Best Calorie Tracker App  | Whether you’re aiming to gain substantial muscle or shed a few pounds, your initial step might hark back to your health class lessons: adjusting your calorie intake.

In case you’re not familiar, calories serve as a measurement of the energy a particular food provides. Molly Kimball, R.D., C.S.S.D., a registered dietitian at Ochsner Fitness Center in New Orleans and host of the podcast FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, clarifies that your weight largely hinges on the balance between the calories you consume and the calories you expend. Consuming more calories than you burn tends to result in weight gain, while consuming fewer calories than you use often leads to weight loss, as per the United States Department of Agriculture. (It’s worth noting that calories are not the sole factor affecting weight loss.)

For those who decide to embark on their health and fitness journey independently (i.e., without the guidance of a registered dietitian or other healthcare professional), using a calorie counting app may seem like a convenient and budget-friendly approach. But are calorie tracker apps genuinely beneficial? Here, Kimball offers insights into the advantages and disadvantages of calorie tracking, as well as tips for selecting the ideal calorie tracker app should you opt for one.

The Pros of Utilizing a Calorie Tracker App

The primary allure of calorie tracker apps isn’t just the precise (or estimated, depending on the app) calorie information they provide. More significantly, they promote mindfulness about your food choices and portion sizes. Kimball explains that they can help individuals become more aware of what they’re eating, especially when it comes to mindless eating or eating while distracted.

Furthermore, these apps can enhance your understanding of the nutritional value of the foods you consume. For example, by logging an item into the app, you may discover the specifics about a food’s content, such as avocados containing 10 grams of digestion-boosting fiber and 4 grams of muscle-building protein per cup, according to the USDA.

Calorie tracker apps can also educate you about macronutrients (e.g., protein, carbohydrates, fat), shedding light on potential imbalances. It’s easy to exceed carbohydrate intake goals with grain-based meals and snacks, while protein and fat may fall short. Apps with macronutrient tracking capabilities can help you identify these shortcomings and guide your nutritional choices.

For analytical individuals who favor data-driven approaches, calorie tracker apps can be beneficial. They often feature charts and graphs that showcase how your statistics evolve over time, making them suitable for visual learners. These apps can also be valuable for those who thrive on social support, as they often include forums and the opportunity to connect with friends for accountability and advice.

The Drawbacks of Using a Calorie Tracker App

One primary issue with calorie tracker apps is that their recommended daily caloric intake, determined by generic calculations using your age, height, weight, gender, and goal, might not be accurate for your individual metabolic rate. Kimball emphasizes that these calculations don’t account for the unique factors within your body. The estimated caloric expenditure for workouts, based on generic formulas, may also lack precision. Depending on the app’s suggested caloric intake, you might end up adjusting your daily meals by consuming too many or too few calories. This adjustment can potentially impede your progress, or worse, pose health risks from insufficient calorie consumption.

Moreover, the accuracy of nutritional data within the app may be compromised, especially when users contribute their own data. A portion of the information in popular calorie tracker apps is sourced from the USDA’s nutritional database, which provides validated lab-tested data. However, the rest is user-generated, making it susceptible to inaccuracies. If one user inputs incorrect data, it can lead to skewed calorie counts and macronutrient data when others use the same food entry.

Another potential pitfall of relying on calorie counts and macronutrient data is that it may not necessarily lead to healthier food choices. Some people may prioritize meeting their macronutrient goals over food quality. In doing so, they may overlook the healthfulness of the carbohydrates, for instance, by opting for refined grains instead of fiber-rich whole grains.

People with a history of disordered eating or obsessive-compulsive tendencies should be cautious when using calorie tracker apps. These apps can negatively affect mood, self-worth, and self-esteem, and lead to feelings of failure if macronutrient targets are not achieved.

Key Features to Look for in a Calorie Tracker App

For those who weigh the pros and cons and decide to use a calorie tracker app, Kimball recommends consulting a registered dietitian for personalized assessments of your resting energy expenditure, daily activity level, and physical metrics. These professionals can help you establish an accurate and tailored caloric intake.

When searching for the ideal calorie tracker app, user-friendliness is paramount. It should offer food recommendations based on your previous food logs, reducing the need for repetitive searches. Checking the FAQ section or reaching out to the company to inquire about the extent of user-generated nutrition data and the verification process is crucial. Apps that primarily rely on user-generated information and lack a fact-checking mechanism should be approached with caution.

Here are some of the best calorie tracker apps currently available

• MyFitnessPal: Known for its extensive food database, offering more than 14 million foods. The app includes a barcode scanner and features such as Meal Scan using AI technology.
• Lose It! Calorie Counter: Boasts a database of over 27 million foods, offering a barcode scanner and food logging via photos. The app also tracks water intake and can sync with various fitness trackers.
• MyNetDiary Calorie Counter: Offers data on up to 37 nutrients, in addition to calories and macros. It provides an augmented reality grocery shopping tool for nutritional profiling.
• MyPlate Calorie Counter: A basic app that records calorie, macronutrient, water, and nutrient intake, along with offering in-app workouts. It’s available in the App Store and on Google Play.
• Lifesum Calorie Counter: A straightforward app that covers calorie, macronutrient, water, fruit, veggie, and seafood intakes. It can sync with the Apple Health app.
• Cronometer: This app provides data on calories, macros, water, and 82 micronutrients. It also allows tracking of supplement intake and custom recipes for easy food logging.

While these apps have their merits, it’s essential to proceed with caution and seek professional guidance if you have specific health and fitness goals.