HEALTH: This free app might just change your LOCKDOWN life

A timely repost I think, lockdown has done strange things to our waistlines. This app works and it beats all other online food diaries hands down.

If you’re trying to lose weight, the ‘See How You Eat’ photo food diary app is a ‘real-time, real-life’ record of what you’ve eaten that day and it might just be the kick up the @rse you’ve been looking for.

Studies in the US have shown that photographs are more effective at encouraging people to watch what they eat than traditional written food diaries.

There are other apps (free and paid), that do similar things but they’re more advanced. They break down calorific values, suggest healthier meal options and allow more space for notes and menus etc. However, I think you could get bored with that very quickly. This was the first app I found when I was looking for a photo food journal and I can’t fault it.

See How You Eat is easy to use and set up, you can skip the profile and launch right into it. I’m not technical and haven’t got time to mess about scrolling up and down, so this is a real find for me.

The date is at the top and there are 6 boxes that correspond to the meal reminders, 3 meals and 3 snacks. You can set your own times for the meals or go with time stamps.

Open the app, tap the empty window and photograph your meal. You can also import photos if you eat the same thing for certain meals.

Each window holds up to two photographs and you can add a very brief description – useful if it’s impossible to take a photo when you’re out. You can screen shot that day’s page or share it to email, text or a file.

There are (of course) in – app purchases, pop ups (to make you buy extra features) and ads at the bottom, but I ignore all of those. I think it’s too easy to accidentally buy something, all I want is to see what I’ve eaten that day.

You really do think twice about what you’re eating and more importantly, when. A pattern will soon emerge and you’ll be able to spot the ‘danger’ times. You can also tell from a glance how big your portions are and how many vegetables you’re eating – or not.

There’s no point in cheating because it’s only you looking at the app, it’s not Instagram. But I think you’ll want to compete with yourself and fill the boxes with healthy, colourful meals. I’ve only been using this app since Monday, so I have no idea how I’ll cope over the weekend!

SEE HOW YOU EAT Free from the App Store, but only for iOS devices – Sorry android users, I know that’s a pain!