Trying to keep our kids and families healthy has become more and more of a challenge. The mixed messages we receive from big businesses promoting their products leave us confused, stressed and probably a little discouraged. Is it possible to buy the right products, cook clean ingredients and deliver a strong, healthy adult into the world after 18 years? Check out the five apps below if you are looking for a little help – they are my personal top choices. I use them all daily to help maintain my sanity and pantry.
MEAL SNAP – CALORIE COUNTING MAGIC
One of my all time favorite apps, you can simply take a photo of your meal and Meal Snap will let you know what exactly is in it as well as a rough calorie count. Pretty fantastic! Although I think it is important to note that we shouldn’t emphasize caloric intake to our children. This app is super valuable for kiddos who need to put on a little extra weight or cut back slightly on specific food groups (fat, sugar etc).
BLOOD SUGAR TRACKER (BY HEALTHYCLOUD.COM)
Any parent living with a diabetic child knows all to well the dangers of surges and plunges of their little one’s blood sugar level. One of the simplest apps to use, you can track blood sugar levels over a day, week or even months. There is even an option to enter your target blood level and it offers guidance throughout the day.
SHOPWELL – HEALTHY DIET & GROCERY FOOD SCANNER
With your smartphone’s built in camera, you can take pictures of the UPC barcode of any product either at the grocery store or at home. B’ased on your family profile and diet, ShopWell will tell you if the item is a good or bad choice for your family. Pretty amazing, right?
Fooducate won first place in the U.S. Surgeon Generals “Healthy App Challenge.” This amazing app tells parents exactly what the processed foods they purchase for their children contain. Just like ShopWell, with a quick UPC barcode scan, you can figure out how healthy (or unhealthy) your grocery list is and modify as needed to avoid surplus sugars, dyes, additives and preservatives.
It’s certainly easy to keep track of food intake in home or by packing our children’s lunch for school, but when it comes to eating out at restaurants we don’t really know what we are eating. Eating at home 100% of the time is not a fun way to live, but the more you know the better your experience will be. With over 250 restaurants in their app with detailed breakdowns of their menus, you can be certain what you should and should not order (for both you and your wee ones).
Thanks to many public health campaigns, we all know we should have five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. However, even the most diligent of health-aware moms (ahem, me!) can sometimes lose track. For only $0.99 this app supplies you with loads of recipes packed with healthy, fresh fruits and veggies. Say goodbye to mealtime madness!
Staying hydrated is something we can all do a better job of. Busy moms and kiddos are always on the go between school, activities and play dates. We often forget to drink enough H20. This app takes the thought process out of drinking enough water just like 5 A Day does for fruits and veggies. You can even involve the kiddos with this app: they can tap a glass in the app each time they finish a serving of water to make it disappear.
Imagine being able to keep track of your child’s caloric intake, estimated energy, protein, individual nutrients and even fluids? Sounds impossible, but for $2.99 you can with the Serious Nutrition Tracker. This app is technically geared toward gym rats and nutritional buffs so there are some aspects that a parent will not need for their children, but the extensive aspects of the app make the price tag well worth it.
Cheers to growing a healthy family!