# Why We Built Khatwa: An Arabic and Swedish Calorie Tracker for Homemade Food

> Barcode apps fail kabsa and köttbullar. Option 1 is Khatwa: photograph homemade Arabic and Swedish food, see calories and protein, ask the coach what is left.

The problem is a western search box that does not know dinner. Kabsa, maqluba, mansaf, köttbullar with gravy. You spend ten minutes splitting a shared tray into rice, oil, meat, and nuts. Then you quit. That is why Medo built Khatwa. Option 1 is the same app: photograph the plate, correct the oil, ask the coach what is left. Arabic and English. Free on iOS and Android.

## What barcode-first apps get wrong

They assume a labeled package. Homemade Levantine and Swedish food is a platter. The fat is in the pot, not on a barcode. We do not claim a barcode scanner. We do not claim 95 percent accuracy or a lab table. Photo estimates miss oil. You add the tablespoon. That is the log that survives a family table.

## What Khatwa actually is

Photo, search, or type. Favorites for the lunches you repeat. Coach from leftover calories. Guided home or gym programs. Water, progress photos, badges. Apple Health or Health Connect for steps. Swedish leftovers use the same camera as Arabic leftovers. More on the food problem: [tracking Arabic food calories](https://www.khatwa.se/en/blog/tracking-arabic-food-calories-ai-2026.md).

### Log the plate you cooked

Khatwa is free. Photograph tonight. Ask what is left.

[Download Khatwa Free](https://www.khatwa.se/en#download)

Download: https://www.khatwa.se/en#download