VitaMeter Frequently Asked Questions – Everything Food Support

The VitaMeter Score is a numeric representation of your overall current nutrition level based on the National Institutes of Health Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for your height, weight, and gender. The Score is the sum of your nutrient intake divided by the sum of your RDA. Your Score can be increased by eating and logging foods that contribute to your needed nutrients. It is based on a 3-day running average.

If an item you scanned does not appear in your log, it is because that item’s nutrition information is not in our database. Use a different search function to find the closest match to add to your log. For instance, if you scan an item like a Cutie mandarin tangerine and it does not come up. Then tap the “Search” button and search for “tangerine”. Which would result in a list of possible matches you can choose from.

FoodDating is a way for you to explore and see new foods that can help you meet your nutrient needs. Plus, it allows us to get to know more about your likes and dislikes. Food Dating identifies additional foods for VitaMeter to recommend to increase your Score and nutrient intake.

Your VitaMeter Score is based on a rolling three-day average that resets each morning. You may notice a drop in your score in the mornings prior to logging your first meal, or if you haven’t logged more than one meal.

There could be more than one reason why a food you are trying to add is not appearing in your log. First, be sure you are spelling the food item correctly, incorrect spelled foods may not be located. Second, the specific brand item might not be in our database. Scanned or searched foods that we do not currently contain nutritional information for in our grocery database will not appear in your log. Third, the food item might be categorized under a different name. For example, chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the same food, if you are unable to find one, try searching using the other. And Fourth the food may be a recipe of multiple food items. In that case, break down and search for the components/ingredients of the dish you ate.

The nutrients listed in the “Source of” section of the food information card are those considered major or minor sources of that nutrient. The green nutrients are considered major sources, which is anything three times the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The yellow nutrients are considered minor, which is anything two times the RDA. If a food is not considered a major or minor source of any nutrient, a red notice will appear stating “Not a Significant Source of Micronutrients.”

The first time you search for or log a food, a default serving size will appear. For brand name items, the serving size matches that listed as a single serving in the item's nutrition information. For generic or whole food items, the serving size is based on the FDA’s single-serving recommendation. Once a serving size is changed, that will become your new default.

The Progress Wheel indicates your progress towards your personalized nutrition targets. These targets are based on your height, weight, age, and gender assigned at birth. The percentage displayed shows the micronutrients you have consumed on a three-day rolling value. You may notice that some portions of the wheel turn red when they reach a certain percent, this is because the FDA has set “upper limits” on some vitamins and minerals.