The 80 Bite diet refers to an iPhone app that keeps track of the number of bites of food you take per day, devised by registered dietitian Meredith Luce, M.S. and Pilates instructor Joan Breibart. As the name suggests, you eat 80 bites of food per day, divided into three meals and a snack on this diet. The Diet Directives program run by the two women combines portion control and food awareness with a low-calorie diet, although many people simply buy the phone app and count bites rather than following the specific diet.
The Phone App
Buy and download the 80 Bites phone app for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad for a small fee from the Apple App store. You can find this app in the Healthcare and Fitness section. This app requires iOS 3.0 or later to run. Because this app relies completely on your input, using it incorrectly or forgetting to tap on the screen with each bite will give inaccurate results.
Uses
The app records each bite you take as you tap on the screen. If you eat too fast, the app warns you to slow down. When you get close to your maximum bites for the meal, the sound changes. Graphs compare your intake over several days to let you know how well--or not so well--you're doing on staying close to 80 bites over time.
Benefits
Many people find visual aids helpful in sticking to a diet. Since the 80 Bites app is readily available if you never leave home without your cell phone, you may be more likely to use this tool than other portion control and food awareness methods such as writing down everything you eat. Since mindless eating can add up to taking in more calories than you need, the 80 Bites app helps you keep your mind on exactly how many bites go into your mouth. As you eat less, your stomach shrinks, reducing hunger pangs, Luce and Breibart report on their website.
Considerations
If you buy only the app and don't follow the diet plan, available only by signing up on the Diet Directives website for a $50 fee for a three-month membership as of date of publication, you may not lose any weight, depending on what types of foods you eat. Even if you lose weight eating 80 bites of unhealthy foods, your nutrition will suffer. To get the maximum benefit out of this app, you need to follow a healthy diet plan and count only one forkful of food as one "bite." It works as a novel app that increases your food intake awareness, but its main benefits come only if you also eat healthy foods.
