Top 4 Nutrition Apps
Using an app to help you eat healthier and stay motivated works, according to research. Here are four standouts to try.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
The number of nutrition apps just keeps growing, but can they help you eat a healthier diet? When researchers at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, surveyed 217 app users, more than half said that they ate healthier food more often and more consistently, felt more motivated, and set more healthy eating goals by using an app. Each of these is designed for different needs.
Did you know?
March is National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
1. Innit
www.innit.com (Free)
Self-described as a “culinary GPS,” Innit helps you make everyday meals that taste great, even if you don’t know how to cook (yet). Recipes are based on your personal profile, and there are detailed instructions and videos.
2. Spoon Guru
www.spoon.guru/usa/ (Free)
If you’re vegan or eat a diet free of gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, or other problematic ingredients, Spoon Guru helps you find products to meet your needs and provides tailored recipes. The app includes 14 food intolerances and enables you to scan bar codes to check for unwanted ingredients.
3. Nutrients
www.pomegranateapps.com/nutrients/ (Only for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, $4.99)
Formerly called Foodle, this app provides extensive nutritional information about nearly 200,000 foods, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fats, fatty acids, sugars, sterols, and other compounds such as caffeine. It can give you a nutritional breakdown of any recipe, list the best sources of specific nutrients, track everything you eat, and calculate a detailed list of nutrients that you’re consuming each day. And, it works offline.
4. LoseIt!
www.loseit.com ($0 or $3.33/month)
A study at Arizona State University in Phoenix found that LoseIt! produced as much weight loss as one-on-one coaching over 8 weeks. The free app enables you to track exercise and calories in 7 million foods and restaurant dishes. A subscription provides much more detailed tracking, as well as menu planning, recipes, and workouts based on your goals.