A collection of the best of the best (and FREE!) apps for finding new and interesting recipes, planning your weekly meals, tracking your diet and fitness, shopping for groceries, and even cooking recipes straight from your phone or tablet.
The Best Apps for Healthy Meal Planning will help you create delicious, healthy meals for every type of cuisine, including gluten free and paleo. These apps are great for meal planning on your smart phone or tablet. For reference, these apps will be listed in App Store alphabetical order in the top charts.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Healthy Meal Planning
Mealime
Mealime offers user-friendly, customizable meal plans that you can tailor to your diet while excluding specific foods you don’t like.
It’s available on both iOS and Android platforms and the basic version is free.
After you’ve entered your preferences, you’re presented with a variety of recipe choices, complete with full-color photos, simple instructions and an organized grocery list. An additional bonus is that the recipes all take under 45 minutes to prepare.
However, one of the major drawbacks is that you’re limited to the recipes available on the app as there is no way to import your own.
What’s more, you cannot save previously used meal plans, customize calorie preferences or view nutrition information unless you upgrade to the pro version, which will set you back $5.99/month or $49.99/year.
Download for iPhone | Download for Android
Paprika
Paprika is marketed primarily as a recipe manager, but it also includes menu planning features. It’s available on both Android and iOS platforms for a one-time fee of $5.99.
With Paprika, you’re in charge of saving and entering recipes to build meal plans. It does not have its own preset recipes and menus. Therefore, it’s probably best for people who can structure a meal plan with minimal support.
This app provides customized grocery lists and allows you to save recipes directly from the web. Additionally, Paprika detects when more than one recipe needs the same ingredient and consolidates the relevant grocery lists for you.
The app will keep your screen turned on while you’re working from a recipe. It can also detect timer directions within a recipe so that you can set cooking timers directly from the app.
One drawback to this app is that it won’t detect if you’ve entered a recipe from the same URL more than once. If you accidentally enter the same recipe, you’ll end up with duplicates.
Additionally, Paprika doesn’t always include nutrition information. It will only draw nutrition data from the original recipe webpage or information you enter manually.
If you know what types of food meet your calorie goals, this deficiency may not be problematic. However, if you need the extra support, a different app may be more appropriate.
Download for iPhone | Download for Android
PlateJoy
PlateJoy creates customized meal plans for you and your household according to your dietary preferences and weight loss goals. It’s available on both Android and iOS platforms.
PlateJoy is a user-friendly app with beautiful, full-color photos and a high level of customization. Full nutrition information is available for each recipe, and you can sync it with your Fitbit or Jawbone to better track your health goals.
It creates customized grocery lists and helps prevent food waste by allowing you to log the food already in your fridge or pantry. That way, you don’t repurchase items you already have.
Another feature lets you send your grocery list to Instacart for grocery delivery depending on where you live.
The biggest drawbacks to Platejoy are that you cannot enter your own recipes and that it’s somewhat costly compared to other meal planning apps. It’ll set you back $69 for six months or $99 for a 12-month subscription.
Download for iPhone | Download for Android
Plan to Eat
Plan to Eat lets you organize all of your favorite recipes and create meal plans in one easy-to-use app. It’s available on both iOS and Android platforms.
You can enter recipes manually or input a URL from any recipe online. Full nutrition information is provided for each recipe, and you can edit or add notes as you please.
Adding recipes to the weekly calendar-style planner will automatically create an organized grocery list.
A unique feature of this app is that you can share your recipes or meal plans with friends and family, making it easier to stay on top of your health goals as a team.
Because it doesn’t come with a preset recipe database, this app is definitely a better choice for those who have a good recipe collection already or who enjoy searching the web for new recipes.
Though Plan to Eat requires a $4.95/month or $39/year fee, you can try it out for free for 30 days.
Download for iPhone | Download for Android
Yummly
Yummly is both an app and a website, in which you can browse and save recipes tailored to your personal tastes from all over the web.
It’s available on both iOS and Android platforms and free of charge.
Yummly can filter recipes based on dietary preferences, allergies and skill level. You can even filter for recipes that have videos, which is handy for those looking to develop their cooking skills or learn new techniques.
Full nutrition information is available for each recipe.
When you save recipes, you can organize them into separate meal categories, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. You can also enter and save your own recipes manually.
One of the major drawbacks of Yummly is its overall usability. While it’s visually appealing, it’s complicated and more difficult to use compared to similar apps. If you’re not technologically savvy, it may not be the best choice.
Additionally, Yummly doesn’t have a calendar-style meal plan, which may or may not be an issue depending on the features you desire in a meal planning app.
Download for iPhone | Download for Android
Make My Plate
Make My Plate offers both free and paid customizable meal plans. It’s available on iOS and Android.
The free version offers 1,200-, 1,500- or 1,800-calorie meal plans and comes with templates for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. You can also filter based on allergies and food preferences.
After you select your meals for the week, an organized grocery list is automatically created.
One of the most unique features of this app is that each meal is represented in photographic form on a virtual plate. This plate is particularly useful if you’re working on portion control or learning what portions of certain foods look like.
The major drawbacks to this app are the food selections and recipes, which are extremely basic and don’t supply as many choices as competitor apps.
If you’re new to cooking and meal planning, Make My Plate’s simplicity may actually help you get started. But if you easily tire of eating similar entrees week after week, this app may not work for you.
Pepperplate
Pepperplate organizes recipes you know and love while simultaneously adding new recipes you want to try.
It’s available on both Android and iOS platforms and free of charge.
You start by importing recipes manually or copying recipe URLs from supported websites. You are then able to organize your recipes into customizable categories.
After you’ve added your recipes, you can incorporate personalized menus and meal plans into a calendar-style planner complete with grocery lists.
Pepperplate is ideal for the experienced cook who has a solid recipe collection and knows their nutritional needs — especially if that person is trying to lose weight.
Keep in mind that this app doesn’t have a calorie tracking component and doesn’t draw from its own database of foods. Another drawback is that you have to enter recipes and menus via the web, not directly through the app.
Meal planning apps
Why We Chose It
Whisk is a great, all-around app for those who enjoy seeing what others are cooking and want to explore. Integrated videos from recipe creators offer help for those that are more visually-oriented. Plus, Whisk offers a lot of bang for zero bucks.
Pros & Cons
Pros
One of the best free options
Easy to access since you can use Alexa or Google Assistant
It’s easy to add dietary preferences
Cons
It can be a little bit hard to choose recipes because there’s no guidance
Unlike other meal planning apps, it doesn’t take into account what you already have
Whisk doesn’t plan menus for you but it does offer options to choose from
Overview
Food is all about sharing, right? Whisk takes the idea of social media and sautees it with recipe collections and shopping lists, all in one handy (and free!) app. Whisk doesn’t plan menus for you, but it does offer plenty to choose from, with organization reminiscent of Facebook groups.
Whisk offers a variety of ways to find recipes. Users can browse or join the groups to see continuous content; they can also save their favorite recipes from websites or find recipes in groups organized by cuisine, cooking methods, dietary restrictions, or events.
Content creators like The Korean Vegan, What Zoe Eats, or Taste and Traveler also offer content groups. Once users find a recipe they like, it’s easy to save it to their recipe box. All recipes also include a health score with nutritional information included.
So, where does the meal planning come in? The planner tab offers a weekly calendar where you can add your planned recipes. Need a shopping list? Click “Add To” on the recipe, and it autogenerates a shareable list, which can be updated in real-time. You can also send your list to area shopping services or grocery pickup options.
Best for Specific Diets: PlateJoy
Plate Joy
SIGN UP NOW
Key Specs
Cost: Plans for six months (about $69) or a year (roughly $99).
Platforms (iOS, Android, etc): Android and iOS
Free version (y/n): N
Why We Chose It
When it comes to personalization and your health goals, PlateJoy stands head and shoulders above the rest. Recipes are enticing, and the instructions are clear. Plus, it will base your menus on your budgetary and health goals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Nutritionist-created recipes
Highly personalized
Easy shopping app integration
Batch recipe options
Recipes can be easily tracked in the Fitbit app
Cons
A bit expensive compared to other apps
Not transferrable to all fitness apps (e.g. MyFitnessPal, Noom, etc.)
Overview
PlateJoy begins with an extensive survey of your household: who you are feeding, their weight goals, and what they like. The survey analyzes carb and meat preferences, as well as special dietary concerns such as sodium, gluten, dairy, kosher, or pregnancy/nursing. You can even exclude ingredients that you don’t like.
With these categories in mind, PlateJoy generates various recipes to choose from, complete with nutrition information. You can choose batch cooking recipes to minimize prep time or individual meals with one to two servings for each of the people you’re feeding.
Once you’ve selected your meals, the app autogenerates a shopping list, taking into account what you have already in your fridge and pantry. It will also group recipes to lower food waste. Once your list is set, head to the store, or send your list to Instacart or Amazon Fresh for delivery since both are integrated.
PlateJoy is a paid service, with plans for six months (about $69) or a year (roughly $99).
Best for Gourmet Chefs: Yummly
Yummly
SIGN UP NOW
Key Specs
Cost: About $5 per month
Platforms (iOS, Android, etc): iOS and Android
Free version (y/n): Y
Why We Chose It
Not everyone is focused on time and health. For those looking for a greater culinary experience, Yummly offers accessible but aspirational recipes and knowledge with the ease of a planning tool.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Recipes from all-star chefs including Carla Hall, Andrew Zimmern and Ali Rosen
If you have a smart kitchen, you can connect your devices to Yummly
Take a photo of an ingredient you have and the app finds recipes
Cons
Features more complex recipes for experienced chefs
The meal planning portion can be difficult to find
If you have the free app, there’s pressure to upgrade to the Pro version
Overview
Not everyone is held to the 30-minute meal standard. For those who don’t mind stirring a simmering risotto for 45 minutes and want to be inspired by famous chefs, Yummly offers culinary inspiration and valuable organizational tools.
Yummly stands apart from the crowd in that it doesn’t shy away from more complex recipes. There are technique tutorials that will help level up your skills as well, and you can find your favorite recipes by searching by cuisine or ingredients.
Two features really elevate Yummly. The first is the ingredient search tool: Take a photo of any ingredient in your pantry, and the app will find recipes that use that ingredient. The second is the timing feature added to every recipe. Want dinner on the table at 5 p.m.? Your recipe will tell you when to start prepping.
Yummly Pro is where the star factor comes in. The paid version (about $5 per month) gives access to celebrity chef tutorials and recipes from Carla Hall, Stephanie Izard, Andrew Zimmern, Ali Rosen, and more. And if you have a smart kitchen, you can connect your devices to Yummly for even more intuitive functionality.
Best Eco-Friendly: Cooklist
Cooklist
SIGN UP NOW
Key Specs
Cost: Pro version is about $50 per year or roughly $6 monthly.
Platforms (iOS, Android, etc): iOS and Android
Free version (y/n): Free trial
Why We Chose It
Being able to comparison shop between stores is a huge benefit that comes with Cooklist. Plus, the yearly fee is relatively low for such a big basket of benefits.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The app has recipes, makes a shopping list and allows you to order groceries online
Subscribers waste less food because of pantry inventory and expiration
Recipes are based on what you already have
Cons
The Pro version is much better than the free version
Without the Pro version,users can’t order groceries in-app or compare prices
Building the pantry takes a lot of time at the beginning
Overview
If you aspirationally buy fruits and veggies only to throw them in the trash three weeks later, Cooklist is here to save the day. Does it have recipes? Yes. Does it make a shopping list? Of course. Does it allow you to order groceries online? You betcha.
But the thing that sets Cooklist apart is that it not only organizes your shopping list, but it keeps track of your fridge, freezer, and pantry, alerting you when ingredients are about to expire. You can import purchases from your favorite retailers or manually add ingredients. Getting close to expiration? Cooklist will send a notification with suggestions for those ingredients.
Meal planning is simple as well. In addition to building your own menu, Cooklist offers suggested menus based on specific goals or diets, which can be customized to your tastes.
There’s a Pro version for about $50 per year or roughly $6 monthly, which adds some serious value. Once you’ve added your recipes to your shopping list, you can compare local supermarket prices. You can also add store loyalty cards to your account for when you order.
Final Verdict
All of these apps save you time and money, because you’ll let less groceries go to waste. The best overall, however, is Mealime because it’s the perfect way to get started meal planning, and the free version is top-notch. Mealime’s free version works almost exactly like the paid version, letting users explore recipes created by chefs and registered dieticians.
Mealime’s wide variety of options are designed to be quick, healthy, and accessible to most home cooks. Best of all, a food preference quiz eliminates options that you don’t want and asks about your dietary restrictions, making it easy to customize. The recipes also take less than thirty minutes to make, so you’ll free up your weeknights – get ready to watch some Netflix.
If you’re more health-focused, both Whisk and PlateJoy are easy to navigate and give the nutritional information you’re looking for. Cooklist and PlateJoy offer tools to save money for the budget-conscious, whether you’re comparison shopping or choosing in-season recipes to lower costs.
Whisk and Yummly provide inspiration beyond just time- and calorie-saving, allowing cooks to plan splurge-worthy meals. All of these meal planning apps are perfect ways to save time spent meal prepping and also reduce waste, because you’ll know exactly what’s in your pantry and refrigerator.
Guide to Choosing the Best Meal Planning Apps
Are Meal Planning Apps Worth It?
Help the reader decide if they should download a meal planning app by assessing their needs. This may include a pros/cons list, if relevant. Do you want to plan your meals better for health reasons, such as keeping blood sugar low? Are you busy with work or family, and need to organize your meals better? Do you need more organization when creating shopping lists? Do you want to track nutrition? Include anything else you may find in your research, and feel free to modify/change/remove based on your findings.
Comparing Meal Planning Apps
Brief intro followed by bullet points (with context) for what important factors should be considered when picking meal planning apps. Each bullet point should have one or two sentences of explanation about why it is an important factor.
These factors can be cost, free versions, paid/pro versions, customization, ease of use, or anything else you may find in your research to help them decide (feel free to remove/change/modify). If relevant, provide any tips the reader may find helpful while comparing and contrasting.
Downloading and Using a Meal Planning App
Offer advice to the reader on how they can get started after choosing which meal planning app to download. This may include downloading the app based on their smartphone (or tablet), using the free version, buying a paid or pro version if they like the app, and using the app to schedule their meals, organize their shopping lists, and much more. They can manage their account within the app and customize the app based on their needs.
Include anything else you may find in your research, and feel free to modify/change/remove based on your findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Meal Planning App?
Meal planning apps help to organize and schedule meals for busy families or singles. Typically they include searchable recipes based on diet or flavor preferences. Sometimes they even help you create recipes with the ingredients you already have.
How Much Do Meal Planning Apps Cost?
Meal planning apps range from free to an average of about $50 to $100 a year. Free versions usually limit the functionality. If you’re looking to save time searching for dinner options, the right app can make a huge difference.
Do Meal Planning Apps Come With Food?
Meal planning apps are organizational tools, so they don’t send ingredients to your home like meal delivery services.
Methodology
To select the best meal planning apps, we closely examined the cross-section of price and functionality and selected the apps that were easiest to customize for busy home chefs. All of our apps include grocery ordering and a shallow learning curve. After all, you’re not saving time if you’re spending it all learning how to use your time-saving app.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines