Can You Find Restaurants on MyFitnessPal?
Yes, you can find restaurants on MyFitnessPal, and the app provides several methods for logging meals consumed outside your home. The core functionality relies on a robust and constantly expanding food database that includes items from a vast number of chain and local restaurants. MyFitnessPal has incorporated data from sources like Foursquare and, for larger chains, relies on publicly available nutritional information to provide accurate estimates.
How to Use the Restaurant Logging Feature
The primary method for tracking restaurant food is through the built-in Restaurant Logging tool. It’s a convenient, location-based system that helps you find nearby eateries with available menu data.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Open the MyFitnessPal app and tap the 'plus' button to add food.
- Select the meal you are logging (e.g., Lunch or Dinner).
- Tap the location icon, which looks like a small map pin, usually located next to the search bar.
- This will pull up a list of restaurants near your current location that have available menu data.
- Select the restaurant you are dining at from the list.
- Browse the menu and tap the item you ordered.
- Adjust the serving size if necessary and add it to your food diary.
What if a Restaurant Isn't Listed?
For restaurants not in the database, especially independent or local spots, you have a few options. MyFitnessPal's database also contains millions of user-submitted foods. You can search for the specific dish you ate. For instance, instead of 'Joe's Pizza', you might search for 'cheese pizza slice'. This is where knowing a bit about standard portion sizes and meal components comes in handy.
If you have the time, you can also create and save a new custom meal or recipe. This is especially useful if you frequent a certain restaurant. You can create a new food entry, manually inputting the nutritional details if you can find them on the restaurant's website or app. For generic meals, you can build a recipe using the closest matching ingredients already in the database.
Tips for Accurate Restaurant Tracking
Restaurant meals are notoriously difficult to track perfectly due to variations in preparation and portion sizes. Here are some dietitian-recommended tips to improve accuracy:
- Check the menu beforehand: If it's a large chain, they are often legally required to publish nutrition information. Checking the menu online before you go helps you make an informed choice and simplifies logging.
- Search generically: Instead of a restaurant-specific item, search for the generic version. For example, if you had a grilled chicken salad, search for 'grilled chicken salad' rather than the exact name. You can then add or subtract ingredients to make it more accurate.
- Use visual cues for portion control: Use your hand as a guide. A serving of protein is roughly the size of your palm, and a serving of carbohydrates is about the size of a cupped hand.
- Don't worry about perfection: Acknowledging that restaurant tracking is an estimate can reduce anxiety. Do your best to find a close match, and don't let it derail your progress.
Comparison of Restaurant Meal Logging Methods
| Method | Best For | Accuracy | Ease of Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Logging Feature | National chains and select local restaurants | High for large chains, Moderate for others | Very High | Fastest method for supported restaurants. Location services must be enabled. |
| Generic Search | Common, non-specific meals (e.g., 'cheeseburger', 'house salad') | Low to Moderate (depends on estimation skill) | Moderate | Best when the specific restaurant isn't listed. Requires some estimation. |
| Custom Meal Creation | Frequently visited local spots | High (if nutrition info is known) | Low (requires manual data entry) | Time-consuming initially, but highly accurate for saved meals. |
| Meal Scan (Premium) | Quick visual estimation | Low to Moderate (AI-based estimate) | Very High | Premium feature. Uses your camera to estimate calories and macros from a photo. |
| Manual Entry (Quick Add) | Specific calorie goal logging | High (if calorie count is known) | Low | Useful if you know the exact calorie count but don't need detailed macro data. |
Conclusion
For those asking, "can you find restaurants on MyFitnessPal?", the answer is a definitive yes, though the level of detail and accuracy varies. The app's dedicated Restaurant Logging feature is excellent for larger chains, providing reliable menu data. For local restaurants or more unique dishes, users can rely on searching the expansive user-submitted database, creating custom meals, or using premium features like Meal Scan. While perfect accuracy is nearly impossible for every restaurant meal, MyFitnessPal offers a robust toolkit for making informed choices and staying consistent with your dietary goals while enjoying a meal out. The key is to leverage the right tool for the job, whether it's a quick search or a custom entry, and to accept that some estimation is inevitable. With a little planning and smart use of the app's features, eating out doesn't have to be a threat to your nutritional progress. For further reading, check out MyFitnessPal's tips on tracking restaurant meals.
