NHS Calorie Counter. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[June1965]

Hi All,

Can we all post (if you want) a request for our very own NHS calorie counter (mobile version) on an App please,

Yes we have the Nutracheck one on the site, but we need our own, MFP is far to strict and to American for my liking!!! We need a good old British version on our beloved NHS site 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Come on Lowcal work your magic 💫💫💫 and get it sorted 👍💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋👍👍👍

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi June,

I've just spotted your very colourful post, and I would say that I would be happy to try to bring this issue to the NHS Weight Loss staff - I've never communicated with them, but I am aware that there is a 'contact us' arena, so I would suggest that people comment in your post, and that way I could give a link to this thread - once people's viewpoints are put forward within it.

Personally speaking I've always used Myfitnesspal, and haven't actually noticed the Americanisms you've mentioned, but that's just my own perspective on it.  

I never tried the Nutracheck version on the NHS site, so I don't have any experience of using that - but I have read a post further down by muffintop67  where it was mentioned that you have to pay to continue using it?  I hadn't really realised that before.

I would be more than happy to bring the issue to the NHS editor, or relevant staff there, to see what they think.  But I do think we would need to have some comments about how people feel - so I hope people will contribute within your thread regarding their thoughts about it.

Hope this helps.

Lowcal

[muffintop67 in reply to Zest]

Hi Lowcal. I guess if most people are happy with Myfitnesspal there is no need to add anything.  Having a calorie counter on your mobile is just more convenient.  It looks like you get a 7 day trial with Nutracheck then its £3.99 a month for the basic package. Maybe I should just upgrade my phone for the extra money instead. However if the NHS are happy to do their own app then I would probably use that instead.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to muffintop67]

Hi Muffintop67,

I was only giving my own opinion re: MFP, and essentially I think it would be an excellent idea to give feedback to the NHS Weight Loss staff about what people think of the Nutracheck app, and whether that meets their needs, as it is specifically part of the NHS 12 week plan resources.  

I have used the MFP app because it was free and easy to use, and I like it.  But that's my personal preference, and as I said I've not used the Nutracheck app at all.  I think it's great that June and yourself are discussing  your own needs and preferences, and it could be that many others feel the same way.  

I hope people will contribute their own feelings and thoughts within this thread, so we can give them valuable feedback, when I bring the thread link to their attention.

So I hope people will say whatever they like, and know that the NHS staff can then look at all comments, and that would be excellent feedback for them.

Lowcal

[Sana786 in reply to muffintop67]

Hi muffintop 67, 

I do use fitnesspal as well but the problem is that it does not have that many asian things on the list. Being an asian person, i have really struggled to submit my meals many times and gave up several times 😕😕. I have even submitted the request through "contact us" but still without success so far. It would be a good idea to have this app through NHS where everyone can benefit from it at least to a point if not completely. ☺

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to muffintop67]

Hi again Muffintop67,

Have you seen this page:

nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-healt...

It suggests here that you can use the Calorie counter for free and you can load the homepage to your phone and use it as an app - have you tried to do this?  Maybe it would work well that way.

I shall be doing a poll about the issue - most likely on the weekend, but thought you might like to double check the potential of the Calorie counter on your mobile, as I know that's how you'd like to use it.

Lowcal

[muffintop67 in reply to Zest]

Hi Lowcal.  Thank you for sending the link. I have looked at it but I am not sure it will add up all the calories like it does on Nutracheck/MFP.  I think it is more a calorie checker so you would then need to keep a note of each food item unlike the others which just log it all and keep a running total. A running total is easier (makes me sound very lazy). Have also looked at the link that Penel sent regarding some different calorie counters and will see if I can download them to my phone for now. Thank you for all your extra work regarding this issue.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to muffintop67]

Hi Muffintop67,

No problem, I am happy to do what I can to help.  

I hope you find something that helps - if you look at the 'Poll' comments there are several different apps people are using mentioned there as well.

Hopefully you can find something that will be compatible with your needs and your phone!  

Lowcal

[muffintop67]

Thanks Lowcal.  I feel bad as I just asked if anyone had used Nutracheck and now its created extra work for you! I liked Myfitnesspal too when I used it a few years ago maybe I shouldn't be such a tight wad and buy myself a new phone. Will be interesting to see if anyone else makes a comment about it. Thanks again.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to muffintop67]

Please don't feel bad, Muffintop67,

It's an interesting subject, and maybe a poll will help to see how many people use what kind of apps and get some feedback from our community.  I am going to try to devise a poll for the weekend.

Lowcal

[muffintop67]

I think that it would be great to have a NHS calorie checker app so that you can have it on your phone and take it out with you.  It would then be linked to this site and the 12 week weight loss plan and would mean you would have all your information together. 

[Diana]

I just google uncertain foods, how is your tum these days?  Better I hope

[Penel]

This article compares some different calorie counters. Might be useful?

authoritynutrition.com/5-be...

[elliebath Maintainer]

I've got on well with the " myfitnesspal" app. Without it, I doubt that I'd have hit my target weight a year ago and still be maintaining.... . 

Yes some food brands are American, but the database for British brands is also pretty huge and you can always add a new product or scan its barcode. Plus it is easy to save my own regular foods/ portion sizes, recipes and menus. 

So if the NHS do decide to develop a calorie counter, it would need to have at least these same features for me to swap.

[rosie-2015]

I personally love myfitnesspal, it gives me all I need calories nutrients goals and progress. My favorite part is that it is free, i also love the fact i fill my diary every day and it also has blogs community and so much more on saying all that i haven't felt the need to look elsewhere 👍Rosie

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi again June, Muffintop and everyone,

I was looking at the NHS Choices website, and this page gives suggestions for apps etc:

nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-healt...

It does suggests both Nutracheck and also Myfitnesspal as suggested options people can use alongside the NHS 12 week plan.  

I noticed in your previous post June that you had already put some feedback to the NHS website about your wish that they might do their own calorie checker, so maybe chase that up.

I have noticed some other threads recently comparing different apps and systems - e.g. BritishHeartfoundation vs Myfitnesspal.  

I'm wondering if perhaps I should think about setting a poll to ask people's views on different apps that they use.  

Maybe that would be a better way forward to elicit people's views, and the poll results could then be available for the NHS Choices site - as potential feedback that is more productive? 

I'll have a think about a potential poll, and will put one up there over the weekend, or when I have a bit more time.  I'm working today, so won't have much time now till the weekend, but I will think about a Poll - and put one up over the weekend.

June1965  and muffintop67  - do you think this is a good way forward with this?  I only want to help if it's going to be productive.  So do let me know if you'd value having a survey about it (or anyone else who happens to be reading this).

Lowcal

[June1965 in reply to Zest]

Lowcal,

Definitely a good idea, we need our very own app on here!!! 

And to ask everyone would be grand, 👍👍👍 I'm in......

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to June1965]

Ok June, I'll put a poll together and put that out on the weekend, and we can see what results come back, and I can bring the poll results to the attention of the NHS Choices feedback staff, as well as a link to this thread to include the comments that have already been made.

Lowcal

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Zest]

Hi again,

I've just put a poll up - which I hope will be helpful.  

Lowcal

[Sana786 in reply to Zest]

Yes Lowcal, that would be a very good idea and I'm sure everyone else will agree too. I'm in for sure alongwith June☺😄. 🙅🙆💪.

Sana. 

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Sana786]

Hi Sana,

The Poll is up and running now, so do contribute your thoughts and comments there - you can find it in the right-hand-side of the homepage where it says 'Last Poll'.

Thanks!

Lowcal

[Sana786 in reply to Zest]

Hi Lowcal, sorry but I can't seem to find the poll😕😕 please help as it is starting to really frustrate me now. 😯😦

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Sana786]

Hi Sana,

Here is a link to the poll:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Best wishes,

Lowcal

[Sana786 in reply to Zest]

Thanks for the link Lowcal, I've finally submitted my vote. 😅😆

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Sana786]

Fantastic!  

[DartmoorDumpling Restart Feb 2024]

I haven't tried MFP but have been using the Nutracheck App which I feel has been worth every penny I paid for it!  

It is an excellent site which has pictures and choices and you can make up your own recipes (which it saves) and you can add portions of those recipes to your daily diary. 

You have access to other member's recipes too and it is all very well organised as obviously there is a lot of money behind it.   

It has a forum too, although I find the people on this NHS forum are more in tune with me - I think there are a lot of young folk using the Nutracheck site and their conversations go off on a different tangent somehow!

If the NHS could afford the IT back-up required, it would be great, but without charging a subscription, I don't think they could create the complexity required for a decent calorie counting diary/graph/recipe log.

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi June & everyone,

There is a poll posted now, so please do also put your comments and votes there.  But I will also give a thread link to this post too, so all comments made here will be feedback also.

Lowcal

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi again June,

Just to let you know that I've just submitted the feedback to the NHS Choices website - and sent a copy of your post and also the poll results, so I will let you know when I receive a response.  

Hope you're having a good week.

Lowcal

[June1965]

Nice one lowcal 👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💋💋💋💋

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi June1965  & muffintop67  ,

Just to update you both that I received the following reply today:

"Dear Lowcal,

Thank you very much for the user feedback, which we will take on board and refer to our commissioners for consideration.

Kind regards

Victoria

The Editorial Team"

I sent a copy of the link to this thread, and also the Poll results - so hopefully the commissioners will consider these, as in the reply from the Editorial Team at NHS Choices.

Best wishes,

Lowcal

[June1965 in reply to Zest]

Lowcal,

Nice one & thanks.....👍

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to June1965]

You are very welcome June!  

[muffintop67 in reply to Zest]

Thanks Lowcal