Counting Calories: 4 Best Food Scales and Apps

Counting Calories

I’ve heard some people say counting calories is pointless and calories don’t matter. Well when you’re trying to lose weight, calories do matter. If you’re constantly eating more calories than you burn throughout the day you are going to gain weight over time. And yes, there are good calories and bad calories. For instance, 100 calories of broccoli versus 100 calories of French Fries.

What is a Calorie?

Calories are a measure of energy, normally used to measure the energy content of foods and beverages.

A dietary calorie is defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

You use the calories that you eat and drink for normal body functions like breathing and thinking, as well walking, talking and eating.

Yes, you even burn calories by just sitting on the couch mouth breathing at the TV, it’s not much, but it’s a smidge more than you burn while sleeping. The more physical the activity, the more calories burned.

“Good” calories generally refer to foods that are nutrient-dense and provide essential vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. These are foods that are good for our bodies and help us stay healthy. Examples of good calorie sources are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

On the other hand, “bad” calories are usually found in foods that are high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and have little to no nutritional value. These foods may taste good, but they don’t offer many health benefits and can sometimes lead to health issues if consumed in large amounts. Examples of bad calorie sources are sugary snacks, sugary drinks, fried foods, and processed foods.

Yes, Barbacoa tacos are bad calories too. But they’re so good! And that’s why I have to workout.

Some find it difficult to keep track of the calories you burn during the day and throughout your workouts. This is why a lot of people Meal Prep. Preparing your meals and then weighing, and portioning them into separate containers makes it simple to sum up your calorie intake at the end of the day. The only hard part is adding the unplanned meals if you decide to eat out or order food from a restaurant.

The most accurate method for counting calories is to write it all down or use an App to assist you. Like I said in another post, write EVERYTHING down. Your body measurements, body weight, workouts, dates, times, and now your food portions.

Measure your food portions:

Scales: The most accurate way to track your calorie intake is to weigh your food. You can buy a scale for home use, and you can use a smaller one if you’re on the go.

Yes, dig out that small scale you used a few years back to make sure your “hookup” didn’t cheat you.

Of course you’ll be that person that’s weighing their food in the restaurant, but who cares? Worry about yourself. Most restaurants have Nutrition Facts on their menus now, but I usually add another 100 calories to the amount they’ve shown. Their Nutrition Info usually seems a little off to me.

Best Food Scales:

Greater Goods Nutrition Scale

This Scale is awesome!

Counting calories, protein, fat, and other macros can’t get much easier than this! Not only will this scale give you accurate measurements, it also provides nutritional information on over 2000 foods, including custom entries. Just enter the food code of whatever you’re weighing and it will show you the total of all macros based on the weight.

The Greater Good Nutrition Scale is an absolute game changer that has revolutionized dieting and overall well being. This scale is a must have for anyone committed to healthy living.

The Scale boasts a sleek and modern design, perfectly blending into any kitchen environment. Its compact size ensures it doesn’t take up much counter space, while the sturdy build provides a durable and reliable device that withstands daily use.

Using this scale is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive interface. The easy to read digital display allows for quick and accurate measurements of ingredients and the user friendly setup ensures that even those less tech savvy can utilize its full potential.

The standout feature of the Greater Good Nutrition Scale is its extensive nutritional database. With access to a vast array of fresh produce, packaged foods, and even restaurant items, this scale provides detailed information about calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals for each food item weighed.

The integration with the Greater Good Nutrition app allows for real time tracking of your food intake and overall nutrition. The app’s user interface provides comprehensive insights into daily, weekly, and monthly eating patterns.

The Greater Good Nutrition app fosters a supportive and engaging community. It allows users to connect, share recipes, and exchange valuable tips for maintaining a balanced diet and leading a healthier lifestyle.

If you are looking to take control of your nutrition and achieve your health goals, I wholeheartedly recommend the Greater Good Nutrition Scale. It’s an investment in your well being that yields invaluable returns in the form of improved health and vitality.

• A Premium Choice: Between the design and quality, this kitchen scale is going to last and function. Your kitchen will never be the same!
• The Freshest Features: All of the qualities you need and expect in a kitchen scale: readings down to the gram, easy-to-clean, smooth surface, and hygienic, touch-sensitive buttons. What more could you want?
• The Bells And Whistles: Not only will this scale give you accurate measurements, it also provides nutritional information on over 2000 foods, including custom entries.
• True Support: Support team located in St. Louis are industry experts at the ready to assist you with any questions that might arise about your nutrition scale.
• Beyond A Purchase: Greater Goods designs and produces high functioning, intentional kitchen scales, but values the positive impact of a purchase, on a global level, as much as anything. That’s why they only partner with ethical factories and ensure a portion of every sale is given back to a charity that aligns with the nature of what you’ll be using.

Greater Goods are one of the most popular scales on Amazon for good reason. They have a 4.6 Star rating out of 155,051 reviews.

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Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale

• Effortless Weighing: Supports 5 units (oz/lb/fl’oz/g/mL), tare function, and includes 2 AAA batteries for hassle-free operation
• Precise Results: Accurately weighs up to 5 kg/11 lb with 1 g increments
• Simple & Compact: The small and sleek scale is a perfect fit for most kitchens, occupying little space and easily storable in cabinets
• Easy to Clean: Just wipe down the 304 food-grade stainless steel surfaces to keep clean
• LCD Display: Backlit LCD screen with large fonts for easy reading

One of the most popular scales on Amazon with 4.6 Stars and 143,336 Reviews! Available in Stainless Steel, Pink, White, Green, and Black.

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Escali Primo Digital Scale

• The Escali Primo Digital Food Scale is multifunctional and features an easy to use two button operation, sealed control panel, and rounded design make this digital kitchen scale easy to keep clean and very durable.
• Tare feature lets you to reset the food scale to zero weight to measure multiple items or subtract the weight of container; Automatic shut-off feature will turn the baking scale off four minutes of inactivity to help conserve and extend battery life
• Digital kitchen scale is (8.5 x 6 x 1.5 in) has a capacity of 11 lb (5,000 g) and provides weight readings in 0.05 oz (1 g) increments using the following units: oz, lb:oz, g

Another one of the most popular scales on Amazon with 4.6 Stars out of 155,051 Reviews!

Available in a wide selection of colors including Soft Pink, Warm Red, Tarragon Green, and Pumpkin Orange. Comes with a lifetime warranty.

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Greater Goods Digital Scale

• A Smart Choice: Greater Goods classic kitchen scale is the perfect introduction to measuring your food for better cooking and portioning at home. A scale that does everything you need, does it well, with a little extra, looks great while it’s doing, and is priced right.
• Fresh Features: All of the qualities you need and expect in a kitchen scale: readings down to the gram, an eleven pound capacity, four units of measurement, and an easy-to-clean, smooth surface.
• Simple and Stylish: Never let a kitchen accessory cramp your style again. The simplistic, modern design of this scale fits right in with the decor of even the trendiest space. Looks good, and if you need to, it’s compact and easy to store.
• Beyond A Purchase: Greater Goods designs and produces high functioning, intentional kitchen scales, but values the positive impact of a purchase, on a global level, as much as anything. That’s why they only partner with ethical factories and ensure a portion of every sale is given back to a charity that aligns with the nature of what you’ll be using.

Another one of the most popular scales on Amazon with 4.6 Stars out of 155,051 Reviews! Available in a wide selection of colors including Mint Green, Blush Pink, and Matte Black.

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It’s nearly impossible to be absolutely 100% with your measurements. Just try to record your calories consumed as accurately as you can. And like I said, whenever I eat at a restaurant, I usually add an extra 100 calories to the amount they show. Their calorie estimates are usually a little low and their portions are enormous. Under-recording foods can cause a big difference between your recorded and actual intake.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of measuring everything you’ll be able to just eyeball something and know the portion size and weight, so don’t worry about needing to do it for long.

Now that you’ve figured out how to add up your daily calorie intake, you need to figure out how to determine how many calories you’re burning. The best way to do that is with a heart rate monitor. Your heart rate indicates how much effort it takes for you to do a certain activity, and that effort determines the calories you burn.

Chest straps are generally the most accurate of all since they’re worn the closest to the heart, but Smartwatches have more useful options and I don’t think you’ll be wanting to wear a chest strap around all day. These devices utilize Bluetooth and/or ANT+ technology to record each heartbeat and transfer that information to your phone or computer.

I use a Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch that has a heart rate monitor and calorie counter. I’m not a fan of pricey watches, usually because I break them within a few months. But this one has everything I need on it and was under $200. It counts my daily calories burned, workout calories burned, amount of steps, shows the weather, it even shows me how I slept last night.

Fitness Apps: A good fitness/weight loss app will give you all the information you need about meals, from the portion size, nutritional value, and calorie count. You can program and save your favorite healthy foods that way they are easily added to your daily menu. A lot of newer Apps also have Nutrition Facts for most restaurants too which makes recording things easier.

Top 4 Apps for Counting Calories

Noom

Top Benefits of using Noom include:

1. Tracking Tools: Noom’s tracking tools for food intake, exercise, and weight progress make it easier for users to monitor their daily habits and stay accountable.
2. Mindful Eating: Noom promotes mindful eating, encouraging users to be more aware of their food choices and the reasons behind their eating habits.
3. Education and Knowledge: The app offers educational content about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle, empowering users with knowledge to make informed decisions about their health.
4. Personalization: The app tailors its recommendations and coaching to each individual’s needs, preferences, and goals, providing a more personalized experience.
5. Behavioral Approach: Noom focuses on behavior change and psychology, helping users build sustainable habits for long term success in weight management and overall wellness.
6. Supportive Community: The Noom community offers a supportive and motivating environment where users can connect, share experiences, and cheer each other on during their weight loss journey.
7. Professional Coaching: Noom provides access to trained coaches who offer guidance, accountability, and expert advice to help users stay on track and overcome challenges.
8. Flexible Food Choices: Noom doesn’t restrict specific foods, which allows users to enjoy a wide variety of options while still maintaining a balanced diet.
9. Goal Setting: Noom helps users set realistic and achievable goals, breaking them down into manageable steps for steady progress.
10. Long Term Focus: Rather than quick fixes, Noom encourages a gradual and sustainable approach to weight loss, promoting healthier habits that can be maintained over time.

Keep in mind that individual experiences may vary, but these are some of the key advantages reported by many Noom users. Noom does have a ton of helpful features available to use. I like that it has an educational section that some apps don’t offer.

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Weight Watchers

Some of the top benefits of using the Weight Watchers (WW) app include:

1. Integration with Fitness Devices: It can sync with various fitness devices, making it easier to track your physical activity.
2. Easy Tracking: The app allows you to easily track your food intake, activity, and weight, making it simpler to stay on top of your progress.
3. Personalized Plans: It offers personalized meal plans and activity recommendations based on your goals and preferences.
4. Community Support: You can connect with a supportive community of users, which can be motivating and helpful in your weight loss journey.
5. SmartPoints System: WW uses a SmartPoints system to assign values to food items, promoting healthier eating choices.
6. Recipes and Meal Ideas: Access to a vast database of WW-approved recipes and meal ideas to keep your diet interesting and satisfying.
7. Progress Insights: The app provides insights into your progress over time, helping you make informed decisions and stay motivated.

The integration with your fitness device, for example your phone, smart watch, or heart rate monitor is a key feature to me. It makes it easier to keep track and compare your calories intake vs. calories burned.

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MyFitnessPal

I have been using Myfitnesspal for a few years now and to me it just seems simpler to use than some other apps. I love the Calorie Calculator that is always updating and easy to understand. Since it connects to your phone or other device it constantly keeps track of your steps, calories burned and once you enter your calories consumed it automatically does the math for you. Its just simple.

The other awesome thing is the barcode scanner feature. Just use the camera on your phone to scan the packaged food and it will log all the nutritional info so you don’t have to manually enter it.

More benefits of using the MyFitnessPal app include:

1. Large Food Database: MyFitnessPal offers an extensive food database, making it easier to find and log various foods and meals.
2. Customizable Goals: You can set personalized health and fitness goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, or maintenance.
3. Exercise Tracking: It allows you to log your physical activities and calculate the calories burned, helping you keep track of your fitness efforts.
4. Community Support: MyFitnessPal has a community feature where users can connect, share experiences, and provide support to each other.
5. Integration with Other Apps and Devices: The app can integrate with various fitness apps and devices, syncing your data for a comprehensive view of your health and fitness progress.
6. Insights and Reports: You can access progress reports and insights into your habits and trends, helping you identify areas for improvement.
7. Water Tracking: MyFitnessPal allows you to track your daily water intake to ensure you stay hydrated.

Free Version available.

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FitBit

The Fitbit app offers several top benefits, including:

1. Sync with Other Apps: Fitbit app can sync with other fitness and nutrition apps for comprehensive health tracking.
2. Activity Tracking: It allows you to monitor your daily steps, distance, and active minutes, helping you stay motivated to achieve your fitness goals.
3. Heart Rate Monitoring: The app tracks your heart rate, providing insights into your cardiovascular health and helping you optimize workouts.
4. Sleep Tracking: It analyzes your sleep patterns, providing valuable data to improve sleep quality and overall well-being.
5. Exercise Logging: You can record different types of exercises and track your progress over time.
6. Calorie Tracking: The app helps you monitor your calorie intake and expenditure, supporting healthy eating habits.
7. Personalized Goals: Fitbit app lets you set personalized goals and sends reminders to keep you on track.
8. Challenges and Community: Engage with friends and join challenges for added motivation, making fitness fun and social.
9. Health Insights: It offers data-driven insights and trends about your health and fitness, aiding in making informed lifestyle decisions.
10. Water Intake Tracking: You can log your daily water intake, promoting better hydration.

Free Version available.

APP Comparison

Now that you understand what a Calorie is, how to measure your food (calorie consumption), and which Apps to use to track your Calories burned, you just need to know what you’re requirements are. Your daily requirements are going to depend on what your goal is- weight loss, gaining muscle, or just maintaining a healthy weight.

Your recommended calorie intake depends on a few things like gender, age, weight, and activity level. For example, a 23 year old man that works out every day is going to require a lot more calories than a 60 year old man that doesn’t work out. But let’s just say that this 23 year old man is now overweight and trying to slim down. Now he will need to be in a calorie deficit, by eating less and burning more calories, and only require around the same calorie intake as the older man.

Another example would be a man or woman in their 20s that is trying to pack on some muscle. They’re going to take in more calories than they burn and have a surplus of calories at the end of the day.

To lose one pound a week you should aim for a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day, through a combination of reducing the calories you eat and increasing the calories you burn through physical activity. This adds up to 3,500 calories per week, the number of calories in about one pound of fat. And to gain muscle its an average of 300-500 calories you will require in surplus at the end of each day.

I hope this info helps you on your weight change or body transformation journey. I know alot of it seems like common sense for some people that have been working out for a while. But there are alot of beginners out there that need the help.

You’re welcome.