Five Free Apps to Help You Eat Better

Maggie SummersWe’re not going to sugarcoat it: eating healthy all the time is difficult. And with the holidays coming up, it’s not going to get any easier. Fortunately, one thing we do have on our side is technology. There are hundreds of apps designed to help you live your life better. Here are five I especially like:
  Use this app if… you want an all-inclusive nutrition and fitness app that delivers comprehensive analytic reports.
 
With over 3 million foods in its database, MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular, and most comprehensive, calorie counter apps available. Track what you eat and how much you exercise every day, and MyFitnessPal will generate rich reports on your health. Perhaps most helpfully, the app also provides a support system: connect with friends and family, who have similar goals, to stay motivated and track progress. (The app reports that members who diet with friends lose three times more weight on average.)
Use this app if… you want to know how healthy certain food products are for you, and you’d like to discover healthier alternatives.
 
Fooducate is the ultimate grocery shopping companion. Most nutrition apps have a barcode scanner option, but Fooducate takes it to the next level. This app generates entire report cards on food products. A letter grade tells you how healthy the item is, and a list of “Things to Know” delivers extra facts, such as how many teaspoons of sugar it has per serving.
 
On top of that, Fooducate provides a list of alternative options to the product you’ve scanned. So, instead of my Trader Joe’s Pomegranate and Blueberry Flakes & Clusters Cereal, which received a B+ on its report card, Fooducate suggests I try an A+ cereal, such as Wheat Bran Flakes or Kashi Cinnamon Harvest. The app also tracks calorie intake, much like MyFitnessPal.
 
Use this app if… you want to lose weight, and you’re already using other nutrition or exercise apps and devices.
 
The neatest feature of LoseIt! is how it connects to other apps and devices you’re using to reach your weight loss goals. It has all the same calorie tracking features of MyFitnessPal and Fooducate, but also syncs with devices like Fitbit and Nike FuelBand, so you have an all-encompassing record of your progress. With such detailed data to keep you motivated, you’ll reach your weight loss goal in no time.
  Use this app if… you want help choosing healthier options when you go out to eat.
 
HealthyOut will singlehandedly change what you eat when you eat out. The brand new app generates a list of healthy options at restaurants close to you (based on your location), and then provides calorie breakdown (fat, carbs, protein) and detailed nutrition data on each of them. Filter items by dietary desires, calories, cuisine, type of dish and ingredients. Awareness is half the battle when it comes to eating healthy; HealthyOut’s got you covered on that front when you’re eating out.
 
Use this app if… you want an all-inclusive meal planner with tons of recipe options and a convenient grocery list generator.
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum lies Food on the Table, which is the perfect app for eating in. The app has a wealth of recipe options (choose from its spotlighted dishes, your recipe box, recipes from the web, and more). When you find something you like, click “add to meal plan,” and the app automatically adds all the ingredients you need to make it to the “grocery list” tab. The app also generates a list of Sale Items based on stores near you, so you can plan meals around what’s on sale.
 
 
What apps help you eat better? Tell us in the comments!
 
Further Reading: 5 Free Apps to Help You MoveMore