Monash University Low FODMAP diet app

Monash University Low FODMAP diet app

  • An app for people with irritable bowel syndrome wanting to learn about the FODMAP diet and identify low and high FODMAP foods.
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Monash University Low FODMAP diet app By Monash University FODMAP diet team

Features

  • Information and education.
  • Recipes.
  • Symptom diary.
  • Shopping lists.
  • Food guide.
  • Tracking.
Country of origin Australia
Clinical review 

5 star review


Read a clinical review below.

Security and privacy Does the app:
  • Collect medical information? No
  • Require a login? No
  • Have password protection? No
  • Have a privacy policy? Yes
  • Require internet access to use? No (Requires internet access every 15 days to receive latest data) 

Read more about safety and security when using apps.

Brochures:
Tips to improve your privacy and security [PNG, 200 KB] Health Navigator Charitable Trust, NZ
Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ

Cost Paid
How to get the app

This app offers accurate detailed information about the FODMAP diet, searchable foods for FODMAP content, low FODMAP recipe ideas, integrated shopping list, symptom diary, and support through the “three step FODMAP diet.”

  • The “3-step FODMAP diet” comprises Step 1 – low FODMAP, step 2 – FODMAP reintroduction, Step 3 – FODMAP personalisation.
  • Foods are listed using a traffic light system and according to serving sizes.
  • Red foods are high in FODMAPs and should be avoided, orange foods are moderate in FODMAPs and may be tolerated by some people while green foods are low in FODMAPs and are safe for consumption.
  • The specific food serving sizes in the app are helpful to work out how much food can be safely consumed.
  • The app also contains other information about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and recipes and meal ideas to help people with IBS.

 For the complete app description, go to Google Play(external link) (android), iTunes(external link) or the app website(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS CONS 

Credible source – information is written by the research team at Monash University where the low FODMAP diet was originally developed and food is tested for their FODMAP content.

Comprehensive list of the core grocery items, and the database is frequently updated.

✔ Easy to read comprehensive information about the diet.

✔ Searchable, filterable, constantly updated, and accurate information for the FODMAP content of hundreds of different foods

Foods presented in a traffic light system. Green = low FODMAPs, Amber = moderate FODMAPs, Red = HIGH FODMAPs. Also contains lists of brands and products that are certified as low FODMAP through MONASH University.

Plan your meals, track a multitude of symptoms, and then analyse the outcomes to support you through Step 2 (reintroduction).

✔ Each food has a description, portion sizes, pictures, and the ability to be “starred.” The FODMAP content for specific portion sizes is presented.

Filter foods with sliders based on individual sensitivities within the various FODMAPs to help with stage 2 and 3.

Food from different cultures.

✔ Over 70 low FODMAP recipe ideas.

✔ Create a shopping list.

Recipes not filterable (eg, if you are a vegetarian).

 Only has a very limited number of packaged foods, most of which aren’t available in New Zealand.

 After searching for something and then clicking on an item in the filtered list, clicking back takes you back to the beginning not the searched list.

✘ Several reports of bugs related to the search feature but these were not able to be reproduced for this review.

✘ Many of the recipe options may not be particularly appealing, but that may be a limitation of the FODMAP diet itself.

✘ Full comprehensive information is only available through a paid online course (cost $30USD).

✘ You can’t add custom symptoms in the food diary.

 

Clinical review

5 star review



Reviewer
: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: May 2022
Platform: Android

Version: 3.0.9
Comments: I think this is really the “gold standard” app for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who would like to try the low FODMAP diet. Users can look up the FODMAP content of different foods, find recipe ideas, learn about irritable bowel syndrome and the low FODMAP diet, and track symptoms. The app helps you through a “three step low FODMAP diet”: Step 1 – low FODMAP, step 2 – FODMAP reintroduction, Step 3 – FODMAP personalisation. Previous versions only helped with step 1, so steps 2 and 3 are a welcome addition. While this is a paid app it is of very high quality. It was developed by the research team at Monash University, the pioneers of the diet, and the information is very accurate. It is extremely important to thoroughly read the written information to learn about the diet. The app does appropriately recommend dietitian input, and presents a list of New Zealand dieticians, but this is a luxury few would be able to afford in New Zealand. More information and recipe ideas are available on their blog.(external link)(external link) 
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: No issues of concern. Option to filter for foods available in New Zealand (manual restart of the app is required)


Clinical review

5 star review



Reviewer
: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: March 2018
Platform: Android

Version: 2.0.5
Comments: This app is useful for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who would like to try the low FODMAP diet. Users can look up the FODMAP content of different foods, find recipe ideas, learn about irritable bowel syndrome and the low FODMAP diet, track symptoms and analyse the benefit of a one week trial of the diet. While this is a paid app, it is of very high quality and in my opinion is a must have for those trialling a low FODMAP diet. It was developed by the research team at Monash University, the pioneers of the diet. It offers comprehensive information about the diet, searchable foods for FODMAP content, low FODMAP recipe ideas, integrated shopping list and a one week trial journaling section. It is extremely important to thoroughly read the about section to learn about the diet. The app does appropriately recommend dietitian input after the one week trial, but this is a luxury few would be able to afford in New Zealand. The app would be more helpful if you could do journaling for a longer period and if it had a re-challenge section. There are also some aspects of the searchable food section that could be improved, and the recipe section probably needs updating. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be very actively improved - at the time of review the last update was six months ago (and this was technical not content related). More information and recipe ideas are available on their blog: https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: No issues of concern.

This app has been reviewed by other independent websites:

Understanding the Monash FODMAP app(external link)

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.