PlateMate: AI food recognition with RAG-powered nutrition advice

- Streamlit app with camera + upload support (mobile-friendly)
- HuggingFace Transformers food image classifier (local inference)
- ChromaDB RAG pipeline with 49 curated nutrition documents
- Google Gemini 3 Flash for ingredient + healthier alternative generation
- Ready for HuggingFace Spaces deployment

Made-with: Cursor

.gitignore

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+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+.env
+chroma_db/
+.streamlit/secrets.toml
+*.egg-info/
+.venv/
+venv/
+.DS_Store

README.md

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+---
+title: PlateMate
+emoji: 🍽️
+colorFrom: green
+colorTo: yellow
+sdk: streamlit
+sdk_version: "1.44.1"
+app_file: app.py
+pinned: false
+short_description: AI food recognition with RAG-powered nutrition advice
+---
+
+# PlateMate — AI-Powered Culinary Assistant
+
+PlateMate identifies foods from photos and provides nutritional insights using a **Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)** pipeline. Upload or snap an image of your meal and get the detected food, its ingredients, and healthier alternatives backed by a curated nutrition knowledge base.
+
+## Architecture
+
+```
+User (upload / camera)
+        │
+        ▼
+┌────────────────────────────┐
+│  HuggingFace Transformers  │  Food image classification (local)
+│  food-image-classification │
+└────────────┬───────────────┘
+             │
+             ▼
+┌────────────────────────────┐
+│  Google Gemini 3 Flash     │  Ingredient generation
+└────────────┬───────────────┘
+             │
+             ▼
+┌────────────────────────────┐
+│  ChromaDB vector search    │  Retrieve top-5 nutrition docs
+│  + Gemini 3 Flash (RAG)   │  Generate grounded response
+└────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+## Tech Stack
+
+| Layer         | Technology                                      |
+|---------------|------------------------------------------------ |
+| Frontend      | Streamlit                                       |
+| ML Inference  | HuggingFace Transformers (image classification) |
+| LLM           | Google Gemini 3 Flash                           |
+| Vector DB     | ChromaDB (cosine similarity)                    |
+| RAG Pipeline  | Retrieve from ChromaDB → augment prompt → Gemini|
+
+## How the RAG Pipeline Works
+
+1. **Indexing** — On startup, 49 curated nutrition and recipe documents are embedded and stored in ChromaDB.
+2. **Retrieval** — When a user queries for healthier alternatives, the top-5 most semantically relevant documents are retrieved via cosine similarity.
+3. **Generation** — Retrieved context is injected into a prompt sent to Gemini 3 Flash, producing a grounded response.

app.py

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+import streamlit as st
+from PIL import Image
+
+from backend.classifier import classify_image
+from backend.rag import get_ingredients, get_healthier_alternatives, seed_collection
+
+
+@st.cache_resource
+def _init():
+    seed_collection()
+
+
+_init()
+
+st.set_page_config(
+    page_title="PlateMate",
+    page_icon="🍽️",
+    layout="centered",
+    initial_sidebar_state="collapsed",
+)
+
+st.markdown(
+    """
+    <style>
+    /* ---------- Base ---------- */
+    .main-title {
+        text-align: center;
+        font-size: 2.6rem;
+        font-weight: 800;
+        background: linear-gradient(135deg, #2E7D32, #66BB6A);
+        -webkit-background-clip: text;
+        -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
+        margin-bottom: 0;
+    }
+    .subtitle {
+        text-align: center;
+        color: #777;
+        font-size: 1.1rem;
+        margin-top: 0;
+        margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+    }
+    .section-header {
+        font-size: 1.25rem;
+        font-weight: 600;
+        color: #333;
+        border-bottom: 2px solid #E8F5E9;
+        padding-bottom: 0.4rem;
+        margin-top: 1.5rem;
+    }
+    div[data-testid="stMetric"] {
+        background: #F1F8E9;
+        border-radius: 10px;
+        padding: 12px 16px;
+    }
+
+    /* ---------- Mobile (<640px) ---------- */
+    @media (max-width: 640px) {
+        .main-title { font-size: 2rem; }
+        .subtitle   { font-size: 0.95rem; }
+
+        /* Full-width buttons & inputs */
+        button, .stButton > button,
+        [data-testid="stFileUploader"],
+        [data-testid="stCameraInput"] {
+            width: 100% !important;
+        }
+
+        /* Prevent iOS zoom on input focus */
+        input, select, textarea { font-size: 16px !important; }
+
+        /* Larger tap targets */
+        .stButton > button {
+            min-height: 3rem;
+            font-size: 1.05rem !important;
+        }
+
+        /* Stack metric cards vertically */
+        [data-testid="stHorizontalBlock"] {
+            flex-direction: column !important;
+        }
+    }
+    </style>
+    """,
+    unsafe_allow_html=True,
+)
+
+st.markdown('<p class="main-title">🍽️ PlateMate</p>', unsafe_allow_html=True)
+st.markdown(
+    '<p class="subtitle">Snap or upload a food photo for AI-powered nutritional insights</p>',
+    unsafe_allow_html=True,
+)
+
+with st.sidebar:
+    st.header("About")
+    st.write(
+        "**PlateMate** uses computer vision to identify foods, "
+        "then retrieves nutritional advice from a curated knowledge base "
+        "using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)."
+    )
+    st.divider()
+    st.markdown(
+        "**Tech stack:** FastAPI · ChromaDB · HuggingFace Transformers · "
+        "Google Gemini · Streamlit"
+    )
+
+# --------------- Image input ---------------
+tab_upload, tab_camera = st.tabs(["📁 Upload", "📷 Camera"])
+
+with tab_upload:
+    uploaded_file = st.file_uploader(
+        "Upload a food image",
+        type=["jpg", "jpeg", "png", "webp"],
+    )
+
+with tab_camera:
+    camera_photo = st.camera_input("Take a photo of your food")
+
+image = None
+if uploaded_file is not None:
+    image = Image.open(uploaded_file).convert("RGB")
+elif camera_photo is not None:
+    image = Image.open(camera_photo).convert("RGB")
+
+if image is not None:
+    st.image(image, caption="Your image", use_container_width=True)
+
+    if st.button("🔍  Analyze", type="primary", use_container_width=True):
+        with st.spinner("Classifying image..."):
+            predictions = classify_image(image)
+
+        if not predictions:
+            st.error("Classification returned no results.")
+        else:
+            top_food = predictions[0]["label"]
+            confidence = predictions[0]["confidence"]
+
+            st.markdown(
+                '<p class="section-header">🎯 Classification</p>',
+                unsafe_allow_html=True,
+            )
+            col1, col2 = st.columns(2)
+            col1.metric("Detected Food", top_food.replace("_", " ").title())
+            col2.metric("Confidence", f"{confidence * 100:.1f}%")
+
+            if len(predictions) > 1:
+                with st.expander("Other possibilities"):
+                    for p in predictions[1:]:
+                        st.write(
+                            f"- **{p['label'].replace('_', ' ').title()}** "
+                            f"— {p['confidence'] * 100:.1f}%"
+                        )
+
+            with st.spinner("Fetching ingredients..."):
+                ingredients = get_ingredients(top_food)
+            st.markdown(
+                '<p class="section-header">📝 Ingredients</p>',
+                unsafe_allow_html=True,
+            )
+            st.write(ingredients)
+
+            with st.spinner("Generating healthier alternatives via RAG..."):
+                alternatives, sources_used = get_healthier_alternatives(top_food)
+            st.markdown(
+                '<p class="section-header">💡 Healthier Alternatives</p>',
+                unsafe_allow_html=True,
+            )
+            st.info(
+                f"Retrieved from {sources_used} knowledge-base documents via RAG"
+            )
+            st.write(alternatives)
+else:
+    st.info("👆 Upload a food image or snap a photo to get started.")

backend/classifier.py

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+from PIL import Image
+from transformers import pipeline
+from functools import lru_cache
+
+from .config import get_settings
+
+
+@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def _load_pipeline():
+    settings = get_settings()
+    return pipeline("image-classification", model=settings.classification_model)
+
+
+def classify_image(image: Image.Image, top_k: int = 5) -> list[dict]:
+    pipe = _load_pipeline()
+    predictions = pipe(image)
+    return [
+        {"label": p["label"], "confidence": round(p["score"], 4)}
+        for p in predictions[:top_k]
+    ]

backend/config.py

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+from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings
+from functools import lru_cache
+
+
+class Settings(BaseSettings):
+    gemini_api_key: str = ""
+    chroma_persist_dir: str = "./chroma_db"
+    classification_model: str = "Shresthadev403/food-image-classification"
+    gemini_model: str = "gemini-3-flash-preview"
+
+    model_config = {"env_file": ".env"}
+
+
+@lru_cache
+def get_settings() -> Settings:
+    return Settings()

backend/rag.py

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+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+
+import chromadb
+from google import genai
+
+from .config import get_settings
+from .seed_data import DOCUMENTS
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_chroma_client: chromadb.PersistentClient | None = None
+_collection: chromadb.Collection | None = None
+_gemini_client: genai.Client | None = None
+
+
+def _get_collection() -> chromadb.Collection:
+    global _chroma_client, _collection
+    if _collection is None:
+        settings = get_settings()
+        _chroma_client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=settings.chroma_persist_dir)
+        _collection = _chroma_client.get_or_create_collection(
+            name="recipes",
+            metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"},
+        )
+    return _collection
+
+
+def _get_gemini_client() -> genai.Client:
+    global _gemini_client
+    if _gemini_client is None:
+        settings = get_settings()
+        _gemini_client = genai.Client(api_key=settings.gemini_api_key)
+    return _gemini_client
+
+
+def seed_collection() -> None:
+    collection = _get_collection()
+    if collection.count() > 0:
+        logger.info("ChromaDB already seeded (%d documents).", collection.count())
+        return
+
+    ids = [f"doc_{i}" for i in range(len(DOCUMENTS))]
+    collection.add(
+        documents=[d["text"] for d in DOCUMENTS],
+        metadatas=[{"category": d["category"], "food": d["food"]} for d in DOCUMENTS],
+        ids=ids,
+    )
+    logger.info("Seeded ChromaDB with %d recipe/nutrition documents.", len(DOCUMENTS))
+
+
+def get_ingredients(food_name: str) -> str:
+    client = _get_gemini_client()
+    settings = get_settings()
+
+    response = client.models.generate_content(
+        model=settings.gemini_model,
+        contents=(
+            f"List only the main ingredients for {food_name}. "
+            "Respond in a concise, comma-separated list without extra text."
+        ),
+    )
+    return response.text.strip()
+
+
+def get_healthier_alternatives(food_name: str) -> tuple[str, int]:
+    collection = _get_collection()
+    client = _get_gemini_client()
+    settings = get_settings()
+
+    results = collection.query(
+        query_texts=[f"healthy alternative for {food_name}"],
+        n_results=5,
+    )
+
+    context_docs = results["documents"][0] if results["documents"] else []
+    context = "\n\n".join(context_docs)
+    sources_used = len(context_docs)
+
+    prompt = (
+        "You are a knowledgeable nutritionist and chef. Use the provided context "
+        "to give specific, actionable advice about healthier versions of foods. "
+        "Include calorie comparisons and a brief recipe when possible. "
+        "If the context doesn't cover the exact food, use relevant principles from it.\n\n"
+        f"Context from nutrition knowledge base:\n\n{context}\n\n"
+        f"What are healthier alternatives or modifications for {food_name}? "
+        f"Include a brief healthy recipe suggestion."
+    )
+
+    response = client.models.generate_content(
+        model=settings.gemini_model,
+        contents=prompt,
+    )
+    return response.text.strip(), sources_used

backend/seed_data.py

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+DOCUMENTS = [
+    # --- Pizza & Italian ---
+    {
+        "food": "pizza",
+        "category": "italian",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional pizza dough is made from refined white flour, which spikes blood sugar. "
+            "A healthier alternative uses whole-wheat flour or a cauliflower crust, cutting carbs by up to 60%. "
+            "Top with fresh vegetables like bell peppers, spinach, and mushrooms instead of processed meats. "
+            "Use part-skim mozzarella or nutritional yeast to reduce saturated fat. A thin-crust vegetable pizza "
+            "with a drizzle of olive oil provides fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats while keeping calories around 200 per slice."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "pizza",
+        "category": "italian",
+        "text": (
+            "Cauliflower crust pizza recipe: pulse one head of cauliflower into rice-sized pieces, microwave 4 minutes, "
+            "squeeze out moisture, mix with one egg and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Press onto a parchment-lined baking sheet "
+            "and bake at 425°F for 12 minutes. Top with marinara, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta. "
+            "This version has roughly 150 calories per slice compared to 300+ for traditional pizza."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "pasta",
+        "category": "italian",
+        "text": (
+            "Swap regular pasta for whole-grain, chickpea, or lentil-based pasta to increase protein and fiber. "
+            "Chickpea pasta contains about 25g protein per serving compared to 7g in white pasta. "
+            "Replace cream-based sauces with marinara or pesto made from fresh basil, pine nuts, and olive oil. "
+            "Add roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes for volume without excess calories."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "lasagna",
+        "category": "italian",
+        "text": (
+            "Healthy lasagna substitutes: use thinly sliced zucchini or eggplant in place of pasta sheets. "
+            "Replace ricotta with blended cottage cheese for higher protein and lower fat. Use ground turkey "
+            "or lentils instead of ground beef to cut saturated fat by 50%. Layer with spinach and roasted "
+            "red peppers for extra vitamins. A veggie-forward lasagna can have 250 calories per serving "
+            "compared to 400+ for traditional versions."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Burgers & Sandwiches ---
+    {
+        "food": "hamburger",
+        "category": "burgers",
+        "text": (
+            "A standard fast-food burger has 500-700 calories with high saturated fat. Healthier alternatives: "
+            "use lean ground turkey (93% lean) or make black bean patties blended with oats and spices. "
+            "Wrap in lettuce leaves instead of a white bun, or use a whole-grain bun. Top with avocado slices "
+            "instead of cheese, and add plenty of fresh vegetables. A turkey burger in a lettuce wrap "
+            "with avocado runs about 300 calories with 25g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "hamburger",
+        "category": "burgers",
+        "text": (
+            "Black bean burger recipe: mash one can of black beans, mix with 1/2 cup oats, one egg, "
+            "diced onion, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika. Form into patties and bake at 375°F for "
+            "10 minutes per side. Each patty has about 180 calories, 10g protein, and 8g fiber. "
+            "Serve on a whole-wheat bun with arugula, tomato, and a tahini drizzle."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "sandwich",
+        "category": "burgers",
+        "text": (
+            "Upgrade sandwiches by swapping white bread for whole-grain or sourdough, which has a lower "
+            "glycemic index. Use hummus or mashed avocado instead of mayo to add fiber and healthy fats. "
+            "Choose grilled chicken or turkey breast over deli meats, which are high in sodium and nitrates. "
+            "Load up on vegetables: spinach, cucumber, roasted peppers, and sprouts add crunch and nutrients."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Asian Cuisine ---
+    {
+        "food": "sushi",
+        "category": "asian",
+        "text": (
+            "Sushi can be healthy but watch portion sizes of white rice, which is high-glycemic. "
+            "Request brown rice sushi for more fiber and nutrients. Choose sashimi (just fish) to skip "
+            "rice entirely. Avoid tempura rolls and spicy mayo, which add 200+ calories per roll. "
+            "Opt for rolls with salmon, tuna, or vegetables. Edamame is an excellent protein-rich side. "
+            "A salmon avocado roll with brown rice has about 250 calories with omega-3 fatty acids."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "ramen",
+        "category": "asian",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional ramen broth is rich but calorie-dense. For a lighter version, use a miso or "
+            "chicken bone broth base with less sodium. Swap instant noodles for shirataki (konjac) noodles "
+            "which have nearly zero calories, or use whole-wheat ramen. Add soft-boiled egg for protein, "
+            "plenty of bok choy, mushrooms, and scallions. A bowl of miso ramen with shirataki noodles "
+            "and vegetables has about 200 calories compared to 500+ for standard tonkotsu ramen."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "fried rice",
+        "category": "asian",
+        "text": (
+            "Fried rice is typically made with day-old white rice and lots of oil. Healthier version: "
+            "use cauliflower rice or brown rice, cook with just one tablespoon of sesame oil, and load "
+            "with vegetables like peas, carrots, corn, and edamame. Use coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce. "
+            "Add scrambled egg or tofu for protein. Cauliflower fried rice has about 150 calories per cup "
+            "compared to 350+ for traditional fried rice."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "pad thai",
+        "category": "asian",
+        "text": (
+            "Pad Thai is high in calories from rice noodles, sugar, and oil. A healthier version uses "
+            "spiralized zucchini or sweet potato noodles, replaces sugar with a small amount of honey "
+            "or date paste, and uses less oil. Add shrimp or tofu for lean protein, plenty of bean sprouts, "
+            "and crushed peanuts for healthy fats. Zucchini noodle pad thai runs about 250 calories "
+            "compared to 400+ for the original."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Salads & Vegetables ---
+    {
+        "food": "salad",
+        "category": "salads",
+        "text": (
+            "Not all salads are healthy — Caesar salad with dressing can exceed 600 calories. "
+            "Build a nutritious salad: start with dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula) "
+            "which have more nutrients than iceberg lettuce. Add lean protein (grilled chicken, "
+            "chickpeas, or hard-boiled eggs), healthy fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil), and fiber "
+            "(quinoa, roasted sweet potato). Use vinaigrette instead of creamy dressings."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "salad",
+        "category": "salads",
+        "text": (
+            "Power salad recipe: combine 2 cups mixed greens, 1/2 cup quinoa, 4 oz grilled chicken, "
+            "1/4 avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and toasted almonds. Dress with lemon-tahini "
+            "dressing (2 tbsp tahini, juice of one lemon, 1 tbsp water, pinch of salt). "
+            "This meal has about 450 calories, 35g protein, 10g fiber, and covers multiple food groups."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "caesar salad",
+        "category": "salads",
+        "text": (
+            "Lighten Caesar salad: replace croutons with roasted chickpeas (more protein, more fiber). "
+            "Make dressing from Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and a small amount of Parmesan "
+            "instead of the traditional egg-and-oil version. Use romaine hearts with added kale for "
+            "extra nutrients. Add grilled shrimp or salmon instead of just cheese. "
+            "This version cuts calories by 40% while adding 15g more protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Breakfast ---
+    {
+        "food": "pancakes",
+        "category": "breakfast",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional pancakes are made with white flour and topped with syrup, creating a blood sugar spike. "
+            "Healthier version: blend one banana with two eggs for a 2-ingredient pancake, or use oat flour. "
+            "Top with fresh berries, a drizzle of pure maple syrup (less than regular syrup), "
+            "and a tablespoon of almond butter for protein and healthy fats. Banana-egg pancakes "
+            "have about 150 calories per serving with 10g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "french toast",
+        "category": "breakfast",
+        "text": (
+            "Make french toast healthier by using whole-grain or sourdough bread instead of white bread. "
+            "Use an egg wash with unsweetened almond milk and cinnamon instead of heavy cream. "
+            "Cook in coconut oil spray rather than butter. Top with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit "
+            "instead of powdered sugar and syrup. This version provides 250 calories per serving "
+            "with 15g protein from the egg and yogurt."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "omelette",
+        "category": "breakfast",
+        "text": (
+            "Omelettes are already a great protein source. Make them healthier by using one whole egg "
+            "plus two egg whites to reduce cholesterol. Fill with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and "
+            "bell peppers instead of just cheese and ham. Use feta or goat cheese (stronger flavor, "
+            "so you need less). Cook in olive oil instead of butter. A veggie omelette with feta "
+            "has about 250 calories and 20g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Mexican & Latin ---
+    {
+        "food": "tacos",
+        "category": "mexican",
+        "text": (
+            "Swap fried taco shells for soft corn tortillas, which are lower in calories and gluten-free. "
+            "Use grilled fish (mahi-mahi or shrimp) or seasoned black beans instead of ground beef. "
+            "Top with fresh pico de gallo, shredded cabbage, and a squeeze of lime instead of sour cream "
+            "and shredded cheese. Fish tacos with corn tortillas have about 200 calories each "
+            "with 20g protein and omega-3 fatty acids."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "burrito",
+        "category": "mexican",
+        "text": (
+            "Burritos are calorie-dense (800+ calories) due to large tortillas, rice, cheese, and sour cream. "
+            "Make a burrito bowl instead: skip the tortilla and serve over cauliflower rice or a small portion "
+            "of brown rice. Use chicken or carnitas, black beans, corn salsa, and guacamole. "
+            "A burrito bowl with lean protein runs about 450 calories with 30g protein and plenty of fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "nachos",
+        "category": "mexican",
+        "text": (
+            "Replace tortilla chips with baked sweet potato rounds or baked whole-grain pita chips. "
+            "Use black bean dip instead of processed cheese sauce. Top with grilled chicken, "
+            "fresh jalapeños, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. "
+            "Sweet potato nachos have about 300 calories per serving compared to 500+ for loaded nachos."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Seafood ---
+    {
+        "food": "fish and chips",
+        "category": "seafood",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional fish and chips are deep-fried, adding 300+ unnecessary calories. "
+            "Bake the fish instead: coat cod or haddock in a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, "
+            "lemon zest, and herbs, then bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Make oven-baked fries "
+            "by tossing potato wedges with a tablespoon of olive oil and baking until crispy. "
+            "Baked fish and chips has about 350 calories compared to 800+ for the fried version."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "shrimp",
+        "category": "seafood",
+        "text": (
+            "Shrimp is naturally low-calorie (about 7 calories per shrimp) and high in protein. "
+            "Avoid breaded and fried preparations. Instead, grill or sauté with garlic and olive oil. "
+            "Pair with roasted vegetables and quinoa for a complete meal. Shrimp is also rich in "
+            "selenium and vitamin B12. A grilled shrimp bowl with vegetables and quinoa "
+            "has about 350 calories and 35g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Desserts & Sweets ---
+    {
+        "food": "ice cream",
+        "category": "desserts",
+        "text": (
+            "Blend frozen bananas into 'nice cream' for a creamy, dairy-free alternative with no added sugar. "
+            "Add cocoa powder for chocolate flavor, or frozen berries for fruit varieties. "
+            "For a protein boost, blend in a tablespoon of peanut butter or protein powder. "
+            "Banana nice cream has about 100 calories per serving compared to 250+ for regular ice cream, "
+            "plus it provides potassium and fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "cake",
+        "category": "desserts",
+        "text": (
+            "Healthier cake alternatives: use almond flour or oat flour instead of white flour for more "
+            "protein and fiber. Replace butter with applesauce or mashed banana (cuts fat by 75%). "
+            "Use honey or maple syrup instead of refined sugar. Greek yogurt frosting (Greek yogurt "
+            "whipped with a touch of honey and vanilla) replaces buttercream. An almond flour cake "
+            "has about 180 calories per slice compared to 350+ for traditional cake."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "chocolate",
+        "category": "desserts",
+        "text": (
+            "Choose dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher) over milk chocolate for more antioxidants "
+            "and less sugar. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that support heart health. "
+            "Limit portions to 1-2 squares (about 1 oz). Pair with almonds or strawberries "
+            "for a satisfying, nutrient-rich dessert. An ounce of dark chocolate has about "
+            "170 calories with beneficial polyphenols and magnesium."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "cookies",
+        "category": "desserts",
+        "text": (
+            "Healthy cookie recipe: mix 2 ripe bananas, 1 cup oats, and a handful of dark chocolate chips. "
+            "Optional add-ins: chia seeds, shredded coconut, or walnuts. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet "
+            "and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes. These 3-ingredient cookies have about 60 calories each "
+            "with no added sugar, flour, or butter. The oats provide fiber and the banana adds natural sweetness."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Chicken & Poultry ---
+    {
+        "food": "fried chicken",
+        "category": "poultry",
+        "text": (
+            "Fried chicken absorbs significant oil during cooking, adding 200+ calories per piece. "
+            "Oven-fried alternative: marinate chicken thighs in buttermilk, coat in seasoned whole-wheat "
+            "panko, and bake at 425°F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. Use skinless chicken to reduce fat. "
+            "Air-frying is another excellent option. Oven-fried chicken has about 220 calories per piece "
+            "compared to 400+ for deep-fried, with the same satisfying crunch."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "chicken wings",
+        "category": "poultry",
+        "text": (
+            "Buffalo wings are typically deep-fried and coated in butter-based sauce. Healthier version: "
+            "bake wings at 400°F for 40 minutes until crispy, then toss in a sauce made from hot sauce "
+            "and a small amount of honey instead of butter. Serve with carrot and celery sticks with "
+            "Greek yogurt ranch dip. Baked wings have about 80 calories each versus 120+ for fried."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Rice & Grains ---
+    {
+        "food": "white rice",
+        "category": "grains",
+        "text": (
+            "White rice is a high-glycemic food with limited nutrients. Healthier alternatives: "
+            "brown rice (more fiber and B vitamins), quinoa (complete protein with all 9 essential amino acids), "
+            "cauliflower rice (90% fewer calories), or farro (chewy texture with high fiber). "
+            "Mixing half cauliflower rice with half regular rice is an easy way to cut calories by 45% "
+            "while maintaining a familiar texture."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Soups ---
+    {
+        "food": "soup",
+        "category": "soups",
+        "text": (
+            "Cream-based soups (chowder, bisque) can have 300+ calories per bowl. Switch to broth-based "
+            "soups with plenty of vegetables, beans, and lean protein. Blend a portion of the vegetables "
+            "to create creaminess without actual cream. Lentil soup is exceptionally nutritious: "
+            "one bowl has about 230 calories, 18g protein, and 15g fiber. Season with turmeric, "
+            "cumin, and lemon for anti-inflammatory benefits."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Snacks ---
+    {
+        "food": "chips",
+        "category": "snacks",
+        "text": (
+            "Potato chips are deep-fried and high in sodium. Healthier alternatives: bake thin-sliced "
+            "sweet potatoes or kale leaves with a light olive oil spray and sea salt at 300°F. "
+            "Air-popped popcorn seasoned with nutritional yeast is another excellent swap — "
+            "3 cups have only 90 calories with fiber. Roasted chickpeas (tossed with spices and "
+            "baked at 400°F for 30 minutes) provide protein and crunch at 120 calories per serving."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "french fries",
+        "category": "snacks",
+        "text": (
+            "French fries absorb a lot of oil during deep-frying. Healthier swaps: bake sweet potato fries "
+            "(more vitamin A and fiber) or regular potato wedges tossed in one tablespoon of olive oil "
+            "at 425°F for 25 minutes. Air-fried fries use 80% less oil. Jicama fries are a low-carb "
+            "alternative with a satisfying crunch. Baked sweet potato fries have about 130 calories "
+            "per serving compared to 365 for fast-food fries."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Drinks ---
+    {
+        "food": "smoothie",
+        "category": "drinks",
+        "text": (
+            "Many commercial smoothies are sugar bombs (60-80g sugar). Build a balanced smoothie: "
+            "use unsweetened almond milk as the base, add one cup of frozen berries (natural sweetness), "
+            "a handful of spinach (undetectable flavor, adds iron and vitamins), one tablespoon of "
+            "nut butter or chia seeds (healthy fats and protein), and half a banana for creaminess. "
+            "This balanced smoothie has about 250 calories with 10g protein and 8g fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- General Nutrition Principles ---
+    {
+        "food": "general",
+        "category": "nutrition",
+        "text": (
+            "The plate method is an easy way to build balanced meals: fill half your plate with "
+            "non-starchy vegetables (leafy greens, broccoli, peppers), one quarter with lean protein "
+            "(chicken, fish, tofu, legumes), and one quarter with whole grains or starchy vegetables. "
+            "This approach naturally controls portions and ensures nutrient diversity without counting calories."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "general",
+        "category": "nutrition",
+        "text": (
+            "Healthy cooking methods ranked by calorie impact: steaming and poaching add zero calories; "
+            "grilling and roasting need minimal oil; sautéing uses moderate oil; deep-frying adds the most. "
+            "Switching from frying to baking typically saves 100-300 calories per serving. "
+            "Use non-stick pans, cooking sprays, or small amounts of high-quality olive or avocado oil."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "general",
+        "category": "nutrition",
+        "text": (
+            "Common healthy ingredient swaps: Greek yogurt for sour cream (more protein, less fat), "
+            "avocado for mayo (healthy monounsaturated fats), coconut aminos for soy sauce (less sodium), "
+            "nutritional yeast for cheese (B vitamins, lower calories), date paste for refined sugar "
+            "(adds fiber and minerals), and lettuce wraps for tortillas (saves 100+ calories per wrap)."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "general",
+        "category": "nutrition",
+        "text": (
+            "Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, helping you feel full longer. "
+            "Aim for 20-30g protein per meal. Best lean protein sources: chicken breast (31g per 4 oz), "
+            "Greek yogurt (17g per cup), lentils (18g per cup cooked), eggs (6g each), "
+            "salmon (25g per 4 oz with heart-healthy omega-3s), and tofu (20g per cup)."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "general",
+        "category": "nutrition",
+        "text": (
+            "Fiber is crucial for digestive health and satiety but most people only get half "
+            "the recommended 25-30g per day. High-fiber foods: lentils (15g per cup), "
+            "black beans (15g per cup), avocado (10g each), raspberries (8g per cup), "
+            "chia seeds (10g per ounce), and oats (4g per cup cooked). Adding these to meals "
+            "increases fullness and supports healthy blood sugar levels."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Indian ---
+    {
+        "food": "curry",
+        "category": "indian",
+        "text": (
+            "Many curries use heavy cream and ghee, pushing calories to 500+ per serving. "
+            "Healthier version: use coconut milk (light variety) or blended cashews for creaminess. "
+            "Load with vegetables like cauliflower, chickpeas, and spinach. Spices like turmeric, "
+            "cumin, and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties. A chickpea spinach curry "
+            "with light coconut milk has about 280 calories per serving with 15g protein and 10g fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "biryani",
+        "category": "indian",
+        "text": (
+            "Biryani is calorie-dense due to generous amounts of oil, white rice, and sometimes fried onions. "
+            "Lighter version: use brown basmati rice, reduce oil to 1 tablespoon, and increase vegetables. "
+            "Add lean protein like chicken breast or chickpeas. Use yogurt-based marinade for flavor "
+            "without excess fat. A lighter chicken biryani has about 350 calories per serving "
+            "compared to 550+ for the traditional version."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Steak & Red Meat ---
+    {
+        "food": "steak",
+        "category": "meat",
+        "text": (
+            "Choose lean cuts like sirloin, flank, or tenderloin over ribeye or T-bone to reduce "
+            "saturated fat. Trim visible fat before cooking. Grill or broil instead of pan-frying in butter. "
+            "Limit portion to 4-6 oz (about the size of a deck of cards). Pair with roasted vegetables "
+            "and a baked sweet potato instead of creamy sides. A 4 oz grilled sirloin has about "
+            "200 calories and 26g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Breakfast cereals ---
+    {
+        "food": "cereal",
+        "category": "breakfast",
+        "text": (
+            "Most commercial cereals are high in added sugar (10-15g per serving). Healthier alternatives: "
+            "steel-cut oats (more filling, lower glycemic), overnight oats with chia seeds and berries, "
+            "or homemade granola with oats, nuts, and a small amount of honey. If buying cereal, "
+            "choose options with less than 5g sugar and at least 3g fiber per serving. "
+            "Top with fresh fruit instead of adding sugar."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "waffles",
+        "category": "breakfast",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional waffles use white flour, sugar, and butter. Make protein waffles by blending "
+            "oats, banana, eggs, and a scoop of protein powder. The result is crispy outside, fluffy inside, "
+            "with about 200 calories and 20g protein per waffle. Top with Greek yogurt and fresh berries "
+            "instead of syrup and whipped cream for a balanced breakfast."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Mediterranean ---
+    {
+        "food": "falafel",
+        "category": "mediterranean",
+        "text": (
+            "Traditional falafel is deep-fried, absorbing significant oil. Baked falafel version: "
+            "blend chickpeas with parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, and a tablespoon of olive oil. "
+            "Form into balls and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. Serve in whole-wheat pita "
+            "with tahini, cucumber, and tomato. Baked falafel has about 60 calories per ball "
+            "compared to 100+ for deep-fried."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "hummus",
+        "category": "mediterranean",
+        "text": (
+            "Hummus is already a healthy snack — chickpeas provide protein and fiber, and tahini offers "
+            "healthy fats. To make it even healthier, use less tahini and more lemon juice, or add "
+            "roasted beets, roasted red pepper, or edamame as a base for variety and extra nutrients. "
+            "Pair with raw vegetables instead of pita chips. A quarter cup of hummus has about "
+            "100 calories with 5g protein and 3g fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Chinese ---
+    {
+        "food": "sweet and sour chicken",
+        "category": "chinese",
+        "text": (
+            "Sweet and sour chicken is typically battered, deep-fried, and coated in sugary sauce (600+ calories). "
+            "Healthier version: use baked chicken breast pieces, and make sauce from rice vinegar, "
+            "a tablespoon of honey, tomato paste, and low-sodium soy sauce. Add pineapple chunks "
+            "and bell peppers. Serve over cauliflower rice. This version has about 300 calories "
+            "with 30g protein."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "lo mein",
+        "category": "chinese",
+        "text": (
+            "Lo mein noodles are stir-fried with oil, adding significant calories. Swap for zucchini noodles "
+            "or shirataki noodles. Use less oil (1 tbsp sesame oil is enough for flavor), add extra vegetables "
+            "(snap peas, bok choy, mushrooms, carrots), and include lean protein like shrimp or tofu. "
+            "Use low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos. Veggie lo mein with shirataki noodles "
+            "has about 180 calories per serving."
+        ),
+    },
+    # --- Baked Goods ---
+    {
+        "food": "muffin",
+        "category": "baked_goods",
+        "text": (
+            "Store-bought muffins can have 400-500 calories and 30g+ sugar. Healthy muffin recipe: "
+            "mix 2 cups oat flour, 2 mashed bananas, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup honey, 1 cup blueberries. "
+            "Bake at 350°F for 18 minutes. Each muffin has about 120 calories with natural sweetness "
+            "from banana and berries. Add walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids."
+        ),
+    },
+    {
+        "food": "bread",
+        "category": "baked_goods",
+        "text": (
+            "Choose bread wisely: whole-grain or sprouted-grain bread (like Ezekiel) has more fiber, "
+            "protein, and nutrients than white bread. Sourdough has a lower glycemic index due to "
+            "fermentation. Avoid breads with high-fructose corn syrup or long ingredient lists. "
+            "Two slices of sprouted-grain bread have about 160 calories with 8g protein and 6g fiber."
+        ),
+    },
+]

requirements.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+streamlit>=1.40.0
+chromadb>=0.5.0
+transformers>=4.40.0
+torch
+Pillow>=10.0
+google-genai>=1.0.0
+pydantic-settings>=2.0