it.
Wrist quick-log
Wrist quick-log is designed for repeated meals and post-workout routines where the only requirement is speed and an immediate undo.
Use Watch Companion to learn what the watch workflow can capture and when to switch back to iPhone for higher precision.
How logging connects to targets and coaching
Food logs are not isolated entries. They are inputs to the plan.
Daily guidance
Your day view uses logged intake together with Apple Watch energy to keep remaining calories and macro budgets honest.
Weekly review
Weekly coaching uses the full log stream to spot patterns that matter in real schedules, including under fueling on high activity days, inconsistent protein distribution, and hydration drift.
Making logs accurate without overthinking
Fuel favors consistency over perfection. Aim for stable portions, use simple serving rules for repeated meals, and treat corrections as normal so the plan stays reliable.
When AI proposes an entry that is close but wrong, give feedback and regenerate the draft before you confirm it. The highest value corrections are the ones that move energy and protein, such as portion size and missed ingredients.
- That portion was about double.
- Add cooking oil and the sauce.
- Use the nutrition label in the photo for macros and serving size.
- That was skim milk, not whole milk.