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    Calorie & Diet Tracking

    Don\'t guess. Know what you actually eat.

    Why log food

    Studies consistently show that tracking food doubles weight-loss success. After 60, muscle loss accelerates — protein and resistance training matter more than ever. Tracking food shows you whether you\'re actually getting enough.

    MyFitnessPal

    Free; $20/mo Premium

    Biggest food database. Scan barcodes. Most popular.

    Free version is full-featured.

    Lose It!

    Free; $40/yr Premium

    Simpler interface than MyFitnessPal. Strong photo-based food logging (snap your meal).

    Often easier for first-timers.

    Cronometer

    Free; $50/yr Gold

    Best for nutrient tracking — vitamins, minerals, fiber. Used by serious health-conscious people.

    Best free pick for detail.

    Noom

    $60-200/year

    Behavior-change focused. Daily lessons + tracking. Best for SUSTAINED weight loss.

    Try the trial; can be intense.

    WW (Weight Watchers)

    $25-45/mo

    Points-based. Real community. Long track record.

    In-person meetings still available in many areas.

    Apple Health / Google Fit

    FREE built-in

    Simple step counts and basic activity. Pair with separate diet app for the full picture.

    No setup needed.

    How to actually stick with logging

    • Log BEFORE you eat, not after.
    • Take a photo of every meal — log it later if you\'re busy.
    • Save your common breakfasts/lunches as "meals" — log a recurring breakfast in 3 seconds.
    • Be honest about portions. Most underestimate by 20-40%.
    • If you skip a day — pick up the next morning. Don\'t quit.

    Talk to a real dietitian

    Medicare Part B covers some nutrition counseling for diabetes and kidney disease. Many advantage plans cover more. Pair an app with one or two real dietitian visits to get a sustainable plan, not a fad diet.