Getting started

What AlignEat is and how it works

This article explains what AlignEat does and what to expect when you scan a menu. The idea in one sentence AlignEat lets you scan a restaurant menu by photo, QR code, or link, and tells you which dishes fit your dietary restrictions so you can order with more confidence. How it works 1. You set up a dietary profile once. It captures your allergies, intolerances, diets, and other preferences. 2. At a restaurant, you scan the menu. AlignEat reads the menu and checks each dish against your profile. 3. Results appear for every dish on the menu. The four result types Every dish gets one of four labels: - Compatible. The dish looks suitable for your profile based on what AlignEat could read. - Can be adapted. The dish has something that may conflict, but a modification (such as leaving out an ingredient) could make it work. - Could not confirm. AlignEat did not have enough information to make a call. Treat these with caution. - Avoid. The dish contains something that conflicts with your profile. Good to know - AlignEat is a helpful tool, not a guarantee. Menus change, descriptions can be incomplete, and preparation methods vary. - Always confirm your allergies and restrictions directly with restaurant staff before you order and eat. This is especially important for serious allergies. - The more complete your dietary profile, the more useful your scan results will be. Related: Set up your dietary profile, A quick tour of the app

Create your account: phone code, Apple, Google, or guest

This article walks you through the sign-in screen and explains your options for creating or accessing an account. Your sign-in options When you open AlignEat for the first time, you land on the sign-in screen. You have four ways to continue: - Phone number. Enter your mobile number and AlignEat sends a one-time code by SMS. Enter the code to sign in. - Sign in with Apple. Use your Apple ID. Your email address can be kept private using Apple's relay service. - Sign in with Google. Use your Google account to sign in quickly. - Continue as guest. Try the app without creating an account. You can scan menus right away, but your dietary profile is not saved across devices and some features are limited. After you sign in Once you are signed in, AlignEat shows a consent screen. It explains how your data is used and what privacy choices you have. Review it and confirm to continue. You are then taken through a short onboarding flow where you set up your dietary profile. This only takes a few minutes, and you only need to do it once. Upgrading from guest to a full account If you started as a guest and want to save your profile and access all features, you can create a full account from the Profile tab at any time. Good to know - You do not need to remember a password. Sign-in is handled through your phone number, Apple, or Google. - Guest mode is a good way to explore the app before committing to an account. Related: Set up your dietary profile, What AlignEat is and how it works

Set up your dietary profile

This article explains what you fill in during onboarding and why each section matters for your scan results. When you set up your profile After you sign in and accept the consent screen, AlignEat guides you through a short onboarding flow. Each step focuses on one part of your dietary needs. You only go through this once, and you can update any section later from the Profile tab. The profile sections - Allergies. The ingredients or food groups you must avoid. This section is on by default and is the most important one for safety. - Intolerances. Foods that cause discomfort or a reaction but are not full allergies (such as lactose or gluten sensitivity). Also on by default. - Diets. Structured eating patterns such as vegan, vegetarian, or keto. - Religious requirements. Halal, kosher, or other faith-based food requirements. - Lifestyle goals. Personal health or fitness intentions that influence what you want to eat. - Flavor preferences. Tastes you enjoy or want to avoid, such as spicy food. - Cooking style preferences. Methods or styles you prefer or want to steer clear of. - Personal details. Your name, contact information, country of residence, and an optional profile photo. Allergies and intolerances are recommended and switched on by default. All other sections are optional. Setting severity For allergies and intolerances, you can set how serious each item is for you. Severity affects how AlignEat flags dishes in your results. See the dedicated article on severity levels for full details. Good to know - A more complete profile gives you more accurate scan results. - You can skip optional sections and come back to them any time. - Always confirm your specific restrictions with restaurant staff before ordering and eating. Related: What AlignEat is and how it works, Create your account

A quick tour of the app

This article introduces the five main areas of AlignEat so you can find what you need right away. The bottom tab bar Everything in AlignEat is a tap away from the tab bar at the bottom of the screen. There are five tabs: - Home. Your starting point. Start a new scan from here and see your recent scan activity. - Scan. Opens the camera so you can scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link. - Translate. A dietary phrase translator. Use it to communicate your restrictions in another language when you are traveling or at a restaurant where your language is not spoken. - Saved. Dishes you have bookmarked across your scans, so you can find your favourites again quickly. - Profile. Your account settings, dietary profile, and app preferences. This is also where you update any section of your profile after onboarding. Where to start If you are new, the best path is: 1. Complete your dietary profile during onboarding (or visit the Profile tab to finish it later). 2. Go to Home or tap the Scan tab when you are at a restaurant. 3. Scan the menu and check your results. Good to know - You can start a scan from the Home tab or directly from the Scan tab. - Saved dishes are tied to your account. Guest users may have limited access to saved items. - Your profile is easy to update any time from the Profile tab as your needs change. Related: What AlignEat is and how it works, Set up your dietary profile