Easy Diet Diary NZ

Easy Diet Diary is an app that records food consumed by the user and links to food composition software. The primary aim of the app is to monitor energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates and a limited number of micronutrients. Additional features of the app allow weight, exercise monitoring and an option of turning on renal nutrients, which estimates sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorous intake.

This app is best used under the supervision of a dietitian or health professional with access to FoodWorks software (Xyris Ltd). If used in isolation it still has benefit for a knowledgeable consumer with an understanding of appropriate energy requirements and exercise.

For the complete app description, go to the Google Play store(external link) or App store(external link) or for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Auckland, Manukau, NZ 
Date of review: February 2023
Comments: Would be good if you could enter the times of meals.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Frances Arenhold, Registered Dietitian
Date of review: September 2022
Version: 6.0.28
Platform: Android
Comment: This app is most useful for people wanting to monitor energy and/or macronutrient (carbohydrate, protein, fat) intake on a regular basis. The app also may be useful for those wanting to monitor their sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous or fibre intake. Easy Diet Diary NZ is best used under the supervision of a dietitian or health professional with access to FoodWorks software (Xyris Ltd) so an in-depth food composition analysis could be run. If used in isolation it still has benefit for a knowledgeable consumer with an understanding of appropriate energy requirements and exercise.
Safety concerns: The ability of this app to monitor renal nutrients is limited by FoodWorks being a sample of Australian foods. Clients with renal disease should consult a renal dietitian before using this app for monitoring.
New Zealand relevance: Although the app is titled Easy Diet Diary NZ, the food composition database that the app links to is Australian. FoodWorks is an Australian database of food products so some variations in food composition is likely but a reasonable representative of energy and nutrient consumption.

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Auckland, NZ 
Date of review: June 2022          
Comments: This app is excellent. You can check all sorts of foods, make a list of your favourite foods, add recipes and get the nutrition value, track your calories for the exercises you do, check calories, carbs, sugars, and fats. This is my go-to app everyday! 

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Canterbury, Christchurch 
Date of review: April 2022          
Comments: I felt accountable for what I eat and it works out my calorie intake. 

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Waikato, NZ
Date of review: February 2022       
Comments: It has both cals and kJs. Cannot remove a recipe.

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Auckland, NZ
Date of review: November 2021        
Comments: Most foods I buy are in the database, I can add those that aren’t. Intuitive. Didn’t understand the % clock though, not at all clear what it refers to.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Andrea Braakhuis, Academic, Registered dietitian, The University of Auckland
Date of review: October 2019
Comment: This app is most useful for anyone wanting to monitor energy intake on a regular basis. Users can get information about the foods they are consuming. This app is beneficial for any consumer working with a registered dietitian, as the app allows data sharing. Also, the app has the functionality to link to Foodworks software, so the dietitian could run in-depth food compositional analysis on the data the consumer enters. This is a novel feature for an Australian/NZ based app. In isolation, the app still has benefit for a knowledgeable consumer with an understanding of appropriate energy requirements and exercise. 
Safety concerns: No particular concerns.
New Zealand relevance: Although the app is titled Easy Diet Diary NZ, the food composition database that the app links to is Australian. I would acknowledge Australian food composition is closely linked to New Zealand, but many brand names and products are formulated differently between countries. However, better to link to Australia food composition than United States, for example, as with many alternative apps. 

User review

Reviewer: Member of the public, Marlborough, Blenheim 
Date of review: March 2020          
Comments: It gets results.