Garmin announced the integration of food and calorie tracking capabilities into its Connect application at CES 2026. This new feature combines AI image recognition technology with a comprehensive food database, enabling users to monitor their calorie and nutrient intake directly within the app. The system also allows for food logging via compatible Garmin smartwatches.
Functionality and Integration
Garmin's food tracking system operates similarly to existing nutrition-tracking applications. It aims to consolidate nutrition monitoring within the Garmin ecosystem, linking it with users' existing fitness objectives. The app can utilize a user's logged height, weight, and gender from their Garmin profile to personalize calorie expenditure estimates and offer tailored calorie and macronutrient recommendations aligned with their fitness goals.
Image Recognition and Accuracy
The Connect app features AI-powered image recognition to assist with food logging. During a media demonstration, the app successfully identified items such as grilled salmon and various vegetables. However, initial observations indicated that the automatic quantity estimates were not accurate, requiring users to manually adjust serving sizes. Garmin spokespersons noted that the company is investigating methods to improve the accuracy of these automatic estimates.
Users can also create custom meal entries with precise ingredient quantities and log previously recorded foods from compatible Garmin watches. Voice commands are also supported on select Garmin wearables for convenience.
Availability
The food tracking feature is accessible to Garmin Connect+ subscribers, whose subscription costs $6.99 per month. This subscription also includes Active Intelligence, which provides AI-driven workout insights, now augmented with nutrition data integration.