Food for thought – how to use technology to eat healthy

A sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits can wreak havoc on our health. Can technology save us? Modern apps and gadgets are aiming to head that way. But are they really worth a try?

• Apple has patented a keyboard that is completely dirt-resistant so you snack while you work without worry.
• The fast-food robot “Flippy” from California has been decommissioned for being too slow.
• Healthy-eating starts at home. Here’s how you can organize your refrigerator to get started.

While technology seems to be making our lives easier, it is also making us somewhat lazy at the same time. Automating things in and around the house sounds like fun but you’ve got to admit that it does make you do a lot less. There are robots cleaning your floors and even your windows. So, life is considered productive because you get to spend more time at work but you remain sedentary at the same time. Obesity rates are increasing every year and, by 2030, half of the adults in the US are predicted to be obese. Surprisingly, this is not only about adults. It’s also about our kids. In fact, only one in three kids is physically active every day. With video games and consoles, kids are more into conquering virtual kingdoms than playing in the park. That’s a hard fact pill to swallow which is why staying healthy has become a big challenge for mankind today.

Thankfully, technology is finally coming up with ways to improve our health. Be it in the form of gadgets or apps, you can now stay on top of your health from the touch of a button. No, we aren’t talking about exercising with your Apple Watch. There is more to a healthy lifestyle which begins with healthy eating. Good food fuels the energy in your body and the more you keep eating well, the more healthy you’ll become in the long run. And, this entire sedentary lifestyle paired with unhealthy eating habits can make our lives take a turn for the worse. We’ve been hearing this time and again. But, does technology give us a way out?

Eat healthy to live healthy

Before we get into the tech aspect of nutrition, let’s analyze the effects of good food and bad food. By bad, we mean all the junk food that tastes delicious but does more harm to your body than you can imagine. Too much junk food can:

• cause memory and learning problems
• lead to dementia
• lessen your ability to control appetite
• cause depression
• produce uncontrollable cravings

In addition, our fast-paced work lives are one of the biggest reasons for unhealthy eating. Grabbing an energizing Starbucks or tasty cookies on the way to work might sound normal for most working professionals but the harm it does to your body is often overlooked.

On the other hand, remote working professionals are considered to have greater control over their eating habits. This is clear because their kitchen is at their disposal. Here are some healthy foods you can use to satisfy your at-work food cravings:

• Almonds
• Snap Peas
• Berries
• Greek Yogurt
• Turkey Breast Slices
• Chicken Salad
• Smoothies
• Dark Chocolate

Cook your meal with technology

Changing the way we eat can start right from your phone. With the Galaxy S9 allowing you to see the nutritional aspects of food, the serious health issues we are facing globally must be serious. But, the technology is all for the best. In fact, Ali Partovi, an investor in food companies has said that,

More conscientious eating — meaning organic, sustainable and healthy food — is a huge trend, much bigger than many people realize.

Gadgets You Can Use
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus Smartphone
Most of the new features on these smartphones center around the camera. Together with artificial intelligence, they can identify food items and also tell you the nutritional aspect of your food in just seconds.

SCiO Molecular Sensor
This molecular sensor can analyze food, plants, medication, oil, and fuels as well as plastics and more. It is capable of reading the chemical makeup of materials and is a non-intrusive, no-touch optical sensor.

Prep Pad
It’s a smart food scale which, once paired with the corresponding CounterTop App, can give you beautiful visualizations of protein, carbs, fats, and more in your daily diet. It’s wonderfully carved out of a single piece of aluminum and can hold up to 15 lbs.

FOODsniffer – A Smart Kitchen Tool To Enjoy Meals Safely
It can instantly tell if the food is fresh, hazardous to your health or has been left unrefrigerated for too long. The digital nose uses sensors to determine over 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like ammonia or carboxylic acids. After collecting all the data, it alerts the user whether food is safe for use, spoiled or starting to spoil.

Mobile Apps to Use

Lose It!
Track your food by snapping a picture of it. Image recognition technology put to good use for food tracking.

Platejoy
Personalized nutrition programs designed for your unique health goals.

Thistle

Fill your fridge with super healthy, organic, plant-based meals (for less than the cost of going out to eat).

Fooducate
This app works as a platform to help you achieve your diet, health and fitness goals.

Boosting your long-term health trajectory can be tough but, it seems like technology can help you get started in the right direction. So, while it’s not bad to automate tasks in your life, utilizing smart technology to keep up your fitness and better eating habits can help balance it out.