Guides
Counting home food, honestly
Short, sourced guides for anyone tracking what they cook and eat at home.
How accurate is photo calorie counting?
Independent studies of AI photo calorie apps found large errors, mostly on the low side. What that means, why oil and portion size are the usual causes, and how to log so the error stays small.
Ghee and oil: the hidden calories in home cooking
How many calories are in a teaspoon or tablespoon of ghee, butter and common cooking oils, calculated from USDA data, and why the oil level is the single biggest correction for home-cooked food.
Protein for vegetarians: home dishes ranked by protein
Which everyday vegetarian dishes carry the most protein per portion and per 100 kcal, calculated from USDA data, and simple ways to add protein to a dal and roti day.
How Homekcal works out your calorie and protein targets
The equation, the activity factor, the deficit, the protein figure and the floors a target never goes below, with a worked example. Every target in the app shows this basis and can be changed.
Katori, cup, bowl and plate: portion sizes for home food
The household portions used on this site and in the app, what each one weighs, and how to check your own katori and bowls once so your logs line up.
Counting calories in home cooked food: the pot to portion method
A simple way to count a family recipe once and reuse it: add up the pot, weigh it, divide by what you serve. Works for dal, curry, stew, soup and any dish cooked in a batch.
Calorie and protein tracking with a small appetite
When you eat much less than you used to, the goal of tracking changes: protein first, regular small meals, and noticing if you are eating too little. A calm guide, with no medical advice.