Counting calories is a very important and effective way to track your dietary intake, which can help you to lose weight over time. According to the Calorie Control Council, people who count calories and eat a low-calorie diet may even live longer than those who eat high-calorie diets. There are many different types of calorie counters, from books to websites to smartphone applications. Whichever calorie counter fits best with your lifestyle is the one that will be most effective for you.
Books
Some books are available for purchase, which list numerous foods along with the nutrition information for the food. For instance, CalorieKing.com sells its book "CalorieKing Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter," which lists thousands of different foods, including fast food and restaurant meals, along with their calorie counts. These books are small and discrete so you can carry one in your purse and record the calories you've eaten each day, wherever you go.
Websites
Websites such as CalorieKing.com and PeerTrainer.com have Internet databases where you can enter a food item that you ate or browse a list of foods to find the calorie count. Some of these websites even have free online food diaries where you can add the foods you eat throughout the day and total your calories at the end of the day.
Handheld Computerized Counters
For the technology-savvy person who wants to count calories, handheld computerized devices are available for the purpose of counting calories. For example, the CalorieSmart is a small device with over 50,000 foods in its database. You enter the name of the food onto the keyboard of the device, and it comes up with a calorie count.
Photo Food Journals
With the popularity of cell phone features such as cameras, videos and text messaging, a new type of calorie counter has emerged involving the use of cell phones. Some phones have a special application that allows you to take a picture of the food you are about to eat and then send the picture to your food journal or directly to a nutritionist, who will calculate your calories for a small fee.
Food Diary and Registered Dietitian
The old-fashioned calorie counter that does not require the use of any major technology is the food diary. In a food diary, you simply write down what you ate, when you ate it and how much of it you ate. Then you can bring your food diary to a nutritionist or registered dietitian, who will analyze the calories eaten each day for you.
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