Why does Cronometer have such a terrible food database for Indian and Chinese cuisine?

TL;DR: Cronometer's food database is terrible for Indian and Chinese cuisine. Anyone else struggling with this?

I've been using Cronometer for a while now, and while I love its precision in tracking macros and micros, I hit a wall every time I try to log my home-cooked Indian meals. The database is seriously lacking when it comes to dishes like paneer tikka or biryani. I can find the basics like rice or chicken, but good luck getting anything remotely accurate for a homemade curry. It's frustrating to have to guesstimate my intake on days when I've put in so much effort in meal prep.

I even tried using MyFitnessPal to see if their food database was any better, but I ran into the same issues. There are so many entries that seem way off, and the ads just became unbearable. I get it, they need to make money, but come on. A food logging app shouldn't feel like a pop-up ad nightmare.

What I really wish for is an AI food log that can recognize and log Indian or Chinese cooking automatically. Just imagine snapping a photo of your plate and having it spit out accurate macros! But here I am, stuck manually adding ingredients and praying the nutrition info isn't a shot in the dark. Anyone else dealing with this nonsense? Any tips for better logging Indian cuisine? I'm tired of this guessing game.

10 comments

Comments

u/macrocounter98·29 days ago

I totally get the struggle. Cronometer is great for tracking micros, but when it comes to specific cuisines, it falls short. For Indian dishes, I often have to break down the ingredients myself. Like, I'll log my homemade palak paneer as just spinach and paneer, and then estimate the oil I used. It's tedious, and I feel like I lose accuracy because of it.

u/runningfromcardio·29 days ago

Oof, I hear u on that! I'm just getting into running, but even tracking my meals has been a challenge. I just try to keep it simple, stick to basics, and focus on what I can control. More power to you for making those home-cooked meals!

u/chickenncarrots·9 days ago

As a busy mom, I feel you! I cook a ton of different cuisines, including Indian, and it's hard to log everything accurately. I actually switched to Nutrola recently because the photo logging feature is a lifesaver for me. I can snap a pic of the plate in seconds while I'm juggling kids and dinner prep.

u/depressedlifter·29 days ago

Yep, that frustration is real. I used to hate logging meals after a solid workout, only to realize I couldn't find accurate entries for my homemade Asian stir-fry. I mean, I love lifting, but the tracking process can seriously mess with my motivation. Honestly, I just want to enjoy my food without all the guesswork.

u/whey_addict·29 days ago

Man, I feel like this is an industry-wide problem. I've used MyFitnessPal too, and honestly, the ads made me want to throw my phone across the room. I've been experimenting with tracking my meals, but sometimes I just say fuck it and eat what I want. Makes hitting my protein goals harder, though.

u/proteinpancakes22·28 days ago

I used to have the same issue with logging my meals until I started using Nutrola. The voice logging feature is amazing when I'm in a rush between classes. Just say what I ate and it's done, no typing needed!

u/veganpowerhouse·29 days ago

Honestly, I tried CalAI for logging, and it was hot trash. The macros were way off, and I just gave up on AI food logging for a bit. I guess I'll just stick to my recipes for now.

u/depressedlifter·24 days ago

Idk, man. I think I'm sticking with MFP. Yeah, the ads suck, but the food list is dialed in for the stuff I eat. I've got muscle memory for logging my usual meals, and switching would just mess that up.

u/cuttingseason_2024·28 days ago

100% with you on the home-cooked Indian meals. I've switched to MacroFactor for tracking, and honestly, the algorithm just makes it easier for me. The automatic adjustments keep me on point, especially when I'm trying to cut down. Plus, it has a decent food database that's more in line with what I need.

u/bro_split_bro_420·29 days ago

Skill issue. Just get a food scale, bro. But in all seriousness, logging your meals is like a workout for your brain. If you can't find what you need, just make a meme out of it and call it a day.