The 10 Best Apps that help you prepare a Healthy Meal

Today we live in the modern age of technology; it has taken over almost everything, from industrial processes to day to day tasks. Technology has also revolutionized the fitness industry, you can download an app by a few clicks to track your calories, or you can use the internet to search for weight loss blogs to get some motivation.

The most important factor that influences your health and fitness is your diet, and consequently, the most challenging job is to plan a nutritious meal. Well, the good news is that it isn't a problem anymore! Here is a list of 10 apps that can help you prepare a healthy meal.

 

  1. Mealime

One of the most stressful question to answer is “What should I cook today?” Well, Mealime is an app that is designed to answer the question. You can choose from tons of healthy meal plans and dishes that take less than 30 minutes to cook. You can personalize a diet plan according to your choice; it also generates a grocery list for the weekly meal you decide. And do you know the best part? Yes, there is more, it helps minimize the food wastage by selecting quantities of each item in your grocery in a manner that it would finish once you are done cooking for the week.

Available free for Android and Apple users

  1. Superfoods

The app is different from the others because it is no calorie tracker instead it teaches you about the importance of nutrition. It provides detailed information about the super foods that are nutrient powerhouses and provide us energy & prevention from diseases. Reading through their guides, you get to know about healthier diet options and which foods to have in your kitchen.

Available free for Android and Apple users

  1. Fooducate

It is an app that helps you keep an eye on the quality of calories you are consuming along with exercise, mood, sleep and hunger levels. The app will grade the food you are eating by scanning the barcode. You can also share your eating experiences with the community to motivate others.

It is available for Android and Apple users for free however some features require purchase.

 

 

  1. MyFitnessPal

This app is a useful tool for tracking your intake of nutrients and calories. You can set the number of nutrients that you want to consume each day, and the app can help you meet the desired goals by adjusting your daily food diary. You can also make your recipes and track the number of calories using the app.

Available for both platforms, i.e., Android and Apple free

 

  1. Substitutions

This app is beneficial because it provides you with healthy alternatives to the foods you want to avoid.  Imagine you are in the middle of cooking a recipe and you notice an ingredient isn’t available in your kitchen, well there is nothing to worry about because now you have substitutions,  it can give you tips on which item to use in place of the ones the recipe requires.

It is available for Apple users for $1.99

  1. Lose It

This app lets you add the weight goal you want to achieve and provides you the number of calories you should be devouring every day. You can log your daily diet by just taking pictures of the food. You can also take part in different exercise and diet challenges if you are low on motivation.

It is free for Apple and Android users

  1. IEatWell

The app also lets you track your calories and how healthy you are eating by logging your daily meals. You can also add pictures of your food, and the tracker will evaluate the quality of what you consumed. Based on the result it will award you with a badge if your meal was found to be nutritious. You can share your progress with friends to get more motivation if you’d like.

It is available free for Android and Apple users

  1. FatSecret

This app is not only a calorie counter, but it also plans meals and keeps a log of what you eat, the number of calories you burn & your overall progress. It can scan labels to check the number of calories in a product. You can interact with professionals and synchronize your app with Google Fit.

Available free for Android and Apple users

 

  1. Eat this much

This app is also your dietician. It can help you plan a week’s meals keeping in mind your preferences. You can choose from the recipes available in the app, or you can customize them as per your likes, allergies or needs. You can also put in details of what you ate, and it will keep track of your intake. Furthermore, it can generate grocery lists; provide meal cooking times so you can choose what to cook with consideration to convenience.

Available free for Android and Apple users

  1. 8fit

This app is more like your nutritionist and trainer in your pocket. It provides you with over 400 nutritious recipes to choose from and makes a weekly customized meal plan and a grocery list. You can set your preference whether you want a vegan meal or a low carb diet and it will design the menu accordingly. It also monitors your caloric intake and provides you with a customized workout plan to suit your lifestyle.

Available free for Apple and Android users

Kelly Newman is a Fitness Trainer and blogger. She loves to write about everything related to fitness and diet and wants to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle. She works with the team behind Health Listed and does extensive research to provide people actionable health and nutrition information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New App Created to Increase Self-Esteem and Productivity for Millions of ADHD Kids and Families

WHO: 4 Million of US Children Who Have ADHD

WHAT: New Task-Focused, Life-Management Solution for ADHD Families Created Called iGotThis

WHEN: March 6th to April 6th Kickstarter Campaign

WHY: It’s no wonder that kids with ADHD are more likely to have low self-esteem – sometimes pathologically low. Repeated failures wear away self-esteem, as does being told that something is “wrong” with you. The truth is that ADHD is simply a byproduct of being extraordinary, but their kids are judged by the expectations of an ordinary world.

iGotThis turns the tables on self-esteem and productivity issues with these extraordinary kids. It is a task-focused, life-management solution uniquely designed for ADHD families that builds self-esteem by ensuring repeated success. It’s loaded with features to keep kids with ADHD on track, focused, and motivated - all while providing real-time visibility and complete control for parents. It provides:

 

  • Repeated successes with its unique failsafe reminder system
  • Motivation through a customizable rewards feature
  • Positive reinforcement with game dynamics
  • Inspirational Messaging about ADHD
  • Real-Time, remote oversight to parents

 

The solution also features web and mobile dashboards, location based reminders, comprehensive task customization, optional project tracking and checklists and planning wizards for parents. Easy to use walkthroughs and video tutorials help everyone get the most of the solution from the first day.

But iGotThis is more than an app- it’s also a community and a mission. iGotThis provides forums and resources that let users share, teach and learn, support and be supported. As part of its mission, iGotThis is providing public outreach to change the way the world views ADHD and those extraordinary people who have it.

It’s so important to build self-confidence and remind those children that ADHD is not a deficiency, it’s a gift. iGotThis helps them learn valuable skills and creates habits that will help them succeed, and build their self-esteem so they can one day have the confidence to enter the world as adults.

Back the project on the Kickstarter page between March 6th and April 6th to help fund finishing the app and you will become one of the “Founding Families” of iGotThis. These families will enjoy lower prices, additional rewards, privileges and recognition.

Users will sign up at the iGotThis.com web site and the app will be available to download in the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store and the Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Play store upon release.

Hydroxycut®, America's #1 selling weight loss supplement brand, is evolving by developing new support programs to help consumers stay on track this New Year. The brand is introducing a new, free weight loss app designed and developed based on key insights from a recent study conducted on American's views of New Year's Resolutions.

When January 1st arrives, Americans will be rushing to fitness centers the next day and re-evaluating their fitness goals. The study revealed that 56% of Americans would make New Year's Resolutions specifically about adopting a healthier lifestyle, however within the first week, six million people will have already broken those commitments. The study documented that the struggle of losing weight continues to remain the number one resolution and also showed that people believe it is also the most challenging one to keep.

"When we embarked on this unique study, we wanted a deeper understanding of the mindset and challenges American's have when making the important decision to adopt a New Year's Resolution that focuses on supporting a healthy lifestyle through weight management," Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Cavanaugh stated. "The results of our study prompted our consumer insights team to design and launch an easy-to-use, free app that will help people making healthier lifestyle changes easier so people can stay on track for the long term."

The simple but effective app offers users the opportunity to monitor their weight loss results with convenient meal tracking, supplement reminders and a simple to understand exercise plan.  Throughout the weight loss journey, individuals can face challenges in meeting proper nutritional intake levels, proper hydration, and exercising regularly, all of which can influence weight loss success. The new Hydroxycut app minimizes the challenges associated with everyday diet programs by holistically supporting a more comprehensive approach, tailored to meet the needs of men and women, regardless of their fitness levels.

For more information and how to download the new weight loss App, simply search Hydroxycut on Apple or the Google Play Store. For full study results please go to www.Hydroxycut.com/NewYearStudy and follow us on Facebook.com/Hydroxycut and @Hydroxycut on Instagram® for product, news and updates, diet and training tips, special promotions and more.

Hydroxycut has sold more than 100 million bottles and continues to be a nutritional supplement leader by bringing unique and innovative products to consumers who want to change their lives. For more than two decades, the brand has been successfully inspiring and empowering weight loss for people who want real results. Hydroxycut products are available nationwide at WalMart®, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon, Bodybuilding.com and other fine retailers.

About Iovate Health Sciences International Inc.
Iovate Health Sciences is a dynamic, leading-edge nutritional supplement company that delivers some of the highest quality, most innovative and effective supplements in the world. Iovate brands are sold in over 130 countries globally, and include the sport and active nutrition brands MuscleTech®, Six Star® Pro Nutrition and Purely Inspired®.

SOURCE Iovate Health Sciences International Inc.

UK Health Improvement App Attracts Investment from Fortune 500 company

Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) banks on health benefits of UK app by taking stake in Quealth (PRNewsFoto/Quealth)
Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) banks on health benefits of UK app by taking stake in Quealth (PRNewsFoto/Quealth)

RGA is one of the world's largest life and health reinsurers, with approximately $3.1 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $53.9 billion. RGA has taken a minority stake in roadtohealth, with an initial investment of over $4m and further investments dependent on performance and other criteria.

Quealth is distributed free via Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Samsung Galaxy App Store and Lenovo's newly released App Explorer. The latest version of the app adds an interactive digital health coach to the core health risk assessment modules.

Clinically validated by a team of leading academics, including Professor Stephen Weng at the University of Nottingham, Quealth helps health-conscious people assess how at risk they are from one or more of the five major non-communicable – and largely preventable – diseases in the developed world: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Proprietary algorithms at the heart of the app – all with AUC (a globally recognised measure of how accurately they predict clinical outcomes) values of between 0.77 and 0.80 – calculate an individual's risk of developing these diseases. They are based on answers given to a series of questions covering family medical history, biometrics and lifestyle. Depending on an individual's 'Quealth Score' – a number between 1 and 100 – the app then provides evidence-based content and coaching drawn from the latest behavioural change science to drive sustainable lifestyle improvements.

Future releases will incorporate live biometric and activity data from hundreds of different mobile apps and wearable devices.

Alistair Wickens, CEO of roadtohealth, said: "RGA is an ideal investor in and partner for roadtohealth. They share the same deep understanding of health risk scoring systems and are conscious of how fast the world is changing when it comes to individuals needing to understand their health risks and wanting the tools to improve them. This first stage investment enables us to work with academic bodies around the world to incorporate regional factors as well as to accelerate our distribution discussions with electronics manufacturers, health and charitable bodies and the medical, health and life insurance markets."

Quealth is a proven differentiator in the digital health arena in that it does more than just measure an individual's current state of health – it allows people to understand what their risks may be in a number of critical areas and then helps and guides them to make a difference. Dr. Philip Smalley, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of RGA International Corporation, a subsidiary of RGA, said: "Quealth has the credentials to make its scoring system and the inputs used to generate it relevant to our insurance business."

Quealth has been developed on the back of roadtohealth's 14 years experience of providing risk assessment technology for health information, pharmacies and insurance companies from around the world. With an advisory board of renowned experts, the company has refined the app under clinical scrutiny so that its simple-to-understand and easy-to-complete question and answer sets provide as accurate an overall health risk assessment profile as possible without medical involvement.

Quealth www.quealth.co is the most accurate health & lifestyle app available. It quantifies your health, coaches you to make improvements and rewards your successes. Quealth combines the latest behavioural change science with the global reach of technology to encourage you to make lifestyle changes and live a longer, healthier life. Based on the award-winning and highly validated Quealth™ Score – a universally recognised and trusted predictor of health risk – Quealth focusses on the prevention of five leading non-communicable diseases: diabetes, six forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Quealth is owned by the roadtohealth group, an internationally-recognised health risk assessment and lifestyle management company. Formed in 2002, roadtohealth has successfully developed an international footprint by partnering with global brands including Aviva, Patient.info, Samsung and HSBC.

All products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

© Copyright 2016 roadtohealth group.

About RGA: Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated is one of the largest global life and health reinsurance companies in the world. The company provides clients with individual life reinsurance, individual living benefits reinsurance, group reinsurance, health reinsurance, financial solutions, facultative underwriting and product development. RGA and its subsidiaries serve clients from operations in Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Worldwide, RGA has approximately $3.1 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $53.9 billion.

Wellness Rewards App Blazes a Path Across Canada

Carrot Rewards has been enjoying tremendous success since its debut earlier this year

TORONTO, June 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Carrot Rewards, a ground-breaking free app that rewards Canadians for living healthier, launched on Tuesday in Newfoundland and Labrador, with unprecedented results. In just 24 hours, almost 2% of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians downloaded the app and began earning points. The outstanding numbers in NL—the second province to roll out the app— mirror those seen in British Columbia, where over 800,000 out of more than 1 million health offers have been completed, with tens of millions of points earned so far.

"The response to Carrot has been extraordinary and we are particularly proud to have Newfoundland and Labrador become the second jurisdiction in the world where Carrot is running," says Andreas Souvaliotis, Founder and CEO of Carrot developer, Social Change Rewards.

Harnessing the popularity of loyalty points and the prevalence of smartphones, Carrot Rewards allows users to earn points from participating loyalty programs for making better lifestyle choices. Users are rewarded for downloading and sharing the app and for each time they engage with it – whether through taking a quiz, making healthy lifestyle choices or walking a few more steps each day thanks to a new step tracking feature.

Carrot was developed with the support of founding partners, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the British Columbia Ministry of Health. Other partners include the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and a cross-sectoral coalition made up of loyalty partners and three of the leading health charities in Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Association and YMCA Canada.

The free app works on smartphones and is available for download on IOS and Android devices or by visiting: http://www.carrotrewards.ca

To learn more about Carrot and how it's championing a completely new way of engaging citizens toward healthier behaviours, please watch our video, Reinventing Responsible Marketing. 

SOURCE Carrot Rewards

Fashionistas and Trendsetters Can Play, Shop and Share

Hudson Bay Screenshot Joe Fresh - CA Designer

 With Free Game for both Apple and Android Users

Kate’s Fashion IQ launched in Canada September 9

 Boca Raton, FL (September 23, 2015)— Fashionistas throughout Canada will soon have the chance to increase their fashion IQ, keep up with the latest trends in clothing and accessories, and buy the hottest items straight from their smart phone, while playing a free, fast, fun, mobile game. Kate’s Fashion IQ, the hot, new mobile app which released in Canada on September 9, will give style seekers a savvy, new type of fashion experience with one dynamic app where users can play, shop, and share.

Kate’s Fashion IQ is an Apple and Android-friendly mobile app featuring fast-paced fashion games designed to entertain and inform, while putting one’s knowledge of fashion to the ultimate test. The games — More or Less, Price it to Win, This or That, Name it to Win, and Designer Jumble —will award points, jewels and gems based on performance. Users can compare their scores and compete with other fashion aficionados while sashaying to the top of the leaderboard.

In addition to the daily games, Kate’s Fashion IQ can quickly turn a smartphone into an entirely new shopping experience. Users can stay up to date with the latest trends based on the hundreds of handpicked options selected by co-founder Susan Weinstein and fashion editors —Jen Johnson and Shana Harden— that will be for sale throughout the app, along with 84 distinct products featured each week. It will allow users to select items they like and buy them directly from the retailers’ website. A wide variety of clothes, shoes and accessories at every price level will be available to satisfy each woman’s individual shopping preference. Users can then share their favorites on social media.

“Play, shop, share -- that’s what Susan and I do and we wanted to bring that experience to women in one dynamic and entertaining app,” said Maria Longo, co-founder of Kate’s Fashion IQ. “It has taken nearly two years to perfect this app, and Susan and I have worked tirelessly to produce the best possible product for women, by women.”

In conjunction with the app, Kate’s Fashion IQ has launched a fashion website that will be updated each week with photos of the latest in fashion and popular trends. Products that are featured in the game will be highlighted on the website, along with tips every fashionista should know. “Susan’s fashion team has an extensive background in fashion and merchandising. Their tastes range from edgy trends to popular designs,” said Longo.

The app released in Canada on September 9 and will release in the United States approximately one month later. The free app will be available in the Apple Store and Google Play for both mobile devices and tablets.

Kate’s Fashion IQ was created by best friends and co-founders, Maria D. Longo and Susan Weinstein. The developers have residences in Boca Raton, Florida and Southampton, N.Y.

The League

league

Welcome to the future. If you are in the Toronto area you can found any professional that you want in the city and book with them using this app. The app boasts that you can find the best professionals and services you need to live a healthier, happier life – every day. Massage therapists, personal trainers, nutritionists, chiropractors and more! Book a free consultation with one of our trusted providers. LEAGUE offers the widest selection of health services in a single app. Our PROs are hand-picked, verified and ready to help you live a happier, healthier life - every day.

I have tested out The League over the past week. I have booked, changed, cancelled and attended sessions. My first being a Massage Therapy session. Not only was it easy to book with the woman I chose but she also sent me some nice emails back and forth making the app more personable. The only thing that I have found is that some of the professionals on the app have a schedule that is not in sync with the leagues calendar. So for my massage she had to switch my time (not a big deal). In case you are wondering who the massage therapist was her name is Tu Anh Luong and she did a great job (trust me I have had my fair share of athletic massages) and she was awesome. She is located at 1 St. Clair Avenue East. I highly recommend her and I am very glad that I found her.  I even booked a follow up session with her next week. Just search for her in the app.

I have also booked an appointment with a Yoga instructor (which I am having tomorrow). Her profile was amazing and she even asked me for issues or areas I want to work on so that she can create a program for it. Im really looking forward to stretching out my gluteus and opening up my hips. Her name is MJ Renshaw. You can also find her on the app.

This month and next month I have a chiro, naturopath and a Vitamin B shot booked as well.

The only practice that I had a hard time booking with was pilates. I booked a private session from Misfitstudio. I have heard great things about them and their location looks absolutely beautiful. But shortly after I booked I received a message from the studio manager saying that it was a mistake in the schedule and they had to cancel it. She apologized for the inconvenience but did not ask me if I wanted to reschedule (no big deal) but any other time conflicts I have come across the practitioners were happy to reschedule me. I should take the initiative to ask her if there is another time available but it would have been nice if she would have asked me.

What I also love about the app is that it shows you the practitioners exact location as well as how far away they are from your current location! How cool is that. Also being signed up to the app you get emails with exclusive offers, awesome health tips and articles and an awesome community! And on top of that right now they are offering a special Free health coach for 30 days! 30!!!! DAYS!!! WHATTTT so go sign up and #buildyourleague of professionals!

https://joinleague.com

Tep The Giraffe Challenges You To Get Fit - App

TEP

There's a new app in town. Remember Tamagachie? Or however its spelled. Well some of you might be too young to remember them. Tep is the modern day version app. Download this guy from iTunes or the google play store. Tep the Giraffe challenges you to get fit. You have to walk him, feed him the right things to keep him alive. Im sure the app will get better over time. To me it seems kind of basic. But its a great interactive concept. I mean who wants their pet to die?!?!?

starve

DON’T STARVE YOUR PET

Your pocketpet depends on you – don’t let it down! Take care of it with your everyday workouts.

furtherbetter

GET FURTHER, GET BETTER

Take the journey, and level up for special surprises. The more active you are, the more agile your pet gets.

further

EARN YOUR SHOWER

Track your walks, runs, and rides or synch your wearable activity tracker!

Download Tep here to stay Motivated:

http://gettep.com

Lost It? Find It? - TrackR

I was browsing through Best Buy Canada and I came across this little white box that caught my eye. It read: Lost It? Find It? - TrackR. Since I am always on the go in and out of gyms, clients homes, track and field facilities, my car and constantly traveling to different locations for meetings I am always loosing things. So the idea of the TrackR is perfect for me.

trackr - trainitright

This little guy can be attached to your phone, put on your keys, on your bicycle, in your wallet or any electronic device that you use on a day to day basis. It can be 3M adhesively attached to any device. It can also be tied to a keychain, back pack or even your dog.

Once you download the software/app and set up your account (which is very easy) you are good to go. The app is compatible with:

  • Iphone 4S Or Later
  • IPad with retina display or IPad mini or later
  • iOS 7 and later
  • Android 4.4 and later

Once you realize that you have lost whatever item your TrackR is attached to press your TrackR device button to ring. Even if you phone is on silent you will find it! What a great idea! Also if you log into the app you can ring your item and find it whevever it may be. If you still don't hear the ringer it has a GPS where you can see the location of the item. It also comes with a one year warranty.

The TrackR is definitely TRAIN IT RIGHT Approved! Grab yours HERE.

Burnthis - trainitright - Alicia Bell

BurnThis Mobile App - Community - Photo Sharing - @burnthis

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am now a member of the BurnThis Community. I am also an ambassador! That's right! You can create and share fitness photos with the app on your smart phone. This app isn't specifically for for personal trainers, fitness instructors or fitness lovers, but it is for everyone. You can be motivated by like minded people who all love fitness and want to be the best that they can be. You can also check out the blog here: http://sweat.burnthis.com where they share awesome recipes, workout tips and fitness related articles!

As a BurnThis Ambassador I am actively involved int he community and I am also currently running a challenge. The #trainitright Challenge. Make sure that you download the app. Once it is downloaded hit the challenge button and pick the #trainitright Challenge. Post a photo of a workout that you are particularly proud of, a fitness quote, or an image that drives you to accomplish your fitness goals. Make sure to use the hashtag #trainitright and you could win a whole months supply of Quest Bars! Each post counts as a separate chance to win! The winner will be announced February 2nd 2015. If you don't know about Quest Bars they are a healthy way to have a snack, high in protein and they taste great!

So go check out the blog and also download the app! You can download it directly here: bit.ly/burnthis_socialfitnessapp It will keep you motivated and on track. I hope you meet some great new fitness friends that will help you along your journey! #trainitright