Nine food apps that educate, inspire, and empower eaters
Navigating the grocery store aisles isn’t always easy, especially if eaters want environmentally sustainable, and socially conscious options. Thankfully, there are some great apps that can improve grocery shopping and help consumers make better choices.
A shopper walks down the canned soup aisle at a grocery store in Cincinnati. There are a wealth of helpful apps out there that can help consumers make conscientious food choices.
Al Behrman/AP/FIle
Navigating the grocery store aisles isn’t always easy, especially if eaters want healthy, environmentally sustainable, and socially conscious options. Thankfully, there are some great apps that can improve grocery shopping and help consumers make better choices. This list highlights some of the most interesting food apps that Food Tank sustainers are using!
Unless otherwise noted, all apps are free.
1. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Food (US$6.99)
This resource is for the serious foodie or professional. The search engine provides access to ample yet concise information on techniques, dishes, and equipment. It is particularly useful for deciphering terms from international cuisines found on menus or in recipes. No connection to the internet is required.
2. Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker
Created by MyFitnessPal.com, this app enables users to record and monitor their consumption and exercise in order to meet long-term fitness goals. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, calories, exercise, and even personalized notes are recorded on a daily basis, and this data can be analyzed using graphs and charts. Users can also share information and updates with fellow app users.
3. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) News Reader (US$0.99)
The FDA News Reader provides the most important news stories from the Food and Drug Administration, including consumer health information, safety alerts, and information on recalls.
4. Food Network in the Kitchen
This is an app for food lovers interested in trying out new recipes. It provides access to hundreds of Food Network recipes organized by season, event, topic, and chef. Users can transfer ingredients directly from the recipe page to shopping lists, make personal notes, and share recipes on social media. This app also includes a unit converter and cooking timer.
5. Fooducate
Fooducate is a must-have app developed by dieticians. This app includes a bar code scanner and an internal database of 17 food topics that help eaters rate foods based on their nutritional value and healthfulness. Premium versions allow users to personalize these ratings based on specific nutrition goals. The app also suggests alternatives to less nutritious temptations.
6. Grocery IQ
Grocery IQ is a straightforward grocery app that allows users to create and organize shopping lists using a built-in barcode scanner. The app collects coupons and can share information with friends and family.
Grocery Smarts is an app for saving money. It finds and organizes coupons based on current sales.
The ROC National Diners Guide app focuses on promoting food justice by tracking the treatment of workers in the restaurant industry. Users are provided with information on the living wage, paid sick leave, and advancement opportunities at some of the largest restaurants in the country. If conditions could be better, consumers are encouraged to get involved by speaking to management or sharing information on social media.
This streamlined app allows users to organize their shopping needs without complex components or features. This app is for users who just want to create and edit a list.
Philip Hanes is a professional chef. Studied cooking at École Grégoire-Ferrandi in Paris. BFA from NYU in Film and Anthropology.