Scanning menus

Scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link

This article shows you the three ways to scan a menu in AlignEat so you can quickly find dishes that work for your dietary needs. How to start a scan Open the app and go to the Scan tab. You will see three options: 1. Take a photo. Point your camera at the physical menu and take a photo. Hold the phone steady, fill the frame with the menu, and make sure the text is sharp and in focus. The app will read the menu and return results in a few moments. 2. Scan a QR code. If the restaurant provides a QR code menu, point your camera at the code. The app will detect it and begin scanning automatically. 3. Paste a link. If you have a URL for an online menu, paste it into the link field. The app will fetch and analyse the menu for you. What happens while you wait While the scan runs, the app shows you progress steps: reading the menu, recognising dishes, matching to your profile, and ranking results. This usually takes a short time. Once the scan is complete, you will see a list of dishes with a status for each one. The statuses tell you which dishes look safe, which can be adjusted, and which to avoid. Good to know - If the scan returns a low confidence result, the photo may not have been clear enough. Try taking a new photo in better light. - If you see a network error or timeout, check your connection and tap retry. - AlignEat reads what is printed on the menu. Always confirm your allergies and restrictions with restaurant staff before ordering and eating. Related: Tips for an accurate scan, Read your results: compatible, adaptable, could not confirm, avoid

Tips for an accurate scan

A clear photo gives AlignEat the best chance of reading every dish correctly. These tips help you get accurate results the first time. Taking a good photo - Hold the phone steady. Movement blurs the text and makes it harder to read. - Fill the frame with the menu. Get close enough that the text takes up most of the screen. Avoid large empty borders. - Keep the text sharp and in focus. Tap the menu on your screen before taking the photo to help the camera focus on the right area. - Avoid glare. Tilt the phone slightly if you see a bright reflection from overhead lights or sunlight. Moving a few centimetres can make a big difference. - Use good lighting. Dark or dim menus are harder to read. If the light is low, try moving to a brighter spot or using the phone torch if the restaurant allows it. If you get a low confidence result A low confidence message means the app could not read the menu clearly enough to give you reliable results. Check these common causes: - The photo was taken at an angle. Try pointing the camera straight at the menu. - The text was too small in the frame. Move closer and try again. - There was strong glare or shadow over part of the menu. Tap retry to take a new photo once you have adjusted your position and lighting. Good to know - Scanning a QR code or pasting a link instead of taking a photo can improve accuracy when the printed menu is hard to photograph. - AlignEat reads what is printed on the menu. Always confirm your allergies and restrictions with restaurant staff before you order and eat. Related: Scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link, Read your results: compatible, adaptable, could not confirm, avoid

Read your results: compatible, adaptable, could not confirm, avoid

After a scan completes, every dish gets a status. This article explains what each status means so you can make confident choices at the table. The four statuses Compatible This dish matches your dietary profile and looks safe to order as it is described on the menu. It passed the checks based on the information available. Adaptable This dish can likely be made to work for you with a small change. For example, you might ask the kitchen to leave out one ingredient. Look for a Chef's Suggestion alongside these dishes for a ready-made way to phrase the request. Could not confirm The app did not find enough information to be sure this dish is safe for you. It is not marked as avoid, but you should ask a staff member about the ingredients before you order. Avoid This dish contains, or likely contains, something in your restrictions. It is best to skip it or ask staff whether a modification is possible. How to use the results Start with the dishes marked compatible. Browse adaptable dishes next and note any suggestions. If a dish you want shows could not confirm, ask your server about its ingredients before deciding. Good to know - AlignEat reads what is printed on the menu and may not know every ingredient or kitchen practice. The same dish can be prepared differently at different restaurants. - A compatible or adaptable status is not a guarantee. Always confirm your allergies and dietary restrictions directly with restaurant staff before you order and eat. - If a scan returns very few results or something looks wrong, you can go back and rescan with a clearer photo. Related: Use Chef's Suggestion to order safely, Scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link

Use Chef's Suggestion to order safely

Chef's Suggestion gives you a clear, polite way to ask the kitchen for a small change so a dish works for your dietary needs. This article explains what it is and how to use it. What is Chef's Suggestion For some scans, the app can generate a staff-friendly suggestion alongside a dish. It is a simple, specific request you can show or read to your server, such as asking for an ingredient to be left out. Chef's Suggestion appears when the app has enough information to offer one, and it is most common for dishes marked adaptable. You do not need to do anything extra to see it. When a suggestion is available, it shows up directly in your scan results next to the relevant dish. How to use it 1. Find the dish in your results. 2. If a Chef's Suggestion is shown, read it through to make sure it covers your needs. 3. Show it to your server or read it out when you order. The suggestion is written to be easy for kitchen staff to understand, so you do not need to explain your full profile yourself. Good to know - Chef's Suggestion is not available for every dish or every scan. It appears only when the app has enough detail to make a meaningful recommendation. - Even with a suggestion, the kitchen may prepare dishes differently on any given day. - AlignEat reads what is printed on the menu and may not know every ingredient or kitchen practice. Always confirm your allergies and dietary restrictions with restaurant staff before you order and eat. Do not rely on a suggestion alone as a guarantee of safety. Related: Read your results: compatible, adaptable, could not confirm, avoid, Scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link

Save dishes and review your scan history

AlignEat keeps a record of your past scans and lets you bookmark dishes so you can find them again easily. This article shows you how to use both features. Your scan history Your recent restaurant scans are available in the scan history view. Scans are grouped by time so they are easy to browse: - This week - Last week - Earlier Each entry shows the restaurant name, how long ago you scanned, and a summary count of compatible, adaptable, and avoid dishes from that scan. Tap any entry to open the full results again. Saving a dish You can bookmark any dish from a scan to find it again later. Saved dishes are collected in one place across all your restaurant scans, so you do not need to remember which restaurant had which item. To save a dish, tap the bookmark icon on the dish in your results. To find your saved dishes, go to the saved section of the app. Good to know - Scan history shows your own scans on this device. It is grouped by time to help you find a recent visit quickly. - Saving a dish is a personal reminder. The status shown when you saved it reflected your profile at that time. If your dietary profile changes, rescan the restaurant to get updated results. - The number of dishes in each status group gives you a quick feel for how well a restaurant suits your profile before you open the full results. Related: Read your results: compatible, adaptable, could not confirm, avoid, Scan a menu by photo, QR code, or link