Back to Basics (Version iOS 1.2.42)

Back to Basics (Version iOS 1.2.42) -Synopsis: Back to Basics is an educational app that promises to help users learn to be healthy without dieting.

Price and Platform: Free seven-day trial, then paid: $12.99/month to $79.99/year. Apple and Android.

RDN Score: 4.5/5

Pros

  • Attractive app with bright, appetizing food photography and cheerful graphics.
  • Provides insight into the all-or-nothing mindset, habit formation and mindful eating.
  • “Personalized plan” is based on whether you eat a regular, vegetarian or pescatarian diet and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or postpartum.
  • More than 500 recipes with substitution ideas for dietary needs such as dairy- or gluten-free. Consistent with the app’s theme, the recipes do not include calories, macros or points.
  • Includes an easy-to-use meal planner with an automatic shopping list and the option to swap and delete recipes with ease.
  • Handy and informative hunger check-in tool allows users to rate hunger using an in-app sliding scale version of a hunger scale, then offers insight into the ratings.
  • Offers meditation and mindset videos and 5- to 20-minute at-home workouts including more than 100 pregnancy-safe exercise options.
  • Created by an accredited practicing dietitian (Australian equivalent to the registered dietitian nutritionist credential).
  • Experience the full app using a free seven-day trial.

Cons

  • Must sign up for a cancellable, automatically renewing subscription to access the free seven-day trial.
  • Recipes include descriptors such as “free-range eggs” and directives including “don’t buy pre-cut store-bought fruit,” which may limit accessibility for some and be counter to some of the messaging around creating a good relationship with food.
  • Privacy disclosure indicates that usage data is not linked to your identity but may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies.

Bottom Line: Back to the Basics may be a good fit for pregnant women and newbies to the intuitive eating space who enjoy more mainstream flavors.

Marisa Moore on FacebookMarisa Moore on InstagramMarisa Moore on LinkedinMarisa Moore on PinterestMarisa Moore on Twitter
Marisa Moore
Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, is based in Atlanta and specializes in culinary nutrition, communications and consulting. She blogs at marisamoore.com. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.