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Web App Quick Start

Get started with Eaternity Gastro in just 5 minutes using the web application. This guide walks you through creating an account, importing recipes, and generating your first environmental impact scores.

What You Will Learn​

By the end of this guide, you will:

  1. Create a free Gastro account with 1-month full access
  2. Import recipes using the CSV template
  3. Build a recipe manually in the app
  4. View and understand climate scores
  5. Generate your first impact report

Time required: 5-30 minutes depending on recipe complexity

Step 1: Create Your Account​

Start Free Trial​

  1. Visit eaternity.org/app/gastro

  2. Click "Start Free Trial"

  3. Fill in your details:

    • Email address
    • Company/Organization name
    • Type of operation (restaurant, caterer, canteen, etc.)
    • Estimated daily meal volume

  4. Verify your email address

  5. Set your password

Trial includes:

  • 1 month full access to all features
  • Unlimited recipe calculations
  • CSV import/export
  • Monthly report generation
  • No credit card required

First Login​

After verifying your email:

  1. Log in at app.eaternity.org
  2. Complete the onboarding wizard:
    • Select your primary cuisine type
    • Choose preferred units (metric/imperial)
    • Set your location for seasonality calculations
  3. Take the optional 3-minute product tour

Step 2: Import Recipes via CSV​

The fastest way to get started is importing existing recipes using the CSV template.

Download CSV Template​

  1. Navigate to Recipes → Import
  2. Click "Download CSV Template"
  3. Open the template in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet software

CSV Template Structure​

The template includes these columns:

ColumnRequiredDescriptionExample
recipe_nameYesName of the dish"Spaghetti Carbonara"
servingsYesNumber of portions4
ingredient_nameYesIngredient description"Spaghetti pasta"
quantityYesAmount400
unitYesUnit of measurement"g"
preparationNoPreparation method"cooked"
originNoCountry/region"Italy"

Supported Units​

Weight:

  • Grams: g
  • Kilograms: kg
  • Ounces: oz
  • Pounds: lb

Volume:

  • Milliliters: ml
  • Liters: l
  • Fluid ounces: fl oz
  • Cups: cup

Count:

  • Pieces: piece, pcs
  • Items: item
  • Each: each

Special:

  • Tablespoon: tbsp
  • Teaspoon: tsp
  • Pinch: pinch

Example CSV​

Here is a complete example for Spaghetti Carbonara:

recipe_name,servings,ingredient_name,quantity,unit,preparation,origin
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Spaghetti pasta,400,g,cooked,Italy
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Bacon,200,g,raw,Switzerland
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Eggs,4,piece,raw,Switzerland
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Parmesan cheese,100,g,grated,Italy
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Black pepper,5,g,ground,
Spaghetti Carbonara,4,Salt,5,g,,

Import Process​

  1. Fill in your recipe data in the CSV template
  2. Save the file (keep CSV format)
  3. In the Gastro app: Recipes → Import
  4. Click "Choose File" and select your CSV
  5. Click "Upload and Process"

The system will:

  • Validate the CSV structure
  • Match ingredients to the Eaternity database
  • Calculate environmental scores
  • Flag any unrecognized ingredients

Processing time: 5-30 seconds per recipe depending on complexity

Handling Import Errors​

Common issues and solutions:

"Ingredient not recognized"

  • Use more generic names (e.g., "tomato" instead of "San Marzano tomato")
  • Remove brand names
  • Check spelling
  • Try alternate names (e.g., "cilantro" vs "coriander")

"Invalid unit"

  • Use standard abbreviations from the supported units list
  • Convert composite units (e.g., "2 cups" → quantity: 2, unit: cup)

"Quantity must be numeric"

  • Remove non-numeric characters (e.g., "~400g" → 400)
  • Use decimal separator "." not ","
  • Avoid ranges (use average: "100-150g" → 125)

"Missing required field"

  • Ensure all required columns have values
  • Check for empty rows
  • Verify CSV format (comma-separated, not semicolon or tab)

Step 3: Build a Recipe Manually​

For detailed control or learning, build a recipe using the visual editor.

Create New Recipe​

  1. Navigate to Recipes → New Recipe
  2. Enter basic information:
    • Recipe name - "Vegetable Curry"
    • Category - "Main Course"
    • Cuisine - "Indian"
    • Servings - 4

Add Ingredients​

For each ingredient:

  1. Click "Add Ingredient"
  2. Start typing the ingredient name
  3. Select from autocomplete suggestions
  4. Enter quantity and unit
  5. (Optional) Set origin and preparation method

Example: Adding Coconut Milk

  1. Type "coconut milk" in the ingredient field
  2. Select "Coconut milk, canned" from dropdown
  3. Enter quantity: 400
  4. Select unit: ml
  5. Set origin: Thailand (optional)
  6. Click "Add"

Ingredient Matching Tips​

The autocomplete uses intelligent matching:

Generic terms work best:

  • ✅ "tomato" → Matches all tomato varieties
  • ❌ "organic heirloom tomatoes" → May not match

Use preparation descriptors:

  • "raw chicken breast" → Lower impact (raw weight)
  • "cooked chicken breast" → Higher impact (accounts for cooking loss)

Common ingredient variations:

  • "bell pepper" = "sweet pepper" = "capsicum"
  • "cilantro" = "coriander leaves"
  • "scallion" = "green onion" = "spring onion"
  • "chickpea" = "garbanzo bean"

Set Recipe Metadata​

Configure additional details:

Allergens (optional but recommended):

  • Select applicable allergens from checklist
  • Used for guest communication

Dietary Attributes:

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Etc.

Meal Type:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snack

Preparation Time:

  • Cook time in minutes
  • Helps with menu planning

Save and Calculate​

  1. Review ingredient list for completeness
  2. Click "Calculate Environmental Impact"
  3. Wait 3-5 seconds for processing
  4. View your results!

Step 4: Understanding Your Scores​

Climate Score Display​

The main score shows CO₂ equivalents:

Climate Score: 1,240 g CO₂eq per serving
Rating: C (Moderate Impact)

Rating Scale​

Gastro uses the Eaternity 5-symbol rating (A-E) where A is best:

RatingMeaningColor
AClimate-friendly — at least 50% better than averageGreen
BBetter than averageLight green
CWorse than averageYellow
DTwice the average impactOrange
EFour times the average impactRed

See full rating system →

Impact Breakdown​

Click "See Details" to view:

By Ingredient:

Beef (200g)           → 4,500 g CO₂eq (73%)
Rice (150g)           → 850 g CO₂eq (14%)
Vegetables (200g)     → 300 g CO₂eq (5%)
Spices (20g)          → 50 g CO₂eq (1%)
Total                 → 6,200 g CO₂eq per serving

By Impact Category:

  • Farming - Agricultural production (typically 60-80%)
  • Processing - Food manufacturing (10-20%)
  • Packaging - Materials and production (5-10%)
  • Transport - Farm to kitchen logistics (5-15%)

By Life Cycle Stage:

  • Cradle-to-farm gate
  • Processing
  • Packaging
  • Transport to distribution
  • Distribution to kitchen

Additional Scores​

Beyond climate, view:

Water Footprint:

  • Liters of water per serving
  • Blue/green/grey water breakdown

Rainforest Impact:

  • Deforestation risk score (0-100)
  • High-risk ingredients flagged

Animal Welfare:

  • Welfare standard rating
  • Based on production methods

Benchmarking​

Compare your dish to category averages:

Your Beef Curry:        6,200 g CO₂eq
Average Curry:          4,800 g CO₂eq
Top 20% Curry:          2,100 g CO₂eq

This shows:

  • Your dish is 29% higher than average
  • Potential for 66% reduction to reach top tier

Step 5: Optimize Your Recipe​

View Improvement Suggestions​

The app provides automatic recommendations:

High-Impact Ingredient Alerts:

⚠️ Beef (200g) accounts for 73% of total impact

Suggestions:
1. Replace with chicken → Save 2,800 g CO₂eq (45% reduction)
2. Replace with tofu → Save 4,100 g CO₂eq (66% reduction)
3. Reduce portion to 150g → Save 1,125 g CO₂eq (18% reduction)

Origin Optimization:

💡 Tomatoes (winter import from Spain)

Suggestions:
1. Use seasonal tomatoes (summer, local) → Save 180 g CO₂eq
2. Use canned tomatoes → Save 95 g CO₂eq
3. Substitute with seasonal vegetable → Variable savings

Create Recipe Variants​

Test different versions:

  1. Click "Create Variant" on recipe detail page
  2. Make changes (swap ingredients, adjust quantities)
  3. Click "Compare to Original"
  4. View side-by-side impact comparison

Example: Vegetable Curry Variants

VersionMain ProteinClimate ScoreRatingvs Original
OriginalChicken (200g)1,240 g CO₂eqC-
Variant 1Tofu (200g)580 g CO₂eqD-53%
Variant 2Chickpeas (200g)420 g CO₂eqE-66%
Variant 3Paneer (200g)1,680 g CO₂eqB+35%

Apply Chef Playbook Strategies​

Use proven impact reduction techniques:

Plant-Forward Swaps:

  • Beef → Chicken (45% reduction)
  • Chicken → Tofu (50% reduction)
  • Dairy → Plant-based alternatives (40-60% reduction)

Seasonal Sourcing:

  • Winter tomatoes → Summer tomatoes (30% reduction)
  • Off-season berries → Seasonal fruit (50% reduction)

Origin Optimization:

  • Airfreight fish → Local fish (70% reduction)
  • Imported vegetables → Regional equivalents (20-40% reduction)

Learn more in Chef Playbook →

Step 6: Generate Your First Report​

Monthly Performance Report​

Create a summary of your menu portfolio:

  1. Navigate to Reports → Monthly Report
  2. Select date range (e.g., "Last 30 days")
  3. Click "Generate Report"
  4. Wait 10-15 seconds for processing
  5. Download PDF or view online

Report Contents​

Executive Summary:

  • Total dishes assessed
  • Average climate score
  • Portfolio rating distribution
  • Month-over-month trends

Category Breakdown:

  • Appetizers, mains, desserts, beverages
  • Average impact per category
  • Best and worst performers

Top Performers:

  • 10 most climate-friendly dishes
  • Eligible for Eaternity Award (E rating)

Improvement Opportunities:

  • High-impact dishes with easy wins
  • Specific swap recommendations
  • Projected savings from changes

Trend Charts:

  • Average emissions over time
  • Rating distribution evolution
  • Category-level improvements

Export Data​

Export raw data for custom analysis:

CSV Export:

  1. Navigate to Recipes → Export
  2. Select recipes (or "All")
  3. Choose "Export as CSV"
  4. Download includes: name, scores, ingredients, ratings

API Access: For programmatic access, see API Quick Start

Next Steps​

Expand Your Recipe Database​

Now that you have scored your first recipes:

  1. Import your full menu using CSV
  2. Create seasonal variants for menu rotation
  3. Build recipe collections for different meal periods
  4. Add new test recipes to explore lower-impact options

Share Results with Guests​

Start communicating impact:

  1. Menu labels - Download print-ready assets
  2. QR codes - Link to detailed ingredient breakdowns
  3. Marketing materials - Use Eaternity Award badges

Learn more about guest communication →

Optimize High-Impact Dishes​

Focus on biggest wins:

  1. Identify top 10 worst performers from your report
  2. Apply Chef Playbook strategies to reduce impact
  3. Test variants and compare results
  4. Implement changes and track improvement

Explore Chef Playbook →

Integrate with Your Systems​

For automation and scale:

  1. Check software partners - See if your POS/ERP is supported
  2. Explore API integration - Automate recipe scoring
  3. Contact enterprise team - Discuss full integration options

View integration options →

Troubleshooting​

CSV Import Issues​

Problem: "File format not recognized"

Solution:

  • Ensure file is saved as .csv (not .xlsx or .ods)
  • Use UTF-8 encoding
  • Verify comma separators (not semicolons or tabs)

Problem: "Too many rows"

Solution:

  • CSV import limit is 500 rows per file
  • Split large files into multiple batches
  • Consider API integration for high-volume imports

Ingredient Matching Issues​

Problem: "Ingredient not found: [name]"

Solution:

  1. Try more generic terms ("chicken" vs "organic free-range chicken breast")
  2. Remove brand names
  3. Check spelling
  4. Use alternate names (regional variations)
  5. Contact support to add missing ingredients

Problem: "Multiple matches found"

Solution:

  • The app will show options - select the closest match
  • Be specific about preparation (raw vs cooked)
  • Specify form if relevant (canned, frozen, fresh)

Calculation Issues​

Problem: "Unusually high/low score"

Check:

  • Ingredient quantities (100g vs 1000g typo?)
  • Unit conversions (lb entered as kg?)
  • Preparation method (raw vs cooked weight)
  • High-impact ingredients (beef, lamb, cheese, airfreight items)

Problem: "Score not calculating"

Solution:

  1. Ensure at least one ingredient is added
  2. Check all ingredients have quantities
  3. Refresh the page
  4. Try in different browser (Chrome recommended)
  5. Contact support if issue persists

Account & Access Issues​

Problem: "Free trial expired"

Solution:

  • Upgrade to paid plan to continue full access
  • Free tier includes limited monthly calculations
  • Contact sales for extension in special cases

Problem: "Can't log in"

Solution:

  1. Reset password via "Forgot Password" link
  2. Check email verification status
  3. Try different browser
  4. Clear browser cache and cookies
  5. Contact support@eaternity.org

Support Resources​

Documentation​

Video Tutorials​

Available in the app under Help → Video Tutorials:

  • Recipe import walkthrough (5 minutes)
  • Building recipes manually (8 minutes)
  • Understanding scores and ratings (6 minutes)
  • Generating reports (4 minutes)

Contact Support​

  • Email: support@eaternity.org
  • Response time: 24-48 hours for free trial users
  • Include: Screenshots, recipe names, error messages

Book a Demo​

Want personalized guidance? Schedule a 30-minute demo with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions​

How accurate are the scores?​

Gastro uses Life Cycle Assessment methodology with peer-reviewed data sources. Typical uncertainty is ±20-30%, which is standard for LCA databases and sufficient for menu optimization decisions.

Can I edit recipes after importing?​

Yes - All imported recipes can be edited manually in the app. Changes automatically trigger recalculation.

How many recipes can I import?​

Free trial: Unlimited during trial period Professional: 15 new recipes per month + unlimited edits Enterprise: Unlimited

Are my recipes kept private?​

Yes - Recipe data is confidential and never shared. See our Privacy Policy.

Can I use Gastro offline?​

No - Gastro requires internet connection for real-time calculations using our cloud-based database.

What if I need an ingredient added to the database?​

Contact support@eaternity.org with:

  • Ingredient name
  • Typical origin/production method
  • Any specific product details

Enterprise customers receive 48-hour turnaround. Others within 1-2 weeks.

Ready for More?​

Optimize Recipes

Learn proven strategies to reduce environmental impact

Chef Playbook

Integrate Systems

Connect Gastro to your POS or ERP for automation

API Quick Start

Communicate Impact

Share scores with guests using labels and QR codes

Guest Communication