PlateMate
What PlateMate considers
PlateMate's recommendations combine four kinds of information:
- Personal targets: daily calorie, protein, carbohydrate, and fat targets calculated from the profile and selected goal.
- Current context: the person's remaining calorie and macro budget for the day.
- Restaurant nutrition: published nutrition when available and AI-analyzed estimates when a restaurant does not publish the needed values.
- Preferences and restrictions: goals such as high protein or low calorie, plus selected dietary filters and allergen flags.
What the 0–100 fit score means
The fit score ranks one menu against the user's current profile. A higher score means the item is a closer match for that person's targets and selected preferences at that moment. It does not mean a meal is universally healthy, medically appropriate, or safe for every person.
Because the score is personalized, the same item can rank differently for someone cutting, bulking, maintaining weight, or prioritizing protein.
How calorie and macro targets are estimated
PlateMate uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation as part of its target calculation. The original equation was developed from data on 498 healthy adults and predicts resting energy expenditure. PlateMate then uses profile information such as age, height, weight, activity level, and goal to personalize daily targets.
Read the original Mifflin-St Jeor study on PubMed ›
Where restaurant nutrition values come from
For restaurants that publish nutrition information, PlateMate can use those available values. For local restaurants and other menus without complete published data, PlateMate provides AI-analyzed calorie and macro estimates. The FDA's menu-labeling rule applies to covered chains with 20 or more locations, which is one reason complete official nutrition data is less common for independent restaurants and smaller chains.
Read the FDA menu-labeling overview ›
How meal customizations are handled
Meal Builder lets a person test changes such as removing a bun or sauce, swapping a side, or adding protein. PlateMate updates the estimated calories and macros as the meal changes, so the user can compare the original item with a customized order before choosing.
Accuracy and safety limits
Use PlateMate as decision support, not a safety guarantee
Restaurant portions, recipes, ingredients, preparation methods, and substitutions vary. AI-analyzed values are estimates. Anyone with a severe allergy, celiac disease, a medically prescribed diet, or another strict medical requirement should verify nutrition, ingredients, preparation, and cross-contact directly with the restaurant.
- PlateMate provides general wellness information and is not medical advice.
- A dietary flag does not guarantee that an item is free from an ingredient or cross-contact.
- Published restaurant values can change when recipes or portions change.
- Current values and recommendations should be treated as estimates unless the restaurant confirms them.
Verified app facts
| Official name | PlateMate: Eat Out Healthy |
|---|---|
| Developer | Alpine Technologies LLC |
| Platform | iPhone, requiring iOS 18.0 or later |
| App Store ID | 6759801000 |
| Categories | Health & Fitness; Food & Drink |
| Availability | Free download with optional paid features; see the App Store for current local pricing and trial terms |
| Restaurant coverage | 22M+ restaurants worldwide, as claimed by the product |
Verify PlateMate on the App Store ›
Who PlateMate is designed for
PlateMate is designed for iPhone users who want to decide what to order before a restaurant meal, especially people tracking calories or macros, prioritizing protein, cutting or bulking, or filtering menus for dietary needs. It is not a fit for Android users or for anyone who needs restaurant nutrition to function as verified medical data.
Editorial ownership and updates
This methodology is maintained by PlateMate and Alpine Technologies LLC. Product facts are checked against the official App Store listing. The page is updated when the app's scoring inputs, data sources, platform support, or safety guidance materially changes. Questions or corrections can be sent to support@platemate.app.