What are the Noom food colors? A complete guide to the system

November 3, 2025 •

3 min read

Did you know that Noom's food color system is based on the concept of calorie density to help you make smarter food choices? Understanding what are the Noom food colors is a core part of building healthy eating habits, not just for weight loss, but for long-term wellness by encouraging more nutrient-rich foods.

Quick Summary

Noom utilizes a color-coded system—green, yellow, and orange—to categorize foods primarily by their calorie density. Green foods are the least dense and most nutrient-rich, while orange foods are the most calorie-dense, guiding mindful portion control.

Key Points

Based on Calorie Density: Noom's colors are primarily determined by a food's caloric density, with green having the lowest and orange the highest.
Not 'Good' or 'Bad': The colors are a portion guide, not a moral judgment; orange foods are meant for smaller, more mindful portions, not total avoidance.
Fill Up on Green: Green foods are the most nutrient-dense and least calorie-dense, and should form the bulk of your diet to maximize satiety.
Yellow for Balance: Yellow foods provide important nutrients like lean protein but have a higher calorie density than green foods, so they should be eaten in moderation.
Orange for Flavor and Treats: Orange foods, the most calorie-dense, are for smaller portions or treats and should be consumed less frequently.
System Evolved from Red: The highest calorie-density category was changed from 'Red' to 'Orange' to prevent negative associations and promote a healthier mindset.

Decoding the Noom Color System

Noom's color system is a key pillar of its program, which focuses on psychology to help users lose weight and keep it off. It classifies foods into three categories—green, yellow, and orange—based on their calorie density and nutritional value. The colors are not meant to label foods as "good" or "bad," but rather to serve as a portion guide. By encouraging a higher proportion of green foods, a moderate amount of yellow foods, and a smaller amount of orange foods, the system helps you feel full on fewer calories.

Green Foods: The Foundation

Green foods have the lowest calorie density and the highest concentration of healthy nutrients. They should make up the bulk of your diet, around 30-50% of your total calories. These foods are often high in water content and fiber, contributing to satiety.

Here is a list of common green foods:

Fruits: Apples, bananas, berries, tomatoes, watermelon
Vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots
Grains: Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain bread, quinoa
Dairy & Proteins: Non-fat yogurt, non-fat cheese, skim milk, tofu, egg whites, lean fish

Yellow Foods: The Moderate Middle

Yellow foods have a moderate calorie density and are intended for moderate consumption, approximately 30-45% of your daily intake. They are considered healthy and provide important nutrients like lean protein, contributing to a balanced diet.

Examples of yellow foods include:

Proteins: Grilled chicken, turkey breast, salmon, lean ground beef, eggs
Dairy: Low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese
Grains & Legumes: Whole grain tortillas, black beans, chickpeas, lentils
Other: Avocado, hummus

Orange Foods: The "Mindful" Category

Orange foods are the most calorie-dense with the lowest nutritional value per serving. They should be consumed less frequently and in smaller portions, ideally no more than 20-25% of your diet. Noom emphasizes that these foods are not bad, but require mindful portion control. This category was previously red but was changed to orange to reduce negative associations.

Typical orange foods include:

Fats & Oils: Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, nuts, seeds, nut butters
Sweets: Cookies, cakes, ice cream, sugar
Dairy: Butter, full-fat cheeses, whole milk
Grains: White bread, bagels, crackers, granola
Processed Meats: Bacon, sausage

Noom's Food Color Comparison


Feature	Green Foods	Yellow Foods	Orange Foods
Calorie Density	Lowest	Medium	Highest
Nutrient Density	Highest	Medium	Lowest
Satiety	Highest (most filling)	Medium	Lowest (less filling)
Portion Guidance	Eat in larger quantities	Eat in moderate proportions	Eat in smaller quantities
Key Examples	Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy	Lean proteins, legumes, low-fat dairy, avocado	Oils, nuts, seeds, full-fat dairy, sweets, processed foods

The Psychology Behind the Color System

Noom's approach utilizes behavioral psychology to help users achieve sustainable weight loss. The color system guides users to be more mindful of calorie density and encourages a shift towards nutrient-dense green foods, which are high in fiber and water to promote fullness. The aim is to build a positive relationship with food, viewing the system as a tool for awareness rather than strict rules. Including orange foods in moderation helps prevent feelings of deprivation and supports balanced eating.

Tips for Incorporating the Colors into Your Diet

Prioritize Green First: Start meals with a base of green foods to ensure a strong foundation of nutrient-dense options.
Add Yellow for Satiety: Include moderate portions of yellow foods like lean proteins for a satisfying and balanced meal.
Use Orange as a Flavor Accent: Treat orange foods as a finishing touch or in small quantities for flavor, rather than making them the main part of a dish.
Embrace Swaps: Make simple substitutions like using non-fat yogurt instead of full-fat to shift a food from orange to green or choosing brown rice over white rice.
Log Regularly: Logging your food in the Noom app reinforces the color system, provides a visual of your daily intake balance, and aids in building accountability.

Conclusion

By understanding what are the Noom food colors—green, yellow, and orange—you can adopt a mindful and sustainable approach to eating. The system promotes building balanced meals that prioritize high-nutrient, low-calorie-density foods to support weight loss and overall health goals. It's a supportive framework for reshaping your relationship with food. For additional information, you can refer to Noom's Official Food Color Breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Noom does not forbid any food. The color system is a guide for portion control, not a list of foods to avoid. All foods can be enjoyed in moderation.

Noom phased out the 'red' category and now uses 'orange' for the most calorie-dense foods. The change was made to prevent users from thinking of any food as inherently 'bad.'

Noom primarily uses a food's caloric density to assign a color. Caloric density measures the number of calories in a food relative to its weight. Higher calorie density results in an orange rating.

You should fill up on green foods like fruits (berries, apples), vegetables (spinach, broccoli), whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice), and lean proteins (tofu, egg whites).

Yellow foods include lean proteins (grilled chicken, salmon), dairy (low-fat cheese, yogurt), eggs, and legumes (chickpeas, beans).

Orange foods include oils, nuts, seeds, full-fat dairy, sweets, processed foods, and high-calorie beverages. These should be enjoyed in smaller, controlled portions.

No, while calorie density is the primary metric, Noom also considers a food's overall nutritional value. For instance, whole grains are often prioritized in the green category over refined grains with similar calorie densities.