Weight-Loss Software > Calories in Foods
Calories in Foods: Easy Lookup
By Terry Dunkle, DietPower Editor-In-Chief*
You can find literally thousands of places on the Web to look up calories in foods. One of the easiest is DietPower's calorie search tool. It reports not only calories, but 32 other nutrients in 21,000 foods and recipes. It's lightning-fast, accurate, and fun to use. (But don't take my word for it—try it yourself.)
If weight loss is your main reason for looking up calories in foods, you ought to consider something even more powerful: an "eating coach" for your PC. By that I mean software that automatically keeps track of your calories and other nutrients. It can make a tremendous difference in your success.
Here's what to look for when shopping for an eating coach:
Large, Accurate Food Database
Looking for calories in foods can be frustrating if the database you are searching contains fewer than 15,000 foods. That's half the number in a modern supermarket.
Steer clear of databases that inflate their numbers by publishing duplicate foods under different names ("bok choy" and "Chinese cabbage," for example). Avoid those that let users contribute foods by entering data from labels. These are often riddled with dupes and data errors.
Ask how often the nutrition data is updated. Food companies change recipes constantly, even for "timeless" brands.
Don't limit yourself to calories and the few nutrients required on labels. Some databases cover dozens of nutrients. This is especially important if you're losing weight to battle or avoid diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.
Exercise Tracking
Besides revealing calories in foods you've eaten, the best tools calculate the number you've burned in exercise. Some (like DietPower®) cover as many as 1000 different sports, leisure activities, occupations, and exercise machines.
"Smart" Functions
These days, there is no point in tallying calories in foods yourself. The best tools automatically tally as you log your meals and exercise. They also compare your net intake to the number you need for reaching your goal weight on your target date.
A few are even smarter. DietPower, for example, monitors your metabolism to guarantee reaching your goal on schedule. It also gives you a Nutrition Quotient™ (NQ) that indicates how smart an eater you are. It even shows which of your favorite foods will raise your NQ the most. And it will show you which foods to seek or shun if you've gotten too little or too much of a nutrient.
Free trial
Avoid software that offers no free trial. A reputable company with a good product will let you use it for at least a week, preferably two weeks. (It won't ask for your credit-card number beforehand, either.)
(One software product, DietPower®, is absolutely free.)
Generous Warranty
Similarly, if you're looking at a tool that counts calories in foods but doesn't come with a money-back guarantee, walk away. Most good companies offer at least a 30-day warranty.
Caring Support
DietPower offers phone and email support by Nice People™ who speak flawless English and use our program themselves. I don't think you'll find another software company that does the same. Email me if I'm wrong.
*Terry Dunkle is a 30-year veteran medical journalist and consumer advocate who serves as CEO and chief editor at DietPower, Inc., a leading maker of nutrition and weight-loss software.