Let’s be real: calorie-counting apps aren’t for everyone. You can totally keep tabs on what you eat without your phone buzzing at you every meal. Here’s how to make calorie tracking simple, chill, and actually doable. 

1. The Hand Rule: Your Built-in Measuring Tool 

Palm = Protein 

Chicken, tofu, whatever you like. 

Fist = Veggies 

Stack ‘em high, go wild. 

Cupped Hand = Carbs 

Rice, pasta, bread—scoop it up. 

Thumb = Fats 

Butter, oil, peanut butter, you get the idea. 

Bonus: Your hand goes everywhere you do. No excuses! 

2. The Plate Method: Visual Simplicity 

• Half your plate: Veggies (seriously, just pile ‘em on) 
• Quarter plate: Protein (paneer, eggs, chicken, etc.) 
• Quarter plate: Carbs (rice, roti, potatoes) 
• A teaspoon of healthy fats: Olive oil, ghee, etc. 

Grandma would approve. 

3. Food Diary (Old-School, Still Cool) 

• Grab a notebook or scrap of paper. 
• Jot down what you ate, when, and roughly how much. 
• Don’t stress about numbers—just notice your patterns. 

You’ll be surprised what you catch when you actually write it down. 

4. Pre-Plan Your Meals: Templates FTW 

• Pick 3–5 go-to combos:  
  • Breakfast: Eggs + Toast + Fruit  
  • Lunch: Dal + Roti + Veggies  
  • Dinner: Grilled paneer + Salad 
• Rotate them as you like—hello, way less decision fatigue. 

5. Tune In To Your Body 

• How do you feel after eating?  
  • Light and energized?  
  • Sluggish or bloated? 

Your body’s got opinions. Listen up! 

6. Snap Meal Photos: Your Visual Food Diary 

• Take a quick pic before you dig in. 
• Scroll back later—see if your portions are creeping up. 
• Spot patterns without any math. 

Bonus: You’ll build a mini gallery of your own food wins (and fails, let’s be honest). 

Remember: No need to obsess over every bite. Just be aware and stay curious. With a little practice, you’ll find what actually works for you—and that’s the secret sauce.