9 Health Apps to Keep Your 2026 New Year’s Resolution

Making a New Year’s resolution is easy. Making it stick is the challenge. While many people start the year with strong health and wellness goals, statistics show that only a small fraction successfully achieve them. If you are struggling to stay organized, motivated or measure your progress, a digital health device or tracking app may be the solution.

That’s where digital health tools can make a real difference as it integrates into our lives, not the other way around. A well-selected app or wearable can help you stay organized, monitor your progress and make meaningful changes that last. By wearing a small device or downloading an app, you can collect real-time data on your health habits. For instance, measuring your daily steps is unrealistic on your own, but a pedometer gives you exact data. With this knowledge, you can make small, specific adjustments rather than sweeping, unsustainable changes.

How can a health app help me stick to my New Year's resolution?

Health apps provide real-time data and feedback, which helps you stay motivated and accountable. They make it easy to:

• Track progress toward your specific goals.
• Understand your daily habits, such as diet and activity levels.
• Make small, informed adjustments for lasting change.
• Access a community for support and encouragement.

With so many health apps available, how do I choose the right one for me?

Before downloading anything, identify your top health priority for the year such as nutrition, fitness, stress, chronic condition management, quitting smoking or overall wellness, and choose tools that best align with that goal.

Below are nine highly rated, easy-to-use apps we recommend, including several Ochsner tools that support healthier living.

Healthy eating and nutrition apps

Making smart food choices is a cornerstone to good health. These apps can help you understand what you're eating, make healthier selections at the grocery store and track your diet effectively.

Eat Fit (Ochsner Health): Healthy choices made easy

Ochsner’s statewide Eat Fit initiative helps diners and home cooks make nutritious choices without sacrificing flavor. The free Eat Fit app includes hundreds of recipes, grocery guides, dining options across Louisiana and nutrition tips developed by registered dietitians.

App features:

• Hundreds of dietitian-tested recipes
• Restaurant finder featuring Eat Fit-approved menu items
• Nutrition articles, shopping guides and meal-planning support
• Seasonal challenges and wellness tools to keep you motivated

Fooducate: Scan smarter at the store

Fooducate helps you understand what’s in your food, not just the calories. By scanning barcodes, you get a nutrition grade and recommendations for healthier alternatives.

App features:

• Scans 250,000+ grocery items
• Grades food from A–D
• Flags added sugars, trans fats, preservatives and artificial sweeteners
• Includes a nutrition and lifestyle community

Shopwell: Personalized grocery guidance

Shopwell provides individualized food scores based on your profile (diet preferences, allergies, age and wellness goals) and helps you build a better grocery list.

App features:

• Personalized food scores from 1–100
• Ingredient lists and nutrition label breakdown
• Ideal for people with food allergies or dietary restrictions
• Helps plan and organize grocery lists

MyFitnessPal: The gold standard for food logging

MyFitnessPal is one of the most comprehensive nutrition and fitness trackers available, with a database of over five million foods and seamless integration with dozens of fitness and health apps.

App features:

• Massive searchable food database
• Barcode scanner for instant food logging
• Tracks calories, macros, and micronutrients
• Syncs with Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, and more

Fitness and exercise apps

Staying active is foundational to good health. These apps help you track your workouts, set goals and stay motivated on your fitness journey.

FITT Lab: Ochsner Fitness Center app, your all-in-one workout companion

If your goal is to build strength, increase movement or establish a consistent routine, the Ochsner Fitness Center app helps members access workouts, schedules, classes, training programs and progress tracking all in one place.

App features:

• Class schedules and gym updates
• Guided workouts and training plans
• Tracks progress toward fitness goals
• Integrates with wearables during workouts

Map My Fitness: Track every type of workout

Powered by Under Armour, Map My Fitness tracks more than 600 types of activities using GPS and manual entry.

App features:

• GPS-based tracking for running, cycling, hiking and walking
• Shoe mileage tracker to help prevent injury
• Syncs with MyFitnessPal and Google Fit
• Customizable voice feedback for pace, distance and more

Health management and medical apps

Beyond diet and exercise, managing your overall health is essential. These apps connect you with your medical records, help you monitor vitals and even provide support for quitting unhealthy habits.

MyOchsner: Your medical record in your pocket

The MyOchsner app keeps you connected to your care team 24/7. From lab results to prescription refills to virtual visits, it’s your central hub for managing your health.

App features:

• Communicate with your physician
• Review test results, immunizations and visit summaries
• Request prescription refills
• Manage appointments
• Complete virtual visits through your phone or tablet

iHealth MyVitals: Track blood pressure, weight and glucose

For those managing chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes, iHealth MyVitals offers a clear dashboard of your numbers over time.

App features:

• Syncs with compatible blood pressure cuffs, scales and glucose meters
• Tracks vitals and trends
• Helps users understand how lifestyle affects numbers
• Easy-to-read graphs and history

Livestrong MyQuit Coach: Personalized plan to quit smoking

MyQuit Coach helps you gradually reduce smoking or quit outright using customizable plans and reminders.

App features:

• Builds a tailored quit plan
• Tracks progress and reduction milestones
• Encourages habit replacement and positive reinforcement

Ochsner Smoking Cessation Services: Support from real experts

If quitting is your resolution this year, Ochsner offers comprehensive smoking cessation programs, including coaching, medications and individualized support. Whether you prefer phone visits, clinic appointments or virtual care, you’ll receive guidance from certified tobacco cessation specialists.

What if I need help setting up a health app or a device?

If you want hands-on help choosing or using a device, you can visit any O Bar location for free personal guidance. Specialists can help you select apps, set up wearables, troubleshoot syncing issues and understand your data.

Is my personal health information secure when using these apps?

Apps like MyOchsner use secure, encrypted platforms to protect your personal health information. For third-party apps, always review the privacy policy and choose reputable developers that follow strong data-security practices.

No app can make lifestyle changes for you, but the right one can keep you motivated, informed and accountable. With smart technology and the support of Ochsner Health, you have everything you need to make the new year your healthiest year yet.

If you are interested in working with a technology specialist to choose the right product or app for your lifestyle, you can visit one of our O Bar locations for free setup guidance and support.