preview for What" width="2000" height="1000" />Options for meal planning, food allergies, weight loss, and more.
By Andi Breitowich Published: Feb 12, 2024 9:43 AM EST Save Articlepreview for What" width="2000" height="1000" />
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Whether you want to track your protein intake, lose a few pounds, count macros, or focus on mindful eating, it can be overwhelming to work toward a big health goal. Luckily, some of the best food tracking apps are designed to help you get started.
“Food tracking apps can be a great way to build awareness of both the quantity and quality of the food choices you make throughout the day,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, a registered dietitian and author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. “By tracking your food intake and monitoring patterns, you can begin to understand the impact your food choices have on everything from your health to your energy, mood, appetite, and even sleep patterns.”
Apps can also help you see how much of a certain nutrient you’re consuming, says Rebecca Russell, RD, founder of The Social Nutritionist. However, if you have a history of disordered eating, food tracking apps may not be for you, she says. “Some people look at the app as a bank as if there are only a certain amount of nutrients or calories you are ‘allowed’ to eat in a day,” she explains. As a result, this can lead to restrictive eating or possible binge eating behaviors if you are above or below your targets, she adds.
There are many food tracking options out there to try, from platforms that help you meal prep to apps for people with food allergies. Remember, though: Apps only tend to provide general targets, and you should always speak with your doctor or a dietitian for more personalized care.
In the meantime, here are the 10 best dietitian-approved food tracking apps to help you follow an eating plan (without the stress!).
Meet the experts: Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, is author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. Rebecca Russell, RD, is founder of The Social Nutritionist. Nicole Ibarra, RD, specializes in weight management and sports nutrition.
First, identify your goals. From there, you can choose an app that supports said goals and offers guidance to set you up for success, says Palinski-Wade. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, a food tracking app can monitor your calories in a given day and provide guidance on when and how much to eat.
It’s also best to find an app that shows a variety of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals aside from the standard calorie and macronutrient (proteins, carbs, and fats) metrics, says Nicole Ibarra, RD, a registered dietitian who specializes in weight management and sports nutrition. Why? This can give you the *full* picture on how nutrient dense your meals actually are.
You also want to find an app with a large food database so you don’t have to manually input your meals, says Palinski-Wade. For a convenient option, Ibarra recommends using an app with a barcode scanner for easy and accurate tracking. Lastly, find an app that’s simple and easy to use for your lifestyle, says Russell. “At the end of the day, food tracking is another chore to add to an already busy schedule, so making it easier to input information can make it easier to adhere to tracking.”
