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How to log food by typing what you ate

By Eric Parker, founder of TrueCal. Published . Updated .

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With TrueCal Pro, you can type what you ate and turn the description into a food log with calories and macros. Describe the foods and amounts, send the message, and review the saved result.1

How to use it

  1. Tap Log at the bottom of TrueCal to open the message field.
  2. Type the foods you ate in the message field. Include the amounts, ingredients, and preparation details you know.
  3. Tap the send button. TrueCal processes the description using nutrition sources and the information you supplied.
  4. Review the foods and portions in the saved result. Check that the entry describes the meal you meant to log.
  5. If you need a correction, tap Edit this meal under the saved receipt. Describe what changed and review the updated food and amount.

Good to know

Typed meal descriptions use Pro AI logging. Enter calories manually is a different option for recording calories by hand. Free accounts can use manual calorie logging and review daily and weekly views.1

TrueCal needs an internet connection to process meals. Nutrition results are estimates and depend on the food details supplied, including portions and ingredients.1

You can also add photos with written details. A photo of a package label gives TrueCal the printed nutrition information directly.1

Questions and answers

Do I have to search for every food?

A typed meal description can become a food log with Pro. You describe what you ate in the message, then check the foods and amounts in the result.1

Is typing calories the same as typing a meal?

No. Manual calorie entry records calories you provide. A typed meal description uses AI logging to turn the description into foods with sourced nutrition estimates.1

Can I type a meal in ChatGPT?

Yes, after connecting TrueCal. ChatGPT meal logging is text only and has its own account limits. See the ChatGPT help article before using it.1

Get TrueCal

Use TrueCal on iPhone or Android. Review the available plan and offer in the app.

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Sources

  1. Official TrueCal facts. TrueCal. 2026.