If you're one of those people who have the interest, the time (and the eyesight) to read food labels, we have something in common. I don't have the time or the eyesight, which leaves me with just the interest, and therefore the curiosity, to know what I'm actually eating every day. I used to blindly trust that what I ate wouldn't kill me —at least not right away— letting my instincts take over and routinely fool me. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I used to say, because I have a fakir-like stomach that doesn't just digest, it actually centrifuges everything.

Anyway, the point wasn't to boost my stomach's already over-inflated ego, but rather to talk about these apps I've recently discovered that have been a game changer for my pantry. They tell you how much protein, fiber, fat, sugar, and salt is in your processed foods. But that’s not all—these apps also “reveal” how many additives are present, how risky they might be, and rate the food from “excellent” to “bad” in an instant, just by scanning the barcode with your phone. You’ll be amazed at how much junk you consume and how difficult it is to find healthy packaged foods. Ignorance may be bliss, but it’s also loaded with sugar, salt, saturated fat, and questionable additives. My favorite food had twelve of them, six of which are considered risky.