Top 5 Healthy Eating Apps

By Wendy Toth

We all have our roadblocks when it comes to eating right. There’s the dessert menu at an impromptu work dinner; the frustration over finding healthy new recipes; or the lack of motivation to keep it all up.

While there is no secret to overcoming these issues, there are a few secret weapons out there. Try any of these five apps to fix your food frustrations. Each one solves a common healthy eating problem and offers major ease of use, helping you form great habits over time.

#1. MyFitnessPal

Calorie counting may sound simple, but it takes a ton of discipline to do it on your own. That’s where MyFitnessPal comes in. With a database of over 2 million foods, it’s hard not to find what you’re eating and log it. Even better, the app remembers your go-to foods, making it easier to use over time. You can set goals, check in with other members for motivation, and sync to a handful of fitness devices to get a better overview of your health.

Price: Free

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry Windows Phone

Photo courtesy of iTunes

#2. How to Cook Everything

Cooking at home is the cornerstone of healthy eating, but if you don’t have a natural affinity for the kitchen, takeout becomes that much more tempting. Mark Bittman is an incredible ally in this battle. He’s a best-selling author for a reason; he gets it. And his app of over 2,000 recipes does justice to his no-nonsense approach by including shopping lists, technique photos, and his addictive writing style. Not convinced? You can try a 120 recipe version for free.

Price: How to Cook Everything Essentials, Free; How to Cook Everything for iPhone, $9.99 and iPad, $4.99

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad

Photo courtesy of iTunes

#3. Seafood Watch

This one is for the well-meaning food shopper who gets frustrated trying to weigh mercury and sustainability concerns when shopping for seafood. Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have got you covered. The app tells you which types of fish are the “Best Choice,” a “Good Alternative” or one to “Avoid,” then recommends alternatives. You can also learn all about each fish option and add your own listings for seafood stores near you.

Price: Free

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and Android

Photo courtesy of iTunes

#4. Fooducate

Another solid shopping buddy, Fooducate takes the guesswork out of deciding which options to go for at the grocery store. The app, which has a barcode scanner, gives foods letter grades. The less processed and more nutritious the food, the better grade it gets. We love this app because it not only helps us make great choices, it also gets us out of the supermarket sooner.

Price: Free

Compatibility: iPhone, Android

Photo courtesy of iTunes

#5. Happy Cow

Happy Cow is a straightforward, global guide to vegetarian-friendly restaurants. We’re including it here, even for the meat eaters among us, because it’s a great way to find healthy dining options and eliminate the need to resist cheddar bacon fries, even while on vacation in another country. Suggest a restaurant you heard about on Happy Cow, and make yourself happy, too.

Price: Free

Compatibility: iPhone, Android, Windows 7, Palm, Nokia

Photo courtesy of iTunes

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Wendy Toth writes and edits stories about fitness, beauty (inner and outer), health and pets for outlets like The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Weight Watchers and Pet360. She lives in Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, which is complicated, but fun. You can ask her about it through wendytoth.com.