1. A method for image based nutrition monitoring comprising: obtaining data indicating a user's desired or prescribed dietary guidelines or restrictions, at least a portion of the data being obtained from medical records data of the user, the medical records being maintained by a physician of the user; obtaining image data of printed nutritional information associated with a food item the user is considering; transforming at least a portion of the image data of the printed nutritional information associated with the food item the user is considering into nutritional information data associated with the food item the user is considering; analyzing or comparing the nutritional information data and the data indicating a user's desired or prescribed dietary guidelines or restrictions; and based, at least in part, on the analysis or comparison of the nutritional information data and the data indicating a user's desired or prescribed dietary guidelines or restrictions, make a consumption recommendation associated with the food item the user is considering to the user.