What is a calorie counter?

A calorie counter is a tool used to calculate calories consumed in a meal or day. It allows an individual to track calorie intake over a specific period of time. This weight-loss tool is used to monitor food eaten throughout the day and to adhere to limit daily caloric intake.

Web-based calorie counters require the simple input of foods eaten and the amount eaten to calculate the overall caloric intake. A paper or journal-based model requires the user to look up how many calories a particular food contains and track this information in the journal. By monitoring what foods are being eaten and how many calories they contain, it is possible to better regulate a weight-loss plan.