App Showcase: Carbs & Cals

What it does

Carbs & Cals is a nutrition tracking app designed to simplify food logging. Its core feature is an extensive visual database that allows users to select portion sizes based on photos rather than just guessing weights. This makes it particularly useful for managing diets, tracking for weight loss, and for individuals with diabetes who need to monitor their carbohydrate intake accurately.

Where it shines

The app's main strength is its visual approach to portion control. At 00:58, when logging bread, the user is presented with a grid of six photos, from a 'thin slice' to an 'extra thick slice,' each with a precise weight. This removes the ambiguity common in other food trackers. Another highlight is the flexible data display on the main diary. At 02:39, the user taps through different nutrient headers (Carbs, Cals, Protein), and the entire day's log instantly updates to show values for that specific nutrient, making it easy to focus on personal goals.

UX highlights

• Visual Estimation: The photo-based portion selection (01:36) is the standout feature, making logging intuitive and less of a chore.
• Quick Tips: The app uses dismissible tooltips (00:41) to onboard users to new features within the context of the main interface.
• Interactive Summary: The 'Today's totals' bar isn't just for display. It's an interactive control panel for changing the entire diary's focus (02:43).
• Comprehensive Database: The app includes a dedicated section for restaurant menus (03:43), allowing users to log meals from popular chains like Burger King and Domino's.
• Custom Food Creation: Adding your own foods is straightforward, with fields for all necessary nutritional information and the option to add a photo (04:18).
• Clear Goal Tracking: Once targets are set, the main dashboard displays a progress bar showing how many calories are left for the day (05:55).

Monetization & growth

The app presents a paywall early in the user journey, immediately after the initial personalization step (00:16). It's a soft paywall with a clear exit button. The offer includes a 1-week or 2-week free trial, depending on the plan selected. The yearly plan is highlighted with a '57% OFF' discount to encourage a longer commitment. The value propositions are clearly listed with checkmarks, focusing on accuracy, access to the full photo library, and advanced tracking features.

Who it’s for

Carbs & Cals is well-suited for anyone tired of the guesswork in traditional food logging. Its primary audience includes individuals managing Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes who need precise carb counts. It also caters to people focused on weight loss or healthy eating who appreciate a more visual and less abstract way to track their intake. The inclusion of restaurant data suggests it's for users who want to maintain their tracking habits even when eating out.

Notes & opportunities

The initial onboarding is very quick, which is a strength, but it might miss an opportunity to showcase the powerful visual portion selection feature before asking for a subscription. Showing a quick demo of this 'magic moment' could potentially increase paywall conversion. Additionally, while the nutrient toggling is excellent, the UI for changing the time of a logged meal requires a swipe gesture (02:30) that might not be immediately discoverable for all users.