While calorie counting isn’t an inherently bad thing, there are some downsides. “I think for most folks who have a healthy relationship with food as is, it can cause a lot of body mistrust and forces us to eat based on external cues versus internal ones,” says Abbey Sharp, founder of Abbey’s Kitchen. “No calorie calculator can accurately determine how many calories a person needs so these are estimations at best, and often do more damage than good. In fact, no app or calculation can accurately determine your needs, and your needs fluctuate every day.”

On top of calorie counting not being accurate, it might not even help you eat healthier. There are severalother ways to eat healthyand stay on track, including getting more sleep, zoning in on your hunger cues and focusing on quality foods over quantity. We spoke with Sharp about calorie counting and her recent Instagram reel with tips on how to quit it for good.

Delete Calorie Counting Apps

This might seem simple, but it is an important first step for committing to stop counting. Otherwise, you might be tempted to pick it back up if you don’t feel progress as quickly as you’re expecting. Plus, calculators and calorie counts might not even reflect what you’re actually eating. “The calories you see on nutrition labels are also notoriously off. A food manufacturer can be 20% off on their calorie counts on labels,” explains Sharp. “It’s also important to note that every apple will be different and every pound of meat will be different, making actual accurate calorie counting impossible.” Getting calorie counting apps off of your phone can help you move away from strict tracking for good.

Unfollow Calorie-Focused Social Media Pages

Cook from Cookbooks Without Calorie Counts

Focus on Whole Foods

When a food doesn’t have a label, you can’t read the calories it has. Plus, whole foods are packed with nutrients and are the cornerstone of any healthy eating pattern. As an added bonus, they create less packaging waste as well. For example, try choosing whole potatoes instead of box mix of potatoes, or a fresh apple instead of packaged fruit snacks. Try these30 days of whole food dinnersfor recipe inspiration.

Cook Like a Chef

Another way to move your focus from calorie counting is to cook without strictly measuring things when you can. In some instances, this might not work, like when you’re baking or if you’re making a recipe you have never tried before. However, with dishes you are comfortable making, try to estimate versus to measure or weigh foods like you would if you were trying to accurately track them for calorie counting. Taste your food as you cook so you can make adjustments to get the flavor just right, similar to how a chef might cook.

The Bottom Line

Calorie counting is time consuming and can take away from the joy of eating for some. “I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with calorie counting for everyone. It’s just one tool and what works for one person might be triggering and detrimental for another,” concludes Sharp. “If you’re able to count calories and not have it interfere with your enjoyment of food and life in general and find that guidance or structure helpful, then I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you. But I do often hear from people that counting calories was the instigator for an unhealthy relationship with food and body.” Instead, try focusing on one of the severalother indicators of a healthy eating pattern. These tips from Sharp make it easy to stop counting and start enjoying meals and snacks.

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