What are Diet Preferences?
Diet Preferences let you control the ratio of carbohydrates, fat, and protein in your macro targets. Instead of following a one-size-fits-all split, you choose the breakdown that fits your eating style. When Carbon's coach adjusts your calories over time, it keeps your chosen ratios intact, so your macros shift proportionally rather than arbitrarily.
This setting doesn't change your results. When protein and total calories are matched, the research shows you'll make the same progress regardless of how carbs and fat are divided. Diet Preferences exist to help you stay consistent by eating in a way that feels sustainable.
Where to find Diet Preferences
Go to Settings > Diet Preferences. You'll see the six diet options along with sliders to fine-tune your macro ratios.
How to set Diet Preferences
Tap Settings and select Diet Preferences
Choose the option that best matches your eating style
Use the sliders to fine-tune your carb, fat, and protein ratios if needed
Tap Save to apply your changes
Carbon will apply your selected ratios going forward. As the coach adjusts your calories at check-in, your macros will increase or decrease in proportion to your chosen split.
Note: Balanced is the default setting when you first set up your goal. If you haven't changed your Diet Preference, that's what Carbon is currently using.
The six diet preference options
Balanced (recommended for most users): An even split between carbohydrate and fat calories. A solid starting point if you don't follow a specific diet style.
Reduced-carb: A lower carbohydrate ratio relative to fat. Good for users who feel better with fewer carbs but aren't going fully ketogenic.
Low-fat: Lower fat calories relative to carbohydrates. A natural fit for users who prefer carb-heavy whole foods.
Plant-based: Slightly lower protein and slightly higher carbohydrates. Designed to align with plant-forward eating patterns where protein sources tend to carry more carbs.
Ketogenic: Low carbohydrate, high fat, with slightly lower protein. Mirrors a traditional ketogenic eating pattern.
High Protein: Significantly higher protein with lower carbs and/or fat. Built for users who want to prioritize protein above the standard target.
How the sliders work
Each diet preference comes with a default macro ratio, but you can adjust it using the sliders. A few things to know:
Moving the protein slider shifts carbs and fat proportionally, based on your diet preference
Moving the carb slider shifts fat only. Protein is not affected
Moving the fat slider shifts carbs only. Protein is not affected
Total calories always stay the same regardless of how you adjust the sliders
If you find your protein target too low or too high, the slider is the place to fix it.
Additional details
Diet Preferences do not affect your total calorie target, only how those calories are distributed across macros
There is no nutritional advantage to one diet preference over another when protein and calories are equal. The best choice is the one that matches the foods you already eat
Plant-based and Ketogenic options are still set with sufficient protein for your goal. Lower protein in those presets is relative, not deficient
You can change your Diet Preference at any time. The coach will apply the new ratios at your next adjustment
If you have questions about which preference fits your situation, contact the support team at support@joincarbon.com
Set your Diet Preference once, fine-tune it if needed, and let Carbon handle the rest!