What is a daily points budget?
A daily points budget replaces calorie counting with one number. You start each day with a set number of points and “spend” them as you log food. Whole foods cost little or nothing; processed and sugary foods cost more. When you’ve used your budget, you have a simple visual signal — no math, no labels, no food scale.
How are food points calculated?
In Nomscore, you describe or photograph a meal and our AI identifies the items. The point value is then computed on the server with a fixed, deterministic formula, so the same meal always scores the same — whether you logged it by voice, photo, or text. Points reflect a food’s energy density and nutritional quality: lean proteins and whole foods are low, refined carbs and added sugar are high.
| Food | Points |
|---|---|
| Garden salad | Free (0) |
| Grilled chicken breast | 1 pt |
| Salmon, 4 oz | 2 pts |
| Small fries | 4 pts |
| Slice of pizza | 5 pts |
| Cheeseburger | 6 pts |
Most fruits and vegetables are 0 points — you can eat them freely.
Why 20 points?
Twenty is the default, but your budget is personalized — typically between 18 and 26 points a day. During onboarding Nomscore asks a few questions (sex, age, height, activity level, and your goal) and sets a budget that fits you; you can recalculate it any time in Settings. The point of the number isn’t decimal precision — it’s a calm, consistent target you can actually feel.
What foods are “free”?
Most fruits and vegetables cost 0 points, and lean proteins are low. This is the opposite of calorie counting, where even an apple “costs” something and the math quietly discourages the foods you should be eating more of. A points budget makes the healthy choice the easy choice.
How is a points budget different from calorie counting?
Calorie counting asks you to weigh, look up, and total every item. A points budget collapses all of that into one number per food and one target per day. If you’re coming from a calorie app, see Nomscore vs MyFitnessPal or the guide on tracking food without counting calories. If you loved WeightWatchers points, see Nomscore vs WeightWatchers.
How do I stick to my points budget?
Consistency beats perfection. Nomscore gives you streaks, badges, and up to three streak freezes so one off day won’t break your run — more in how to make food tracking fun.