Help & User Guide

Learn how to use all the features of My Calorie Balance Diary

About My Calorie Balance

My Calorie Balance is a simple and flexible diary that helps you stay in control of your daily calorie balance. You decide exactly what you want to track and how much detail to include, whether it’s meals, activity, specific calories, goals, sleep habits, measurements, notes, or even photos.

Home

Overview:

The Home page is your main calendar view where you can see and manage all your daily entries.

How to use:

  • Select a date on the calendar to view or add entries for that day
  • Click on a date to see all your meals, sleep, and other entries
  • Add new entries by clicking the date and selecting the type of entry you want to create
  • View your daily calorie intake by clicking on a date and navigating to the calorie breakdown
  • All entries are automatically saved and organized by date and time
Library

Overview:

The Library is your personal database of frequently used meals and foods. Save time by storing your favorite items with their nutrition information.

How to use:

  • Click "Add to Library" to create a new meal entry
  • Enter the meal name, amount, and nutrition information (calories, protein, carbs, fats)
  • When logging meals on the Home page, use the autocomplete to quickly select items from your library
  • Edit or delete library items by clicking the edit or delete buttons on each card
  • Use the info button to view detailed nutrition information for any item
  • The AI button helps you get accurate nutrition information for your meals
Gallery

Overview:

The Gallery displays all photos you have attached to your entries. View your progress photos, meal pictures, and other images in one place.

How to use:

  • All photos attached to your entries automatically appear in the gallery
  • Browse through your photos to see your progress over time
  • Photos are organized by date and linked to their original entries
  • Click on any photo to view it in full size
  • Use the camera feature when creating entries to add photos directly
Tools

Overview:

The Tools page provides helpful calculators and converters to assist with your nutrition tracking and health goals.

Available tools:

  • Calorie Calculator: Calculate your daily calorie needs based on your goals (weight loss, maintenance, or weight gain)
  • Protein Calculator: Calculate protein per calorie ratios for foods and meals
  • Kilojoule Converter: Convert between kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal)
  • Portion Guide: Visual guides for portion sizes and serving recommendations

How to use:

  • Select any tool from the Tools page
  • Enter your information in the calculator forms
  • View your results and use them to set goals or track your nutrition
  • Save your calorie goals to see them in your daily tracking
My Settings

Overview:

My Settings allows you to customize the app to match your preferences, including units, date formats, and theme options.

Available settings:

  • Weight and Measurements: Choose between pounds/kg for weight and inches/cm for measurements
  • Date and Time: Set your preferred date format (MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY) and time format (12-hour or 24-hour)
  • Dark Mode: Toggle between light and dark theme for comfortable viewing
  • AI Assistant: Configure AI service preferences for nutrition queries

How to use:

  • Navigate to Settings from the top navigation bar
  • Select your preferred options from each category
  • Changes are saved automatically
  • Your preferences will be applied throughout the app
  • Use the dark mode toggle to switch themes instantly

Frequent Questions

How do I use the camera to add photos?
You can attach photos to any entry using the camera feature. Your photos are saved with the entry and appear in your personal gallery whenever you view it. Perfect for food pics, progress shots, or anything you want to remember visually!
How do I log a meal with nutrition info?
How do I log a meal? Click a date on the calendar, select "Add Meal", then fill in the meal name and amount (e.g., "1 cup"). You can optionally add nutrition details like calories, protein, carbs, and fats, but these aren't required. Use the autocomplete to quickly select from your food library.
How do I log sleep?
Click a date on the calendar, select "Add Sleep", then set your bedtime and wake time. The app will automatically calculate your sleep duration. You can add notes about sleep quality if desired.
What is the food library?
Your personal database of frequently used foods and meals. Click "Manage Library" to add, edit, or delete items. The autocomplete will suggest items from your library as you type, making data entry much faster.
How are entries grouped by time?
All entries for the same time (e.g., 8:00 AM) are automatically grouped together under a single time header. This keeps your log organized and makes it easy to see what you did at specific times. Click the time header to collapse or expand each group. You can have multiple meals or sleep entries at the same time.
How do I manage my data?
Use the Library to manage your food items, Settings to customize units and preferences, and Export to backup your data. All your entries are automatically saved and can be edited or deleted as needed.
How do I add notes to entries?
Click the information (i) button next to any entry to add notes or additional details. This is useful for tracking how you felt, intensity levels, or any other observations.
Where is my data stored?
All data is stored locally in your browser using IndexedDB, which is more reliable than regular storage. Your data stays private and is not sent to any servers. Use the Export feature to backup your data.
How do I export my data?
Use the export functionality to backup your data in JSON, CSV, or PDF formats. This includes all your entries with nutrition and sleep details.
How do I add this app to my home screen?
📱 For Android devices:
  1. Open this website in Chrome browser
  2. Tap the menu button (three dots) in the top right
  3. Select "Add to Home screen" or "Install app"
  4. Tap "Add" to confirm
🍎 For iOS devices (iPhone/iPad):
  1. Open this website in Safari browser
  2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow up)
  3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Tap "Add" to confirm
💡 Once installed, the app will work like a native app with its own icon on your home screen!

Quick Tips

  • • All your data is stored locally on your device for privacy
  • • Use the bottom navigation to quickly switch between main pages
  • • Entries can be edited or deleted at any time
  • • Photos are automatically saved with your entries
  • • Export your data regularly to keep a backup
  • • The app works offline - no internet connection required