Artificial Intelligence (AI) is speeding up many areas of life, and streamlining processes and systems when it comes to business. At our fingertips, we can learn a lot about our habits, and track our progress towards our goals. We too have access to Apps that personalize our wellness journeys when it comes to fitness and exercising, as well as mental health support. Our smartphones also track our health parameters and report back to us. But, what about our food intake and how it ties into our wellness?
Up until recently, food tracking Apps on the market are very much geared towards a Western-style diet. Users from Lebanon and the region, often struggle to find dishes that are prevalent in this part of the world – including traditional cuisine. That is where Journable comes in.
We sat with Georges El Khoury (GE), Co-Founder and CEO of Journable, to discuss how the App is supporting individuals make better informed decisions when it comes to their wellbeing and how they can reach their goals faster.
BDD: Firstly, congratulations on the launch of Journable. Can you tell us how the App is leveraging technology to enhance wellbeing in general?
GE: At Journable, we use AI and image recognition to simplify food and exercise journaling. This allows our users to log their meals and workouts by simply chatting or snapping a picture with the App. For example, they can log meals like Warak 3enab or compounded meals like yogurt, granola and bananas in one chat.
BDD: Why was it important to launch such an App in the region?
GE: One unique feature of Journable is how easily it allows users to log local dishes. For our region, meals like Warak 3enab, Mloukhieh, or Kibbe Karnabiye become super easy to log through AI. This is challenging with other journaling apps. Journable can also reply in Arabic (one of the 109 languages we support), making it more natural for people who prefer to interact with Journable in Arabic.
BDD: That’s great to hear. So what else differentiates Journable from other health and wellbeing apps?
GE: Journaling can be really hard. People usually quit after a couple of days or a week. As opposed to other apps, you can simply chat or snap a picture with Journable to log your meals and exercise regimens, making it super easy and fast. This leads to people journaling for a longer period, making them more successful at achieving their overall health goals.
BDD: So, what can users do, to contribute to their overall wellbeing and self-development?
GE: If you can afford to work with a nutritionist, having regular follow-ups and tailored care helps you reach your goals faster. We frequently interact with nutritionists and dietitians as part of our work with Journable. They are highly dedicated and care deeply for their clients. In fact, we have a companion product called Journable for Professionals, dedicated to helping them provide meal plans and view their clients’ journals. Additionally, getting plenty of sleep, as it consistently emerges as an essential cornerstone for a healthy lifestyle.
BDD: You have already done so much to date. What’s in the pipeline for Journable?
GE: We are taking a systematic approach to understanding what helps people make healthy decisions and form habits, and we are designing Journable with these principles in mind. Additionally, we are doubling down on what makes Journable unique – which is its conversational aspect. We are making it smarter and more personalized to give users better answers.
BDD: We love that Journable recognizes our favorite homecooked meals. Are there any exceptions?
GE: Journable can identify almost all meals in our amazing Lebanese cuisine that we all love so much. But, also thanks to AI, it can also recognize infamous (or famous) items like Taouk with extra toum or Croissant 3a Zaatar.
If you are interested in setting your health goals and getting your fitness journey on track, download Journable today, for:
