People who thrive on social support may benefit from using an app too, as many offer forums or ways to connect with your IRL friends for accountability and advice, she adds. Given all the facts and figures they provide, calorie tracker apps can also be useful for analytical folks who like using data to achieve their goals, along with individuals who are visual learners, as the best calorie tracker apps often offer charts and graphs showing how your statistics compare over time, says Kimball. "It can definitely make you more aware of those macronutrients and of achieving that balance," says Kimball. (Stocking up on these high-protein snacks can help you get your fill of the macronutrient.) Logging your food in a calorie tracker app with macronutrient counting abilities can then clue you into those shortcomings and prompt you to strategize your consumption, she says.
(Reminder, macronutrients are the nutrients that your body uses to carry out everyday activities and functions, including protein, carbohydrate, and fat.) For instance, it can be easy to hit or exceed your personal carbohydrate intake goals, thanks to grain-rich meals and snacks, but you may be falling short on protein and fat, as these nutrients aren't always so readily available, says Kimball. More specifically, calorie tracker apps can help fill you in on the macronutrients you're scoring - and which ones you may be lacking. For example, you may think avocados are a good-for-you fruit, but you may not realize the exact reason why until you log it into the app and see they have 10 grams of digestion-boosting fiber and 4 grams of muscle-building protein per cup, according to the USDA. On the same token, these apps can give you a deeper understanding of the nutritional value of your favorite foods. "So using a calorie tracker can be a way to keep a food log that can help us be more mindful about what we're consuming." "A lot of times there's mindless eating, you're eating when you're distracted, you're not paying attention," she explains. Rather, they may make you more mindful of what you're eating and how much, says Kimball. While the main draw of calorie tracker apps is their ability to tell you the exact (or, depending on the app, estimated) amount of calories a certain food provides, receiving those stats isn't necessarily the key benefit.
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(Related: Exactly How to Cut Calories to Lose Weight Safely) The Pros of Using a Calorie Tracker App
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But are calorie tracker apps all that beneficial? Here, Kimball breaks down the pros and cons of keeping count, plus tips on how to find the best calorie tracker app for you if you decide to use one.
If you decide to tackle your new goals on your own (read: without the guidance of a registered dietitian or other healthcare professional), a calorie counting app may seem like an accessible, cost-effective way to achieve them.