Diet App Picks

Track. Adjust. Sustain.

MyFitnessPal

FREE / $20/mo

Largest food database. Calorie + macro tracking. Apple Health sync.

Best overall.

Lose It!

FREE / $40/yr

Beginner-friendly. Photo logging. Goal-setting wizards.

Best for beginners.

Cronometer

FREE / $65/yr

Tracks 80+ vitamins/minerals, not just calories. Best for nutritional thoroughness.

Best detailed.

Noom

$70/mo

Behavioral approach + coaching. Pricey but research-backed for sustained loss.

Best for behavior.

WW (Weight Watchers)

$23/mo

Group meetings + app + coach. Best community accountability.

Best group support.

CalorieKing

FREE / $20/yr Premium

Senior-friendly UI. Fast lookup. Less social.

Best simple.

Senior-specific guidance

Protein — seniors need MORE (1g per kg body weight).
Calcium + Vitamin D — for bones (1,200mg / 800 IU).
Fiber — 25-30g/day for digestion + heart.
Hydration — thirst signal weakens with age.
Calories — most seniors need 1,800-2,200/day.
Avoid extreme diets — risk of muscle loss after 60.

Free diet/nutrition resources

NIH Senior Health — nia.nih.gov free PDFs.
USDA MyPlate — myplate.gov daily plan.
AARP Nutrition Resources — aarp.org/nutrition.
Mayo Clinic free meal planners — mayoclinic.org.
SilverSneakers nutrition tools — free with most Medicare Advantage.

Talk to dietitian

Medicare covers Medical Nutrition Therapy for diabetes + kidney disease. Doctor referral, then real RD (Registered Dietitian) builds your plan. Apps support, but personalized advice from a pro is gold.