The 8 Best Nutrition Apps for Runners

Unlike weight-loss apps, which focus heavily on numbers—often arbitrary—Nourishly gives users a space to record their emotions, hunger levels before eating, and fullness levels after eating, which are all important factors when it comes to eating mindfully, says says Kelly Hogan, M.S., R.D., a dietitian in New York City.

“There are no numbers involved,” she says.

Hogan also points out that the app can help runners who struggle with GI issues, for example, uncover a cause.

“If you have stomachaches, there could be some emotion involved,” says Hogan. “And if you’re not thinking about that or tracking that, you’re missing a really important piece.”

Don’t let marketing claims fool you into thinking something with simple, clean labeling is healthy. (We see you, granola bars packed with 15 grams of sugar.) Scan hundreds of thousands of items with Fooducate and get the nutritional breakdown, and the benefits and downsides of each item to help you make the best choice.

But remember: Giving foods a grade, like Fooducate does, reinforces the idea that there are good foods and bad foods, says Hogan. Use the app to educate yourself on the benefits of the foods you’re eating, and then approach your nutrition with a healthier, everything-in-moderation mindset.

The best way to eat a balanced diet is to experiment with new foods and cookbooks. But don’t let ingredient lists freak you out. Our Groceries Shopping List lets you easily add recipe ingredients to your list with just one tap. And to save time, you can organize your list by aisle or category.

“You should always go to the grocery store with a list,” says Hogan. “Otherwise you’re going in blind and you’ll forget something or get things you don’t need…The app is good for meal planning and prepping, which is something a lot of people are doing more of.”

With Food Tripping, traveling for your next race can be fast-food-free and full of flavor. The app will help you find farmer’s markets, microbreweries, and other favorite eateries in the area.

“If I’m in an unfamiliar place, sometimes I just go to Google Maps and look up places to eat near me, but that’s not very user-friendly,” says Hogan. “I like that this app gives you a bigger variety…And for runners, it’s a useful tool if you’re at a race out of town and looking for something specific.”

Hogan also recommends looking for grocery stores while traveling, which is a good way to pick up staples—peanut butter and jelly, anyone?—and snacks.

As more and more runners trend toward vegetarian or plant-based diets, it can be hard to keep coming up with new ideas for meals.

The Live Up app offers vegetarian and vegan recipes that use fresh produce, unprocessed grains, legumes, healthy fats, and spices. Like other recipe-based apps, you can easily add items to your shopping list so you won’t forget your key ingredients.

And even if you’re not a vegetarian or vegan, the app’s straight-forward recipes make it easy to mix things up in the kitchen, says Hogan (And if you want a phone-free way to find plant-based recipes, check out our new cookbook.)

You know you need to drink more water, but you forget or just don’t feel like it. Waterlogged is a simple app designed to help keep you hydrated. Set reminders so you stay on track with your water intake goals and monitor your progress with personalized charts. You can even upload a photo and specs of your own water cup or bottle so the app better reflects your hydration status.

“Remembering to drink enough water can be so tough, not to mention the question of what actually is enough,” says Hogan. “This app answers that question in an understandable way and sends useful reminders to help people stay hydrated.”

Not only does Nutrients give you the caloric breakdown of some 200,000 foods, it also provides the levels of various vitamins and minerals, and analyzes recipes you cook with so you know exactly what you’re getting from Mom’s favorite French toast. And don’t worry about Internet access; you can load the database while offline.

“This app could be useful for people or nutrition professionals with questions about nutrient content of foods because of its robust database,” says Hogan. “Sometimes too much information can be overwhelming, though, and I’d recommend those with disordered eating or eating disorders to avoid apps like this because they can be triggering.”

This may be one of the most comprehensive food shopping apps out there. Yes, you can take a closer look at the nutritional value of your grocery items, but Shopwell also helps manages your nutrition goals. For example, it will provide personalized food recommendations based on special dietary considerations, including pregnancy, gluten-free, anemia, and diabetes.

“This app is a good way to discover new products you might like based on your preferences but otherwise wouldn’t know to try,” says Hogan.

But again, Hogan cautions against rating foods as “better.”

“It’s so important to avoid black and white thinking when it comes to food and nutrition,” she says. “When using an algorithm, the app isn’t looking at the bigger picture of the individual—how can it?—and that may contribute to restrictive eating.”