The Noom Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret behind Noom? ›

Noom uses a system that separates "good" and "bad" foods by assigning colors to different edible treats. Each color signifies how much or how little you should eat to stay on track toward your goals.

Yellow foods: Avocado, salmon, chicken, turkey, beans, tofu, whole eggs, tempeh, lean ground beef, black beans, chickpeas, low-fat dairy, edamame, lentils, plantains.

While Noom may be a good fit for some people, there are a few downsides. Most notably, Noom doesn't offer in-person interactions with coaches or other Noom members. The cost, concerns around low calorie goals, and potential pitfalls of food tracking are among other downsides of the program.

Minimum Calorie Range

To keep your body functioning at its best, Noom won't let those who identify as female adjust their goal below 1,200-1,320 calories per day, those who identify as male below 1,400-1,540 calories per day, and those who don't choose to select a binary gender below 1,200-1,320 calories per day.

The Noom controversy is that its app has triggered disordered eating in some users because of its focus on a calorie-restricted diet, food tracking, and regular weighing. Although it markets itself as an anti-diet weight loss solution, many people believe it encourages the same behaviors as traditional diets.

In addition to the auto-renewal and billing complaints, Noom faced criticism from experts and consumers for its weight loss program. While branding itself as different from other diets, the app has previously set very low calorie goals that dietitians say put users at risk of side effects.

Just like most weight loss programs, Noom relies on calorie counting, which often fails to sustain results long-term. When calories are restricted, the body's metabolism slows down as a natural response to conserve energy.

Drinks with Artificial Sweeteners

We categorize diet sodas and other low-calorie drinks containing artificial sweeteners as yellow.

Within the Noom Weight program, bananas are considered a green food. We recommend that you get most of your calories from yellow foods (45%) and then green (30%) and red (25%).

Noom - Popcorn is the go-to snack.

What not to eat on Noom? ›

Avoid processed gluten-free foods, like cookies and sweet cereals, to speed up your weight loss. Instead, stick to naturally gluten-free fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean proteins and whole grains.

However, rather than points Noom users track food using a stoplight as a visual aid. Foods are either green, yellow, or orange. Noom recommends some foods to be 'green', meaning eat as much as you like, 'yellow' meaning eat them some, and 'orange' meaning eat them sparingly.

Noom Yellow Foods

That isn't surprising, as yellow is the category for healthy fats, lean meats, most dairy, and some starches. As protein can help keep you full for longer, the largest portion of many of your meals will most likely be heavily yellow.

However, while Noom can serve you in the short term by helping you change your eating habits and practice mindful eating, some experts recommend against using weight-loss apps like Noom. "A strict diet protocol, or labeling foods in any way, isn't a healthy practice.

Noom takes a psychology-based approach to weight loss, and helps users develop and maintain healthy eating patterns and physical activity habits, according to the company. Noom's weight loss program includes daily informational articles, interactive challenges, food and weight logging, calorie tracking and more.

Because Noom takes a holistic approach to health, focused on the four pillars of nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management, success in one of these areas often begets positive health outcomes in the others.