Can I edit a photo meal after I have saved it?

Yes. You can edit the title and the photo on any saved entries in your diary, as well as adjust portion sizes if you need to correct something later.

How does Focal know my food is from a photo?

The app tracks the source type as 'photo' in your meal history, making it easy to see which meals were logged manually and which were scanned.

What happens if the artificial intelligence guesses an ingredient incorrectly?

You can always review and edit the suggested items before saving. If an ingredient is missing or incorrect, simply adjust it manually during the review step.

Do I have to take a picture right before I eat?

Not at all. You can choose a photo from your device library if you prefer to take a picture at the restaurant and log the meal later when you have more time.

Does one photo count as multiple lookups if there is a lot of food?

No. Each individual photo scan counts strictly as one lookup against your monthly allowance, regardless of how many ingredients are on the plate.

Help

Logging food

How do I log a meal with a photo?

Updated 7 July 2026

Logging your meals should not feel like a chore. With Focal, you can use artificial intelligence to estimate the nutritional value of your food just by taking a picture of your plate. This feature saves you time and takes the guesswork out of tracking your daily intake. Here, you will find out exactly how to use the photo logging tool to record your meals quickly and accurately. We will cover the step by step process of snapping a photo, reviewing the suggested items, tweaking portion sizes, and saving the entry to your diary. You will also understand how photo logging works with your monthly allowance so you can make the most of your limits. By the end, you will be able to log a complex plate of food in seconds.

A smartphone displaying the Focal app meal logging screen, showing a photo of a plated meal and an artificial intelligence nutrition breakdown.

The Focal Help Desk

Log a Whole Meal With One Photo?

Maya Chen, Focal product specialist — knows every feature inside-out · Callum Brooks, Strength coach and nutrition advisor — ten years coaching everyday lifters

0:003:12

The host and guests are fictional characters. This conversation is scripted and based on verified information from this help article.

Section 1

Introduction

Section 2

Key takeaways

The essentials to remember.

Scan a photo of your plate or upload one from your library to estimate nutrition automatically.
Review and tweak suggested items, macros, and portions before saving to your diary.
Change portion sizes by typing the exact grams, millilitres, or using a multiplier between 0.01 and 50.
Each scan uses one lookup, with 10 free scans per month or 300 for Pro users.
Take photos in good lighting with the entire plate visible for the most accurate estimates.

Section 3

How to log a meal with a photo

Taking a picture of your food is the fastest way to populate your meal diary. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Open the Add Meal menu and choose the Photo option or the 'Your meal' scan type.
2. Take a fresh photo of your plate or pick a saved image from your phone library.
3. Wait a moment while the artificial intelligence runs a food lookup on your image.
4. Review the suggested food items, portion sizes, and macronutrients.
5. Select the relevant meal type such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, or dessert, and confirm the date.
6. Save the entry to your meal diary.

Section 4

Adjusting portions and saving details

The automated scan provides an estimate, but you have full control to make corrections before and after saving.

You can adjust portion sizes using a servings multiplier between 0.01 and 50.
Alternatively, you can enter the exact weight in grams or volume in millilitres directly.
If you need to make changes later, you can edit the meal title and the photo on any saved entry.
Focal tracks the source type of these entries as 'photo' in your history so you can see exactly how you logged them.

Section 5

Getting the best scan results

The accuracy of the automated scan depends heavily on the quality of the image you provide. Supplying a clear view helps the system identify individual ingredients accurately.

Ensure your food is well lit, preferably with natural light or a bright indoor lamp.
Keep a clear view of the whole plate so no items are hidden out of frame.
Avoid covering up distinct foods with dense sauces or large garnishes if you want them logged separately.

Section 6

Monthly allowances for photo logging

Processing images requires artificial intelligence resources, so Focal applies a strict monthly limit to how many photos you can scan. Each photo lookup counts as exactly one lookup against your monthly allowance.

Free users receive a limit of 10 lookups per month.
Pro users receive an expanded limit of 300 lookups per month.
Checking your remaining allowance regularly ensures you always have scans available for complex meals.

Section 7

Common questions

Can I edit a photo meal after I have saved it?: Yes. You can edit the title and the photo on any saved entries in your diary, as well as adjust portion sizes if you need to correct something later.
How does Focal know my food is from a photo?: The app tracks the source type as 'photo' in your meal history, making it easy to see which meals were logged manually and which were scanned.
What happens if the artificial intelligence guesses an ingredient incorrectly?: You can always review and edit the suggested items before saving. If an ingredient is missing or incorrect, simply adjust it manually during the review step.
Do I have to take a picture right before I eat?: Not at all. You can choose a photo from your device library if you prefer to take a picture at the restaurant and log the meal later when you have more time.
Does one photo count as multiple lookups if there is a lot of food?: No. Each individual photo scan counts strictly as one lookup against your monthly allowance, regardless of how many ingredients are on the plate.

Section 8

In the app

Where to find this in Focal.

To try the photo logging tool, open the Focal app and tap the Add Meal button at the bottom of your screen. Select the Photo option to activate your camera or upload a picture you have already taken. This is particularly useful when you are eating out or having a mixed plate of food at home, as it removes the friction of searching for every single ingredient. Your next step is to prepare your next meal, ensure the lighting is bright, capture a clear photo of your full plate, and let the app estimate the details.

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