I Tried AI-Powered Calorie Counting Apps—Here’s Why They Disappointed Me

AI-powered calorie counting apps like Cal AI, SnapCalorie, and MyFitnessPal attempt to simplify dietary tracking by using smartphone cameras to assess food intake. While they aim to reduce human error, real-world testing reveals significant limitations. Users report that these apps often misidentify foods and inaccurately estimate portion sizes—leading to misleading calorie counts. For instance, Cal AI misinterpreted a Pink Lady apple as tikka masala and undercounted its calories. Though SnapCalorie offered slightly better accuracy, its performance remained inconsistent. Calorie Mama struggled to identify complex dishes, requiring extensive manual input. Ultimately, the convenience promised by these technologies is undermined by the need for constant verification, rendering them less efficient than traditional methods like food scales. Furthermore, the obsession with precise calorie tracking may detract from healthier approaches, such as intuitive eating that emphasizes listening to the body’s hunger cues rather than fixating on numbers, suggesting that a holistic relationship with food might be more beneficial.

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