These Food Tracking Apps Make Sticking To Any Eating Plan So Much Easier
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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.
How To Choose The Best Food Tracking App For You
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.”
10 Best Food Tracking Apps Of 2024
For counting macros: Cronometer
Cronometer is packed with information to track your diet, exercise, and health data. Aside from logging meals, you can track up to 84 nutrients and compounds, set macro targets, log your intermittent fasting windows, and create custom foods and recipes. “This is my go-to app because it has both free and paid versions, and I think it’s the most in-depth in terms of macro and micronutrients,” says Russell. You can also link the app to fitness trackers for a more in-depth picture of your nutrient needs, she adds.
Price: Free to download or $5.58/month or $55/year for a premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For mindful eating: MyTummy
Intuitive eating is all about creating a safe space to explore your relationship with food, and MyTummy offers a food tracker, digestion timer, daily journal, and food tags. Instead of caloric metrics, the app guides you to tune into your hunger cues without labeling foods as “good” versus “bad.” “This is an app I specifically use with my clients when we are working on more intuitive eating,” says Ibarra. “No judgment with food here!”
Price: Free or $5 for a lifetime premium subscription
Available for iOS
For food allergies: Spokin
Managing food allergies requires significant time and effort, but Spokin is here to take off some of the load. The app organizes food products, brands, and restaurants filtered by your allergies, and allows you to easily sort through recipes and snacks that adhere to your specific health needs. “This app is unlike the others as it really helps you manage and avoid your specific allergens,” says Russell. Plus, Spokin processes if a restaurant or recipe is right for you within seconds to avoid accidental exposure and hidden allergens.
Price: Free to download
Available for iOS
For meal planning: MyFitnessPal
“My favorite nutrition and food tracking app is MyFitnessPal,” says Palinski-Wade. Not only does it have a database with over 14 million verified foods, but the app also tracks patterns to help you understand how your food choices impact your health, energy, mood, and focus, she explains. The interface is clean and simple, making it super easy to navigate, and you can create and save your own recipes for quicker logging and meal planning.
Price: Free to download or $20/month or $80/year for a premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For beginners: MyNetDiary
If you’re new to food tracking, MyNetDiary lets you select a diet that fits your lifestyle (for example, low-carb, keto, vegan, calorie counting, and more) and guides you to set weekly targets and goals, says Russell. From there, the app is a centralized place to log meals, exercise, and nutrients, and the barcode scanner allows for easy logging and meal planning. Users also have access to premium recipes crafted by a team of registered dietitians with detailed cooking instructions, nutrition facts, and easy customization.
Price: Free or $60/year for a premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For weight loss: LoseIt!
If you’re looking to lose weight, LoseIt! is your go-to thanks to the large database of foods (over 50 million to be exact) and simple calorie counter. The app contains a barcode scanner for easy logging, but a unique feature is its photo capabilities, says Ibarra. All you have to do is snap a pic of your food and the app uses image recognition to track its nutrients.
Price: Free or $40/year for premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For community support: Ate Food Diary
Ate Food Diary is built to support a mindful approach to eating beyond counting calories, says Ibarra. The photo-based food diary tracks your meals while simultaneously monitoring exercise, sleep, and water intake, and if you're into social media accountability, Ate makes it easy to share what you've been eating on your channels. Whether your goal is to manage weight, identify nourishing food patterns, or simply enhance your overall well-being, Ate keeps all your information in one place.
Price: Free or $50/year for premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For travel: Yazio
“This is a newer app that’s great for international cuisines and travel,” says Russell. It has a calorie and macronutrient counter feature, helps with intermittent fasting windows, and has a large recipe library with an expansive selection of different cuisines, she adds. The easy-to-use interface also syncs with your fitness wearables and creates personalized plans to track your food and activity based on your metrics and goals. Another perk? The app is available in over 20 languages!
Price: Free or $40/year for premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For nutrition education: LifeSum
Want lasting change? Lifesum is your pick for getting expert advice on what, when, and how much to eat based on your goals and lifestyle. The app asks in-depth questions before offering a detailed breakdown of your protein, carb, and fat intake, and educates you on the best eating habits according to your needs, says Russell. The barcode scanner also instantly provides nutritional information on millions of food items that you can then directly add to your food diary.
Price: Free or $8.33/month or $100/year for premium subscription
Available for iOS & Android
For food intolerances: mySymptoms
If you’re trying to identify food intolerances, mySymptoms can help you understand how your body reacts to different foods, says Russell. “It tracks food, bowel health, stress, sleep, mood, periods, medications, and symptoms, so you can begin to uncover any trigger foods,” she explains. Not only can you view trends in frequency and intensity for your diet and symptoms to see if any patterns emerge, but the app will also create a report to share directly with your healthcare provider.
Price: $7.99
Available for iOS & Android
How Our Team Chose The Best Food Tracking Apps
Women’s Health editors and writers, including Andi Breitowich, vetted the most popular and top-rated food tracking apps. Our team consulted three registered dietitians and then evaluated customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best intermittent fasting apps for a wide range of preferences and needs.
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