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Dining with others: family and groups

Add family members, create groups, and scan a menu for the whole table.
Karim C
By Karim C
• 4 articles

Family profiles and groups: what is the difference

This article explains the two ways to dine with others in AlignEat so you can choose the right one for your situation. Family profiles A family is a set of dietary profiles that you create and manage yourself, all under your own account. This is useful when you are responsible for other people's food choices, such as children or relatives who do not use the app on their own devices. You own every profile in your family, and you can edit them at any time. Groups A group is a collection of people who each have their own AlignEat account. Members join a group and can hold one of three roles: owner, admin, or member. Groups work well when you are dining out together as a party and each person manages their own restrictions. A group can be muted or archived when you no longer need it. The key difference - Family: you create and control the profiles. Good for people you are looking after. - Groups: each person manages their own account and joins the group. Good for friends, colleagues, or any party where everyone has their own device. Both families and groups have a set number of seats. How many seats you have depends on your plan. Good to know - You can use both features at the same time. For example, you might have a family profile for your children and also belong to a group with friends. - The number of seats available depends on the plan you are on. Check the plans section of the app for details. Related: Add and manage family members, Create and manage a group

Last updated on Jun 11, 2026

Add and manage family members

This article shows you how to add people to your family and keep their dietary profiles up to date. What is a family member? A family member is a dietary profile you create inside your own account. You control what restrictions, allergies, and preferences are saved for that person. Family members do not need their own device or AlignEat account. Add a family member 1. Open the app and go to your profile or family section. 2. Select the option to add a family member. 3. Give the profile a name and fill in their dietary restrictions and allergies. 4. Save the profile. Repeat these steps for each person you want to add. Edit or remove a family member - To update a profile, open the family member's entry and edit their details. - To remove a family member, open their profile and choose the delete or remove option. Changes take effect the next time you run a scan that includes that person. Seat limits The number of family members you can add depends on the seats included in your plan. If you have reached your limit, you will need to remove an existing member or check the plans section of the app to see your options. Good to know - Keep each person's profile accurate and current, especially if their allergies or intolerances change over time. - Always confirm each person's allergies directly with restaurant staff before ordering on their behalf. - You manage all family profiles yourself. If the person you are adding is old enough to manage their own restrictions, consider inviting them to join a group instead. Related: Family profiles and groups: what is the difference, Scan a menu for the whole table

Last updated on Jun 11, 2026

Create and manage a group

This article walks you through creating a group and managing its members and settings. What is a group? A group brings together people who each have their own AlignEat account. When you dine out together, you can run a single scan that covers everyone in the group. Each member manages their own dietary profile, so you do not have to enter anyone else's restrictions. Create a group 1. Go to the groups section of the app. 2. Select the option to create a new group. 3. Give your group a name. 4. Invite people to join by sharing the invite link or code. Once a person accepts, they appear as a member of your group. Member roles Each person in a group has one of three roles: - Owner: created the group and has full control over it. - Admin: can manage members and group settings. - Member: can participate in scans and see shared results. Manage an existing group - To change a member's role, open the group and find the member's entry. - To remove a member, open their entry and select the remove option. - To mute a group, turn on the mute setting so it does not appear in your active list. - To archive a group you no longer use, choose the archive option. Archived groups are kept but moved out of your main view. Good to know - The number of seats in a group depends on your plan. Check the plans section of the app for details. - Only one person needs to run the scan. Everyone else's restrictions are pulled automatically from their own profiles. Related: Family profiles and groups: what is the difference, Scan a menu for the whole table

Last updated on Jun 11, 2026

Scan a menu for the whole table

This article explains how to run a scan that covers everyone at the table, not just yourself. Choose who the scan is for When you start a scan, you can select who you are ordering for: - For me: the scan checks only your own dietary profile. - For family: the scan checks your profile and the profiles of your family members. - For selected people: choose specific individuals from your family or group. Only the people you select are included. How results work for a group When you scan for more than one person, AlignEat combines all of their restrictions. A dish is only marked safe when it works for every person you selected. If even one person has a restriction that conflicts with an ingredient, the dish will be flagged. You can also see a breakdown of each person's individual restrictions in the results. This is useful when you are speaking with staff and want to explain each person's needs clearly. Seat limits The number of people you can include in a single scan depends on the seats available in your plan. See the plans section of the app for details. Good to know - Always confirm each person's allergies and restrictions directly with restaurant staff before ordering and eating, especially when ordering on behalf of others. AlignEat is a helpful guide, not a guarantee. - If you are ordering for someone with a serious allergy, tell the server before placing the order, not just after. - Keep everyone's dietary profiles current so scan results reflect their actual needs. Related: Add and manage family members, Create and manage a group

Last updated on Jun 11, 2026