Portion bowls of whole foods beside a laptop with abstract charts, representing nutrition analysis

Nutrition-Analysis Software & Food Database

For many years Hopkins Technology maintained what was, by our reckoning, one of the largest food-nutrition databases assembled from government and industry sources. We began compiling it in 1989, and much of the data came directly from food manufacturers who supplied detailed information about their products. That database powered a family of nutrition-analysis software for personal computers — tools for looking up the nutritional content of foods and for analyzing whole recipes and meals.

This page describes nutrition-analysis software and is provided for general information. It is not personalized dietary or medical advice; consult a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider for guidance specific to you.

What the Software Did

Our diet and nutrition tools were designed to make everyday nutrition planning practical:

  • Food lookup — search the database to see the calories, macronutrients, vitamins and minerals in thousands of common foods.
  • Recipe analysis — enter the ingredients of a recipe and see its complete nutritional profile, per serving.
  • Diet planning — build balanced daily menus and track intake against general dietary goals.
  • Exercise & weight tools — pair nutrition data with activity and weight-management features.

The Food-Nutrition Database

The database behind these tools listed tens of thousands of foods with all available nutrition data. Because so much of the information came directly from manufacturers, it could include packaged and branded products as well as basic whole foods. It was a substantial undertaking — and a reflection of the company's belief that good nutrition decisions start with good data.

Understanding Nutrition Labels Today

Whether you use software or read a package, the principles of good nutrition are stable: favor whole foods, watch portion sizes, and balance calories with activity. For the authoritative current reference on food composition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes FoodData Central, a free, searchable database of the nutrients in thousands of foods. For practical dietary guidance, see MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Learn More

This software is part of our broader health and nutrition catalog. For free articles on nutrition, weight, fiber, sodium and a balanced diet, start at our health article index — including Nutrition Basics and Losing Weight Safely.