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Getting Started

This guide walks you through setting up ChefByte and understanding its core workflows.

Accessing ChefByte

Live Demo

The fastest way to explore ChefByte is the live demo:

🚀 Open Demo Account

The demo comes pre-populated with:

  • Sample products and inventory
  • Example recipes with macro calculations
  • A week of meal planning data
  • Shopping list items

Demo Reset

The demo account resets automatically when you click "Try Demo" on the login page. Feel free to experiment!

Creating Your Own Account

  1. Navigate to chefbyte.app
  2. Click Sign Up
  3. Enter your email and password
  4. Start adding your own products and recipes

Core Workflow

ChefByte follows a logical flow from products to recipes to meal plans to tracking.

1. Build Your Inventory

Start by adding products to your inventory:

  • Barcode Scanning: Use the Scanner page to scan product barcodes
  • Manual Entry: Create products in Settings then Products
  • AI Enhancement: Scanned products automatically get nutrition data

2. Create Recipes

Build recipes using your inventory:

  • Add ingredients with amounts
  • Macros calculate automatically
  • Set prep and cook times

3. Plan Your Meals

Use the Meal Plan page to:

  • Assign recipes to specific days
  • Toggle meal prep mode for batch cooking
  • See daily macro totals

4. Track Your Progress

The dashboard shows:

  • Today's macro progress (calories, protein, carbs, fats)
  • Meals completed vs planned
  • Quick actions for common tasks

5. Shop for What You Need

When running low:

  • Click Add Below Min Stock to auto-populate shopping list
  • Use Meal Plan to Cart to add recipe ingredients
  • Export to Walmart for price-optimized shopping

Understanding the Interface

The top navigation provides quick access to all features:

Icon Page Purpose
📸 Scanner Barcode scanning and quick product entry
🏠 Home Dashboard with macros and quick actions
📦 Inventory Current stock levels and locations
🛒 Shopping Shopping list management
🗓️ Meal Plan Weekly meal planning calendar
📚 Recipes Recipe browser and editor
🏪 Walmart Price management and product matching
⚙️ Settings Products, LiquidTrack, Import/Export

Quick Actions

The Home dashboard includes several quick actions:

  • Automation Settings: Configure background scripts
  • Import Shopping List: Move shopping items to inventory
  • Target Macros: Set your daily nutrition goals
  • Taste Profile: Record dietary preferences
  • Meal Plan to Cart: Sync meal plan to shopping list

Setting Your Macro Goals

Before tracking, configure your targets:

  1. Go to Home page
  2. Click Target Macros
  3. Enter your goals:
  4. Carbs (grams)
  5. Protein (grams)
  6. Fats (grams)
  7. Calories calculate automatically using the 4-4-9 rule

Calculating Goals

A common starting point: Protein at 0.8-1g per pound of body weight, Fats at 25-35 percent of total calories, and Carbs to fill remaining calories.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics: