I Love FREE Apps (not  the appetizer types)...

Smartphone owners hoping to shed a few pounds can choose from a wide selection of calorie-counting and nutritional consumption apps to meet and maintain their weight loss goals. The iPhone, and to a lesser extent Blackberrys and Android devices, can be a dieter's best friend. While the free and popular Lose It! iPhone app remains a great option for tracking your intake and activities, dialing into these alternatives can also keep you fit, healthy and trim. 

Not mentioned below, but I think it is essential is the BMI calculator, another free app!  I do have all the free apps mentioned below on my iPhone, and they do come in handy!  Lose it is a great concept, but it was a royal pain for me because it focuses so much on packaged/processed foods and it took too long to find my choices, but it did calculate my activity and food intake!  It just goes to show you that there is a wealth of information out there, and the smartphone’s give you ready access! Download some of these and see how you like them!

DailyBurn (Free)

DailyBurn tracks results from your daily workouts and keeps track of nutritional counts. 

Fresh Fruit (Free)

If you aren’t so up on your fruits, get this free fresh fruit app and start impressing fellow shoppers in the produce section.

Lose It! (Free)

If none of these options sound appealing, you can always tap into this pioneering app. One of the most downloaded titles ever to emerge from the App Store’s Healthcare & Fitness category, Lose It! challenges you to set daily calorie intake and workout regimen goals, while providing the tools and motivational encouragement to meet them. If you don’t see a particular food or activity in Lose It’s database, no worries. The app invites you to add new recipes and training programs on the fly. 

Women’s Health Slim Down Shopping List (Free)

While we are on the topic of becoming a better grocery shopper, check out the free Women’s Health Slim Down Shopping List. The app gives you the lowdown on more than 240 packaged goods that are healthy-diet worthy. 

Fast Food Calorie Counter (99 cents)

Finding a healthy choice at your local fast food joint can be a daunting task. Sometimes life’s craziness requires a quick stop at Mickey D’s, so download the Fast Food Calorie Counter app (99 cents) to help rein in the crazy calorie counts. With its wide selection of restaurants, you should have no problem finding a semi-healthy lunch on the road.

Weight Watchers Mobile (Free)

The app is free, but requires a subscription to Weight Watchers in order to use the tools.

CookWell ($1.99)

This app has everything the novice cook needs to start cooking well in the kitchen while moving closer to achieving any weight loss goals. The app includes a comprehensive tutorial that walks you through the basics, and keeps you coming back with daily tips and assignments.

Ample Android options

The iPhone is no longer the only app game in town. There are nearly 100,000 apps that can be accessed from Android-based smartphones. At $4.99, Absolute Fitness is arguably the most comprehensive fitness and dieting Android app available. Absolute Fitness is similar to Lose It! and DailyBurn, but goes deeper with tools that calculate your daily nutrients as well as track body fat and blood pressure. There is also a Fast Food Calorie Counter ($2.99) Android app that lists dietary information for 73 restaurants, and a free Diet Points Calculator that tracks your daily fat and calorie intake.

Best of BlackBerry

While there are not nearly as many apps available for Blackberrys, owners of the more business-oriented smartphone can still find a few options to battle the bulge while on the go. “The Calorie Counter for BlackBerry by MyNetDiary app, which is free to download but requires a $5 monthly subscription to use, is the best place to start. The app also includes custom recipes and workout programs.” If you'd rather make a one-time down payment on a nutrition and activity BlackBerry app, try Fit Pro - Sport and Diet for $8.99. The cheaper Diet Calendar app is also a good, albeit more limited, option.