About Nutrition Software

• What we eat
  
  Each piece of nutrition software works a bit differently, but in general the set-up begins with a questionnaire. The software asks for your age, sex, weight and general health questions and generates a profile for you. Based on the profile, the system guides you through the steps to establish reasonable goals and calculates what you need to do each day to meet those goals. Based on your input the software also monitors your progress and modifies the plan as needed to help you stay on track.
  
  Nutrition software breaks down the nutrients in the foods you eat and reports where you are in relation to U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs). If you find you need more potassium or vitamin D, for example, the software recommends foods high in those nutrients.
  
  Most nutrition software has a physical-activity component. How we move our bodies has a dramatic impact on our metabolic rates and the amount of fuel our bodies need. Based on age, sex and weight, the software estimates how many calories are expended. Whether you are vacuuming the carpet, walking the dog or running a marathon, the software helps you to weave that activity into your overall goals.
  
  Have you ever wondered how to "count" your favorite homemade casserole into your food plan? With nutrition software, simply input the recipe and the number of servings it yields. The software calculates all the same information you would find on a nutrition label in the grocery store. Nutrition software also includes nutrient information for an array of restaurant and fast foods.
  
  

Ratings

• Ratings
  
  Top TenREVIEWS analyzed 16 pieces of nutrition software in 2009 and ranked them according to ease of use, nutrition features, fitness component, price and system compatibility. Prices ranged from $20 to $72. Their top five selections were: DietMaster 2100, Nutrinote, Diet Power, Kathleen's Diet Planner and DietOrganizer. If you are a Macintosh user, however, only DietMaster 2100 is compatible with your system.
  
  

A Free Option

• Food tracking
  
  You may also want to consider an online nutrition tracking option, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) MyPyramid Tracker. It contains many of the same features as the highly rated software programs and is free.