Getting Started: Log Your Food
To analyze your nutrient intake, begin by consistently logging your meals and snacks into your MyFitnessPal food diary. The app's extensive food database and tools make logging straightforward, forming the basis for the nutritional data provided.
How to log your food
- Open the App: Launch MyFitnessPal.
- Navigate to the Diary: Tap the 'Diary' icon.
- Add Food: Tap '+ Add Food' under a meal section.
- Find Your Food: Use the search bar or scan a barcode.
- Confirm Details: Adjust serving size and quantity. For precision, a food scale is recommended.
Checking Your Macronutrients (Macros)
MyFitnessPal offers a visual breakdown of your intake of macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Accessing your macro report
- Tap 'More': From your dashboard, tap the 'More' button.
- Select 'Nutrition': Choose 'Nutrition'.
- View 'Macros': Tap the 'Macros' tab.
A pie chart shows the daily percentage breakdown of calories from macros. Below, find gram totals compared to your goals. Switch between 'Day View' and 'Week View' for different periods.
Reviewing Your Micronutrients (Micros)
Tracking micronutrients like vitamins and minerals is important for overall health. The app's free version tracks some, while the premium version offers a more comprehensive list and goal-setting.
Accessing your micro report
- Navigate to 'Nutrition': Follow the same steps: 'More' > 'Nutrition'.
- Select 'Nutrients': Tap the 'Nutrients' tab to see a list of daily vitamin and mineral totals.
The report shows your daily total, goal, and remaining amount for each nutrient. Key micronutrients tracked include vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and potassium. Consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a good approach for hitting micronutrient targets.
Diving Deeper: Understanding the Nutrition Reports
MyFitnessPal's reports help identify long-term trends and adjust your diet.
Utilizing different report views
- Day View: Shows current day's intake (default for 'Macros' and 'Nutrients' tabs).
- Week View: Provides a bar graph of your average daily intake over the past week, useful for identifying patterns.
- Change Date: In 'Day View', analyze previous days' nutrient intake.
Advanced features and insights
Premium users access more detailed insights:
- Custom goals in grams: Set specific macro targets in grams.
- Nutrient goals by meal: Assign nutrient targets to individual meals.
- Net Carbs Mode: Automatically tracks net carbs for low-carb diets.
MyFitnessPal Free vs. Premium Nutrient Tracking
| Feature | Free Version | Premium Version |
|---|---|---|
| Macro View (Pie Chart) | Shows percentage of total calories. | Also shows grams and allows setting goals in grams. |
| Micro View | Limited to showing total daily intake for a set list of nutrients. | Allows setting specific goals for a more extensive list of micronutrients. |
| Meal Analysis | Basic view of nutrients per meal. | Detailed analysis of calorie and macro goals per meal. |
| Weekly Insights | Basic weekly summaries in the 'Week View'. | In-depth analysis, customizable dashboards, and detailed reports. |
| Net Carbs | Requires manual calculation. | Automated tracking via Net Carbs Mode. |
Conclusion: Making Smarter Choices with MyFitnessPal
By consistently logging food and using MyFitnessPal's features, you gain a deeper understanding of your diet. Knowing how to check nutrients on MyFitnessPal? enables informed decisions beyond just calorie counting, focusing on food quality and balance. Tracking macros for fitness or micros for a balanced diet, the app provides necessary data. Consistent, accurate logging and using analysis tools, especially weekly reports, help identify trends and maintain healthy habits long-term. A balanced diet with various fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a proven strategy for health and well-being.
