Researchers wanted to find out which way of tracking what people eat works best. They tested three different methods: two computer programs and one where people took pictures of their food. Twenty-six adults tried all three methods and then answered questions about which they liked best. The big winner? Taking pictures of food with a phone app. People said it helped them remember what they ate better and felt less frustrating than typing everything into a computer. The study shows that when tracking your diet, using photos makes the whole process simpler and more accurate.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Which way of recording food eaten is easiest and most helpful for people: typing it into a computer program, using a different computer program, or taking pictures of food with a phone app?
  • Who participated: Twenty-six adults between ages 21 and 56 years old who participated in a controlled feeding study where they ate specific meals and then reported what they ate using three different methods.
  • Key finding: People strongly preferred taking pictures of their food with a phone app. When they could see their own photos during the recall process, they remembered what they ate better and felt more confident their answers were accurate.
  • What it means for you: If you’re tracking your diet, taking photos of your meals may be easier and more accurate than typing descriptions. However, this was a small study, so more research is needed before making this the standard recommendation for everyone.

The Research Details

This study used a special research design called a crossover study, which means each person tried all three methods. First, participants ate a full day of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) that the researchers provided. The next day, they reported what they ate using one of three methods: ASA24 (a self-guided computer program), Intake24 (another computer program), or taking pictures with a phone app and then reviewing those pictures with an interviewer. After trying all three methods, the 26 participants answered detailed questions about their experience with each one. The researchers recorded these interviews, wrote down everything that was said, and looked for patterns in what people liked and disliked about each method.

The researchers chose this approach because they wanted to understand not just whether the methods were accurate, but how people actually felt using them. This type of research, called qualitative research, focuses on people’s experiences and opinions rather than just numbers. It’s especially useful for understanding why people might or might not use a particular tool.

The study was carefully designed so that each person experienced all three methods, which helps eliminate differences between people as a reason for preferring one method over another. The interviews were open-ended, meaning participants could explain their thoughts in their own words rather than just picking from yes-or-no answers.

Understanding how people actually feel about dietary tracking tools is important because even the most accurate method won’t help if people don’t want to use it. Many nutrition studies fail because people stop using the tracking method because it’s too annoying or complicated. This research helps identify what features make people more likely to stick with tracking their food, which could lead to better nutrition studies and healthier eating habits in real life.

This study has some strengths and some limitations. The strength is that it used a careful, controlled design where everyone ate the same meals and tried all three methods, which makes fair comparisons possible. The interviews were thorough and analyzed carefully. However, the sample size is small (only 26 people), so the results may not apply to everyone. The participants were also part of a controlled feeding study, which means they were already interested in nutrition research and may not represent typical people. Additionally, all participants were between 21 and 56 years old, so we don’t know if younger or older people would have different preferences.

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that participants strongly preferred the image-assisted method where they took pictures of their food with a phone app. People said that seeing their own photos helped them remember what they ate and made them feel more confident that their answers were correct. One participant described it as images helping to “jog my memory.”

Participants also said they wanted all dietary tracking methods to be as simple and easy as possible. They appreciated when the technology features were helpful and straightforward. However, they found that all three methods had a common problem: it was really hard to estimate portion sizes (how much food they actually ate) and to identify exactly what foods they had eaten.

When comparing the computer programs, participants found ASA24 to be frustrating and described it as “a painful process.” In contrast, Intake24 was seen as “fairly quick” and easier to use. The image-assisted method with the phone app stood out as the clear favorite because it combined the ease of taking pictures with the help of an interviewer who could ask clarifying questions.

Across all methods, participants wanted the process to be straightforward and not take too much time. They appreciated when technology made things easier rather than more complicated. The research shows that people are willing to use digital tools for tracking food, but only if those tools feel natural and don’t create extra burden.

Beyond the main preference for image-assisted recall, the study found that participants valued having someone help them through the process. The interviewer-assisted method allowed for back-and-forth conversation, which people found helpful. Participants also noted that the self-guided computer programs (ASA24 and Intake24) required them to do all the thinking and decision-making on their own, which was tiring. The ability to see food images appeared to reduce the mental effort needed to remember meals accurately. Additionally, participants appreciated when technology features were intuitive and didn’t require learning complicated steps.

This research adds to existing knowledge by being one of the first studies to ask people directly about their preferences for different dietary tracking methods. Most previous research focused on whether the methods were accurate, not on whether people actually liked using them. This study confirms what other researchers have suspected: that accuracy alone isn’t enough—people need methods that are easy and don’t feel burdensome. The finding that images help with memory aligns with general psychology research showing that visual information helps people remember things better. This study is novel because it combines the practical testing of three different methods with detailed interviews about the user experience.

This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, only 26 people participated, which is a small number. Results from small studies may not apply to larger, more diverse groups. Second, all participants were already interested in nutrition research (they volunteered for a feeding study), so they may be more motivated than typical people to track their food accurately. Third, the age range was 21 to 56 years, so we don’t know if teenagers or older adults would have the same preferences. Fourth, the study doesn’t tell us whether people would still prefer the image method if they had to use it for weeks or months in real life, rather than just trying it once. Finally, the study was conducted in one country (Australia), so preferences might differ in other places with different food cultures or technology access.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, if you’re tracking your diet, taking photos of your meals appears to be a helpful approach (moderate confidence level). The evidence suggests that having visual reminders of what you ate makes the process easier and may improve accuracy. However, this study is small and preliminary, so it should be combined with other dietary tracking strategies. For the most accurate tracking, consider combining food photos with written notes about portion sizes, since participants found portion estimation challenging with all methods. If you’re designing or choosing a dietary tracking app, look for one that allows you to take and review photos of your meals.

This research is most relevant for people who are trying to track their diet for health reasons, researchers designing nutrition studies, and app developers creating dietary tracking tools. It’s particularly useful for people who find typing or remembering details frustrating. However, people with very simple diets or those who prefer written records may not need this approach. The findings are less clear for very young children, elderly adults, or people with memory problems, since they weren’t included in this study.

You might notice that taking food photos feels easier immediately compared to typing everything out. However, to see whether this method actually helps you eat healthier or reach nutrition goals, you’d likely need to track for at least 2-4 weeks. The real benefit comes from consistently using the method and reviewing your patterns over time, not from a single day of tracking.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Take a photo of every meal and snack before eating, then review the photo at the end of the day and note the approximate portion size (small, medium, large) and main ingredients. Track how many days per week you complete this photo-based logging.
  • Start by photographing just one meal per day (whichever meal you find hardest to remember) for one week. Once that feels natural, add a second meal. This gradual approach is easier than trying to photograph everything at once and helps you build the habit without feeling overwhelmed.
  • Each week, review your photos from the previous week and look for patterns in what you’re eating. Note which meals are easiest to photograph and remember, and which are hardest. After 4 weeks, assess whether seeing your food photos has helped you make any changes to your eating habits or feel more aware of what you’re consuming.

This research is a small qualitative study exploring user preferences for dietary tracking methods, not a clinical trial testing health outcomes. The findings suggest that image-assisted food tracking may be preferred by users and may feel easier to use, but this study does not prove that using this method will improve your health or nutrition. Always consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or starting a new dietary tracking program. This research is preliminary and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice. Individual results and preferences may vary.