A calculator app is seen on the screen of an iPhone on December 6, 2017. (Photo by Jaap ... [+] Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFrom MyFitnessPal to Cronometer, Lose It! and Calory, theres no shortage of calorie counting apps. But heres my hot take: the best app to track your food intake is already on your iPhone (and your Android phone)the Calculator app.Its free, its simple andmost importantlyit does the job as well as any other app in the calorie tracking category. Youll also never have to worry about dealing with ads, permissions, privacy concerns, prompts to subscribe or the temptation of upgrading to a paid tier.Its Already On Your iPhoneIm no stranger to MyFitnessPal and Ive got no squabbles with specialized health and fitness apps, but I found myself succumbing to the culture of over-optimization. I got obsessed with measuring biomarkers, anything from calories, to daily steps and sleep quality. So much so that my quest for optimization was starting to get in the way of savoring the little things.The goal was to improve my life; instead, it only made it less enjoyable.So recently Ive made a conscious effort to simplify things in my lifeespecially when it comes to my phone usage. Less apps, less screen time and less health tracking (or rather, health tracking in moderation).MORE FOR YOUEnter The Calculator AppIve been on a strict diet for the past 15 weeks and so far the Calculator app has been nothing short of great.All you need to do is look at the labels, measure your food and enter the correct amounts. Plus you get to practice basic arithmetic.I work out religiouslyI went to the gym 304 times in 2024, with my longest streak coming at 34 days in a row. But Im not a professional athlete, so I dont necessarily need to track every little detail about my diet, like macros.I do, however, count my calories and protein intake. I eat a protein-heavy diet, so I rarely have to worry about hitting my daily target. Im much more precise with my calorie intake, though. And the Calculator app has been absolutely up to that task.And there has been another positive secondary effect: looking at nutrition value labels has made me more liberal with my meal planning. I actually allow more room for treats and desserts, which has made the overall dieting regimen easier to handle.Looking At The DownsidesObviously, there are downsides to using the Calculator as your primary calorie counting app. For one, it doesnt log your food consumption over timeunless of course youre cool with inputting that data manually in a spreadsheet.Its also not ideal for people who need to get granular with macros. If thats you, then MyFitnessPal is still your pal.But if you like to keep things simple and clean, trust me: the Calculator is the only calorie counting app you needand its already on your iPhone.