Synopsis of the App
The EatBy app helps you track what’s in the refrigerator and when you need to use or eat it.
Platform and Price
Free: Apple and Android
RDN Score
2 out of 5
Pros
- Includes narrated tutorial videos and user guides to explain how to use the app and explain labeling such as “use-by” and “sell-by” dates.
- Optional notifications can be activated to help you remember to return to the app and use food before it expires.
- The EatBy system learns your common items to eventually allow for faster recall.
- Add items manually or by scanning a barcode.
- Tag foods by storage: kitchen, fridge, freezer and open.
- Option to pull from the database of existing foods in the central (crowdsourced) list.
- Includes general tips to save money and prevent waste in the kitchen – like keeping the refrigerator door closed to save energy.
- Includes a shopping list.
- Share a photo and note to let family know what might need to be eaten up directly from the app.
Cons
- Busy design and advertisements create a cluttered user experience.
- It could use more organization. It may be helpful to view the list by what’s open versus by date only as it’s currently organized.
- Dates must be individually entered – leaving plenty of room for guessing, user error and abandonment after what could be a tedious process.
- EatBy is a UK based startup so the “Understand the Labels” definitions don’t match those generally used in the United States.
Bottom Line
The EatBy app is a good idea in theory but will require significant data entry that may deter potential users from sticking with the app.
Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, is a nutrition consultant based in Atlanta and adjunct faculty at Georgia State University. Follow her at MarisaMoore.com, on Twitter or Instagram.
