To help you choose the right weight management app, a list of top-rated iPhone apps has been reviewed by a registered dietitian (RD) on The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.) website at www.eatright.org/appreviews.  Of the nine apps, each review gives a synopsis, the pros and cons, and the bottom line of the app as well as an RD rating out of 5 stars.  Those listed were:

• Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitness Pal: 4.5 stars
• Calorie Counter: 4 stars
• Calorie Counter: Diets & Activities: 4 stars
• Calorie Tracker by Livestrong.com: 4 stars
• Sparkpeople Food and Fitness Tracker: 4 stars
• Calorie Counter by MyNetDiary: 3 stars
• Lose it!: 3 stars
• Daily Burn: 2 stars
• Weight Watchers Mobile: 2 stars

These apps vary in price from free to just a few dollars per app, and depending on the app can be upgraded to the “Pro” level which will give you added features for an added price.

I tried the Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitness. This app keeps track of my calorie and exercise goals based on the information that I entered into the app.  For a free app this has an unbelievable data base of food listings including restaurants and packaged food items.  For dinner one night I had “A Taste of Thai” Rice Noodles.  I was able to scan the bar code with my phone, retrieve the nutrition information in just a few seconds and add it to my daily food diary.  MyFitness is very user-friendly and makes collecting data for a 3-day diet diary, sometimes needed for doctor appointments, less of a hassle.  It also has the option of posting progress messages to friends for added support.  MyFitness app is also available for the Android phone.

 Also included at www.eatright.org/appreviews are reviews of Diabetes and Gluten-free apps.