We Are Mobile First
“Calories Are Nothing” is a cross-platform health and wellness app that motivates users to focus on food quality instead of calorie counts. We integrated AI for automatic meal recognition, added a subscription paywall, made sign-in a breeze with Google/Apple, and deployed on iOS, Android, and web. All done in three months with a three-person team, for €30,000.
We wanted to create an app that helps people see beyond raw calorie counts and quickly understand how nutritious their meals actually are focusing on quality not quantity. We started with a simple infographic shared by Bryan Johnson. "Lets make an app around this".
Initial Brainstorm & Mission - We started with a simple Google Doc. The plan? Emphasize healthier eating through streamlined AI tools rather than spreadsheets of calories.
Wireframing & Prototyping - We used Figma to rough out the user flow, pinpoint essential features (AI meal recognition, subscription integration), and figure out how it’d look on iOS, Android, and web.
Design & Build
Testing & Launch - We used Trello to track tasks, hammered out bugs in a closed beta, and refined our AI’s accuracy. Final launch came right on schedule.
Post-launch, we made it a priority to keep listening to our users. Their feedback guided updates to the AI engine’s accuracy, improved UI flows, and fine-tuned the subscription model. By actively incorporating user suggestions and tracking engagement metrics, we will maintain steady growth—and more importantly, keep our community happy. This continuous improvement approach means the app stays fresh, relevant, and always aligned with user needs.
Tight Budget - A polished design usually comes with a high price tag. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we leaned into design styles we love (Nothing’s minimalistic vibe) to save time and money. The app is a kind of love letter to nothing. ❤️
Handling Sensitive Health Data - We’re dealing with user health info, so we went all-in on data security. That meant ensuring account deletion was available in-app and leveraging Google’s robust identity platform.
App Review Rejections - Apple required an external support site and in-app account deletion at the eleventh hour. This meant extra work and costs—but we got it done.
User Feedback - Our beta testers loved how easy it was to log meals with just a photo and found the AI’s accuracy surprisingly impressive.
By focusing on food quality, we’re helping users shift to healthier eating without burying them in calorie math. The AI-driven photo logging makes tracking meals super easy, and being on iOS, Android, and web means anyone can jump on board.
Try it out yourself! https://www.caloriesarenothing.com/
At We Are Mobile First, we love tackling challenges with tight timelines and budgets—without cutting corners. If you’re dreaming up an ambitious app that’s fast, innovative, and cost-effective, let’s make it happen together!