Yes, MyFitnessPal Tracks Macronutrients
MyFitnessPal tracks protein, carbohydrates, and fats as part of its calorie counting function. When you add a food item, the app retrieves its nutritional data, including the macro split, from its database. This information is compiled in your daily and weekly summaries.
Accessing Your Macro Data
You can view your macronutrient breakdown in the app regardless of your subscription. From your diary, tap 'Nutrition' to see a summary. The 'Macros' tab shows a pie chart visualizing your daily macro distribution by percentage. The 'Nutrients' tab lists the exact grams consumed for each macro.
Setting Your Macro Goals in MyFitnessPal
Setting macro goals is possible, but the precision depends on your subscription.
For Free Users: Free users can customize macro goals by percentage in 5% increments. These settings are adjusted in the 'Goals' section of the 'More' menu. This is suitable for general goals but less precise for advanced strategies.
For Premium Users: Premium users have more control, able to set macro goals by the exact gram. They can also set different macro goals for different days and see macro totals per meal.
MyFitnessPal Free vs. Premium Macro Tracking
| Feature | MyFitnessPal Free | MyFitnessPal Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Setting | Customize macro percentages (5% increments) | Customize macros by exact gram or percentage (1% increments) |
| Macro View | Daily macro percentage pie chart | Daily macro pie chart plus meal-by-meal macro totals |
| Barcode Scanning | Limited functionality | Full-featured, fast barcode scanning |
| Meal Planning | Basic saving of recipes and meals | Advanced meal plans curated by dietitians |
| Ad Experience | Ads displayed in-app | Ad-free experience |
| Additional Features | Basic food logging, water tracking | Custom daily goals, net carbs mode, fasting tracker, recipe import |
Best Practices for Accurate Macro Tracking
Accurate macro tracking in MyFitnessPal relies on your input. Follow these tips for better results:
- Weigh Your Food: Use a digital food scale for greater accuracy, as weight is more precise than volume.
- Use Verified Entries: Prioritize food entries with a green checkmark, which indicates reviewed nutritional information.
- Log Consistently: Log foods throughout the day to avoid forgetting items or making estimation errors.
- Create Your Own Recipes: Use the recipe tool for homemade meals to get a precise macro breakdown for the entire dish.
- Understand 'Cooked vs. Raw': Be consistent in logging whether ingredients are raw or cooked.
Conclusion
MyFitnessPal successfully tracks protein and carbs for all users, offering valuable insight into macronutrient intake. The free version provides a percentage-based approach suitable for general goals, while the Premium subscription offers greater precision and advanced features for more detailed tracking. Combining the app with accurate logging practices can significantly help in reaching your fitness objectives.
For further reading on the accuracy of fitness apps, explore research from authoritative sources like the National Institutes of Health.
Key Takeaways
Yes, It Tracks Macros: MyFitnessPal tracks protein, carbs, and fat, summarizing your daily intake and providing a percentage breakdown. Free vs. Premium: The free version lets you adjust macro goals in 5% increments, while Premium allows setting goals to the exact gram. Prioritize Accuracy: Use a food scale, select verified food database entries, and manually create recipes for the most reliable results. Check the Nutrition Tab: The pie chart summary of your macros is found under the 'Nutrition' tab in your diary, available to all users. Advanced Features: Premium offers additional perks like meal-by-meal macro tracking, net carb mode, and custom daily goals.
