Best Android food database app?

Community Share Your Stories
1

So I'm a total geek, and last week bought a cheap Android tablet to have in my kitchen (I mounted it below the cabinets so it can just stay there all the time except when charging). I did this mostly because I want to encourage myself to learn to cook more, and also because I am constantly running back and forth between my kitchen and my computer when I am preparing food. Now this tablet lets me have an accessible (speech output) calculator, timer (I can't see the one on my oven), recipes, and also watch YouTube or listen to podcasts while I do things like dishes. I was also hoping to use the camera on the tablet as a video magnifier so I could look at ingredients and nutritional information, but being a cheap tablet the camera is only 0.3 megapixels so isn't clear enough to zoom in to a level I can see. So I'll still need to use a video magnifier, which is a bit annoying but when I get a new one (I have one I've had for the past five years so will probably save up for a new one) I'll keep my current one where I keep my food scale so it's easily accessible.

The two apps I haven't found yet are a food database and SiDiary (well, I found SiDiary has an Android version but it says it's incompatible with my device so won't let me install ...). Anyone have any recommendations? I need one that is as simple as possible so it will work with the TalkBack screen reader, no fancy graphics or visual breakdowns needed.

I have started using SiDiary for my diabetes logbook, by the way, and LOVE IT! I was using Diabetes Pilot but that requires you enter everything manually, which I just can't keep doing because its' soooo time consuming to enter dozens of separate records each day. SiDiary allows me to upload my pump data (although it seems like I have to download it to ezManager first then upload, which is annoying). The one thing I DON'T like about this is that downloading from the Animas is so slow. I really hate that. No reason it has to take five or ten minutes to download pump data! SiDiary is synced to an online service so I can enter things manually (like exercise, notes about food or stress, etc.) on my computer or my iPhone. If I can get the Android app installed I can enter stuff from my kitchen, too, which would be nice. SiDiary also supports screen readers in all of its desktop software, mobile apps, and its website, which is great and something that can't be said of almost all other diabetes companies. Trying to make everything in my life as simple and easily accessible as possible.

2

I like this app called "Lose It". The database is large, includes lots of horrible junk food. It uses the camera to scan bar codes. It also has exercise, which you may not exactly be looking for but it's sort of fun. I liked the interface to adjust serviing sizes, etc. much more practical than myfitnesspal.

3

I've used that app for iPhone (many years ago) but didn't know it might be out there for Android. I will have to take a look.

4

Would a tablet with Android 4.0 be able to handle those 3 programs..SiDiary, Lose it, and Myfitnesspal, which seems the least liked...or would it be better to get a tablet that handles Win7? Do they limit the program's functionality on the Android?

I would like to do what you are doing Jen, and set it up where I usually take blood tests and have the cable ready to download the data...but I want more than just to see blood tests...I would like to be able to see how the food consumption and exercise relates. I know my tiny Lifescan UltraSmart meter has lots of that included but it is too small a screen for me to even bother about, as I need a magnifying glass. Ideally I would like to be able to have the cable link on all the time, so I can see the data on a 10.1" screen instead of on a postage stamp sized screen.

5

I think most phones/ tablets will have tons of apps so that shouldn’t be a problem.

6

I was planning to get something that would run a program that people really LIKED.
So of those 3, which do you like best? The lose it seems quite practical....can you adjust based on the weight of the food item?

7

Lose it and MFP (I've never used SiDiary...) both allow custom stuff and have options for inputting. I don't recall what I found different about MFP as it was a while ago that I tried MFP. I do recall that MFP had more stuff about minerals,maybe vitamins, which I recall you're into. I think they both have custom options so you can create your own parameters to put in data, create your own foods, etc. It's really a matter of personal preference and what's easier to use. They are both fun.

8

Thanks for letting me know about nutritional info...I'll go look ....