Cal Cutter

Platform and Price

Android, iOS, Web, free 

RD Score

4 out of 5

Synopsis of the App

Developed by the New York Department of Health, Cal Cutter calculates the estimated calories per serving of personal recipes and serves up a few healthy cooking tips along the way.

Pros

• Easy recipe entry and analysis with no confusing bells and whistles
• Easily scale recipes up or down to offer healthier serving sizes
• Includes helpful information on topics such as the impact of oil and zero calorie ingredients on recipe nutrient data
• Accounts for marinades by including only a portion in the calculation
• With one click, the Cal Cutter button delivers onscreen suggestions to reduce calories or create a healthier recipe with ingredient substitutions, healthier cooking methods or smaller portion sizes.
• Available as a web application

Cons

• Limited ingredient database
• App doesn’t account for individual calorie needs – all reference a 2,000 calorie diet
• Must make some ingredient assumptions that may impact nutrient analysis accuracy

Bottom Line

Cal Cutter offers a crash course in nutrient analysis while encouraging the home cook to keep calories in check. Though basic, Cal Cutter can help the average consumer become more aware of the calories in their home recipes and offer suggestions to make them a bit healthier

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Marisa Moore
Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, is based in Atlanta and specializes in culinary nutrition, communications and consulting. She blogs at marisamoore.com. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.