Use this article to log a meal without typing anything in - by photographing your food or scanning a barcode.
The camera lets you add food by taking a photo or scanning a barcode, so you can fuel accurately without slowing down.
Open the camera
Open the meal you want to log in your Fuel Plan (your color-coded carb code).
Tap the + button beside the Search bar.
Tap Scan food.
The camera opens on Scan from Photo, which handles both photographs and barcodes.
Scan a barcode
Find the barcode on the packet and hold it inside the frame. Hexis reads the code and returns that exact product with its nutrition already filled in.
This is the most accurate way to log anything packaged, and the fastest way to add gels, chews, bars and drink mixes.
Note: Nutrition data for branded products may occasionally differ slightly from the packaging, as some entries draw on third-party databases that aren't always fully up to date. If you spot a mismatch, let us know so we can get it corrected.
Tip: if you scan a food regularly, favorite it once it's logged - see Food Tracking for how - so it's faster to find next time.
Photograph your food
Point the camera at the food and take the photo. Within seconds, Hexis identifies it and returns a result - for example, a banana with its calorie value, or a mixed plate broken down into its separate components.
Photo recognition works best with single items and clean plates. If a match isn't quite right, alternative matches are shown so you can pick the correct one. Once identified, you can edit the quantity of any component, or add anything the photo missed.
For a mixed dish with several components, describing it in Smart Log will usually give you a more accurate result than a photograph. Smart Log is where you describe your meal instead of photographing it, and it's the fastest route for anything with several components.
Logging food when you're eating out
The camera is a fast way to log food away from home:
Single items - a piece of fruit, a pastry, a snack - get identified directly, just as they would at home.
Packaged items with a barcode - a store-bought sandwich, a bottled drink - can still be scanned even when you're out.
Mixed plates - a curry, a stir-fry, a plate with several components — can be photographed, and Hexis will identify each component separately. Edit the quantity of anything that's off and add anything the photo missed.
Other options on the camera screen
Enter barcode manually - type the number in. Useful when a code won't read, which usually happens with creased or foil packaging.
Flash icon - turns the torch on and off.
Photo library icon - lets you use an image you've already taken.
Review and log your food
Once identified, the item appears with its nutrition, a quantity stepper and a unit dropdown. Set the serving you actually had, then tap Log.
If the result is wrong, or nothing is found, tap Create New Food beneath "Not what you're looking for?" - this is a shortcut into My Foods, so you can add the item with your own nutrition values without leaving the screen.
FAQs
What if the barcode won't scan?
If a barcode won't scan - usually because the packaging is creased or foil - tap Enter barcode manually and type the number in instead.
What if photo recognition gets the food wrong?
If a match isn't quite right, Hexis shows alternative matches so you can select the correct one. You can also edit the quantity or add anything the photo missed once the food is logged.
Can I use the camera when I'm eating out?
Yes. Single items and packaged products scan the same way as they would at home, and mixed plates can be photographed and broken down into individual components.
What if a food isn't in the database at all?
Tap Create New Food on the results screen - a shortcut into My Foods - to add it with your own nutrition values without leaving the screen. See Food Tracking for a full walkthrough of custom foods.
Why might the nutrition information differ from the packaging?
Some branded product entries draw on third-party databases that aren't always fully up to date, so figures may occasionally differ slightly from the pack. Let us know if you spot a mismatch so we can get it corrected.
Need more help? Email our support team at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.