FYI: These Are the Best Food-Tracking Apps

If you're looking to eat better, or just want to be aware of what you're actually consuming every day, well, there's an app for that. Isn't technology a beautiful thing sometimes? You can figure out how many steps you take a day, listen to some intriguing podcasts, order food and just about any item imaginable straight to your door, and spend hours scrolling through photos of strangers with envy-inducing lives—all on a rectangular piece of glass and metal (aka your phone).

But I digress, back to those food tracker apps. There are some really great ones out there that can give you more insight into what you're eating, how you're getting your vitamins and nutrients, and if you need to make some healthier changes to your eating plan. (For instance, my food tracker app would tell me I'm probably not eating enough leafy greens and going too hard on the office snacks).

The trick to these apps though is to not look at tracking your food as something that shames you for opting for that candy bar, rather they help hold you more accountable for taking control of your healthy-eating choices. Take a look at some of our favorites below.

1. Noom

The Noom app uses a psychology-based approach to learn more about your eating habits and change your unhealthy thoughts about and relationship to food. You'll work with a coach to personalize a game plan to build healthier habits (eating, exercise, etc.) that works for you. Users also have access to articles and guides, plus tools to track weight, food, exercise, blood pressure, and blood sugar. The monthly auto-recurring plan is $59.

2. MyFitness Pal

It's easy to track what you eat with the MyFitnessPal app because of its huge food database (more than six million types), barcode scanner, recipe importer, restaurant logger, and calorie counter. The app also lets you set goals and can connect to other apps and devices to sync your workouts and steps. The app is free to download and use, but if you want the premium version, it costs $10 a month or $50 a year.

3. MyPlate Calorie Tracker

This app lets you see how many calories are in the foods you eat by searching its food database or scanning barcodes of certain foods. Track your weight and water intake, create goals for consuming nutrients, and get a personalized calorie goal each day with this download. You can also receive an eight-week meal plan and healthy recipe suggestions to encourage mindful eating. Gold membership costs $10 for one month, $27 for six months, and $45 for one year—with that, you'll get advanced statistics, exclusive workouts and the ability to interact with other Gold members, and a clean-eating guide.

4. Fooducate

Track your food intake and exercise on Fooducate, which also syncs up to Apple's Health app. You can also use the food database to scan products and get a nutrition grade for each one and sometimes even some healthier suggestions. You'll also be able to personalize the app based on your age, gender, weight, height, dietary restrictions or choices (keto, low-carb, vegan), and some health conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, and heart concerns).

5. Calorie Counter by Yazio

With the Calorie Counter app by YAZIO, you can create a daily food diary to track your calories, carbs, proteins, and fats. Like many of the apps on this list, it also comes equipped with a barcode scanner. Plus, there's a fitness component, too—track your activities, daily steps, and calories burned. The PRO subscription has three tiers: $20 for three months, $30 for six months, and $40 for 12 months.

6. Lose It!

Set your goals in the Lose It! app and it will give you some suggestions for a daily calorie budget. Then, you can easily track your meals, weight, and activity through your device. Over time, you'll be able to get more insight into your food habits and patterns. There's also a social component to this too—if your friends are on the app, you can compete in challenges with them, or do them yourself. Connect your other fitness trackers and devices like Fitbits, Withings scales, and Google Fit so you can have all your info in one place. The premium subscription option is $40 a year.

7. Cron-o-Meter app

With the Cron-o-Meter app, you can log your body mass index, basal metabolic rate, activity levels, supplement intake—along with the foods you consume. Add custom food and recipes—if you submit a food to the database, the app's staff will check it for accuracy. It also accommodates keto, vegan, and Paleo diets. The ad-free version of the app is $3, but if you want a Gold subscription, it costs $6 a month, $25 bi-annually, and $35 annually.

Next up: 7 Effective Wellness Apps I Didn't Immediately Delete Off My Phone