One of the major ways to stay healthy is to eat healthy but that isn't always so easy that is why the best nutrition apps can be quite helpful. Modern technology has made it easy for anyone serious about maintaining optimal health to track their nutritional intake with the use of user-friendly apps. Furthermore, some of these apps provide fitness coaching tips, recipe recommendations, and more. For a small fee, you can have all the nutritional information you will ever need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Due to the large number of top nutrition apps, it can be quite a task for new users to figure out the ideal one for them. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to review some of the best applications out there. This review is loaded with all the information you will ever need to make an intelligent decision and we go even further to explain the factors that influenced our choice. Keep reading to know more.
Best Nutrition Apps
1. MyPlate Calorie Counter
2. Plate Joy
3. MyFitnessPal
4. Yummly
How We Chose Our Top Nutrition Apps？
When selecting the apps we considered several features because we wanted only top performers in our list. These were the major determinants.
- Information: The first thing was the quality of information. Firstly, we looked at the informational page of the developers to see what they communicated to the general public regarding mode of use, update timelines, and how the app functioned. We also considered what expert nutritionists and dietitians had to say about the app. Suffice it to say that applications that attracted significant positive feedback from nutritionists made our list.
- User Interface: Another factor we considered was the quality of the user interface. A nutritional app may offer great value to users but if it is difficult to use then the value is lost. We wanted top nutrition apps that had user-friendly features that would suit your needs. From meal planning to food tracking and weight loss regiments, users can easily extract the information they need to pursue their nutritional goals.
- Reviews: What better way to pick the best nutrition apps than to find out real-time users. For accuracy, we read reviews of users of some of the top performers in the industry. We also relied on recommendations to make our choice.
- Industry Standards: Not all nutrition apps on Play Store and iStore meet industry best practices so we took the time to vet them properly. The apps that make our list pass industry standards for quality, safety, and information accuracy.
These were the key metrics we relied on to make our choice so rest assured that they all tick the right boxes for quality and safety.
Top Nutrition Apps For Healthy Living
In this section, we review our top four apps for those looking to maximize their health with the help of 31st-century technology.
1. My Plate Calorie Counter App
MyPlate Calorie is one of the best calorie applications online today. It is a very reliable application for those who wish to track their calories and keep their food consumption under control. This application has a special calorie counter where you can track how many calories you have taken per day, week, or month. Besides the calorie tracker, you can also enjoy a full range of exciting features like a workout plan, meal plan, and a wide range of recipes. MyPlate Calorie also has a community of users who share ideas and motivate each other to continue their push toward their fitness and health goals.
MyPlate has a free version but for full access to all the exciting features users will have to subscribe to the premium version which comes with a customized nutrition label, advanced statistics, daily averages, and overall progress. The fee for the premium version starts from $10 a month and can rise to $90 depending on the extra functions you activate.
Pros
- The app has a user-friendly interface
- The community support is fantastic
- It has a tracking plan
Cons
- You cannot filter recipes to accommodate special needs
- Very few customized options
Best Case Use
- MyPlate Calorie Counter is the best app for weight loss users
2. PlateJoy
The second app on our list is none other than PlateJoy. This. This app is highly recommended by those who wish to maintain healthy diets all year round. The lowest subscription fee starts from $4.99 and can rise to $99 a year. PlateJoy helps you save time as it recommends recipes for every day of the week so you don't have to brainstorm all on your own when searching for the right recipe that packs all your nutritional needs.
To ensure that you get customized value, the app uses questionnaires to get details about your cooking habits, dietary preferences, and lifestyle and uses this information to create custom meal plans and shopping lists not just for you but your entire household. Plate Joy also allows you to select ingredients you would like to avoid, including variety and portion sizes.
For regular users, the monthly fee is $12.99 which includes all the in-suite features but the six-month plan attracts a discount so you only pay $69.
The annual plan is $99. For those looking for something cheaper, they can subscribe to a Healthline membership and then use a coupon code to access the app for only $4.99 a month.
Pros
- Saves meal preparation and shopping time
- Optimizes consumption and reduces food waste
- Multiple diet plans
- Advanced customization
Cons
- No free membership
- Some recommended ingredients may be unavailable in your location
Best Case Use
- Ideal for those looking to improve their feeding habits
3. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is another app that is free for users. This application has in-house purchases that are stacked with perhaps the largest food database of any nutrition app on our list. MyFitnessPal has a recipe importer, restaurant logger, barcode scanner, calorie counter, food insights, and much more.
If you are on a weight loss program, looking to switch your eating habits, or trying to scale up your nutrition intake this app will work wonders for you. The free version offers so much more than other apps on this list if there is a paid version which goes from a starting fee of $9.99 to as high as $49.99 per year.
MyFitnessPal will offer you clever insight on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle with advanced customized tools for even better results.
Pros
- Amazing freebies
- Good food tracking tool
- Large database
Cons
- Cluttered interface
- Detailed nutrition database only available in the premium version
Best Case Use
- MyFitnessPal is ideal for families
4. Yummly Recipes & Cooking Tools
Yummly Recipes is a highly-rated nutrition app with more than 2 million practical recipes from different regions and nationalities. It has a variety of tailored options that will suit your preferences and tastes. Recipes are organized by diet, course, cuisine, and required ingredients. No matter your style, you will always find something on this app.
Users can add to their shopping and ingredient list and it has a custom collection platform for collecting amazing recipes.
Yummly has a free version but the paid version offers so much more which includes cooking guides, nutritional information, and recommended recipes depending on your goals. The paid version goes for $4.99
Pros
- Recipe reviews
- User friendly
- Helpful tools
- Wide recipe selection
Cons
- Intrusive ads in the free version
- Recipe imports require clicks
- Most of the valuable features only available in the paid version
Best Case Use
- Yummly is the best nutrition app for healthy cooking
Conclusion
The best nutrition apps aid in tracking calorie intake and you can also use it to guide your recipe choices and cooking styles. For weight loss pursuits, MyPlate Calorie Counter is the ideal app while large families looking to avoid waste may opt for MyFitnessPal. It is also a great application for fitness enthusiasts. For healthy cooking, we recommend Yummly while those who wish to improve their feeding habits should use MyPlate Joy.
FAQs
Q: How can I access the information provided by a nutritional app?
A: You will have to download the app, install and launch it on your device, however, some apps have website versions but it pays to use the app for better results.
Q: How do I know if a nutrition application is as good as the developer claims?
A: There are three simple ways to find out. You can use reviews like this one or expert opinions from dieticians and nutritionists. Another method is to read user reviews on Play Store and iStore to see what current users are saying about the application.
Q: When is the best time to start using top nutrition apps?
A: There is no time value attached to health pursuits. You can start using one immediately and see your health improve as a result.
Q: Should I rely solely on nutrition apps for weight loss?
A: Apps are supposed to serve as support tools only. To lose weight you should utilize the benefits of fitness coaching and other support models for best results. The best nutrition apps have fitness and training information you can rely on to help you lose weight fast.
