# How accurate is photo scanning? > For most everyday meals, photo scanning lands within 10 to 15% of a weighed estimate. Close enough to guide your day, and far better than not logging at all. ## What the scanner is good at Plated meals with visible components scan well: a bowl, a plate, a sandwich. The scanner identifies each ingredient, estimates portions from the photo, and shows calories with protein, carbs and fat. ## Where to double-check Hidden ingredients are the usual gap: oil in a stir-fry, butter in a sauce, sugar in a dressing. Soups and stews also hide their contents. After a scan, adjust any portion or use Fix with AI to correct the result in plain words. The estimate updates right away. ## When to use something else Packaged foods have exact labels, so scan the barcode instead. For a meal you cannot photograph, describe it in plain words and MealSnap estimates from the description. **Tip:** Consistency beats precision. A rough log of every meal tells you more than an exact log of some meals.