How do I add nutrition in MyFitnessPal?

Over 200 million people use MyFitnessPal to track their food intake and reach their health goals. Knowing how to add nutrition in MyFitnessPal accurately is the most fundamental step for effectively using the app, whether you're scanning, searching, or manually entering data.

Quick Summary

This guide provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on logging nutritional information in MyFitnessPal. It covers using the search function, barcode scanner, and creating custom foods, meals, and recipes for accurate tracking.

Key Points

• Search the Database: Use the search bar in your Diary to find and log food items from MyFitnessPal's extensive database, using brand names for higher accuracy.

• Scan Barcodes: Scan the barcode of packaged foods to instantly add accurate nutrition information to your diary, creating a new entry if none exists.

• Create Custom Foods: Manually input nutrition facts for items not found in the database by navigating to 'More' > 'Foods' and filling in the details from the nutrition label.

• Build Custom Recipes: Use the recipe builder under 'More' > 'Recipes' to combine multiple ingredients for homemade meals, with the app calculating the total nutritional value.

• Use 'Quick Add': For premium users, 'Quick Add' allows for fast manual entry of calories and macronutrients on the Diary page, without searching.

• Customize Goals: Adjust your macro (protein, carbs, fat) and micronutrient goals under the 'More' > 'Goals' menu to match your specific dietary targets.

• Save Meals: For frequently eaten combinations of food, save them as a 'Meal' to quickly add them to your Diary with one tap.

Adding Standard Foods Using the Database

The most common method for logging food in MyFitnessPal is by using its extensive database. This method is fast and easy for packaged goods and common produce items.

How to search and log food:

1. Navigate to your Diary: From the app's main dashboard, tap the 'Diary' button or the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to start adding food.
2. Select the meal: Choose the meal you are logging (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Snacks) and tap 'Add Food' under it.
3. Search the database: Type the name of the food into the search bar. For packaged foods, including the brand name can improve accuracy, such as "Kellogg's Special K" instead of just "Special K".
4. Select and confirm: Tap the food item from the search results. Double-check the details, including the serving size and quantity. If necessary, adjust the number of servings or the serving unit before tapping the checkmark to save.

Logging Unlisted Foods with Barcode Scanning

For many packaged items, using the barcode scanner is the quickest way to find accurate nutrition information.

How to use the barcode scanner:

1. Access the scanner: In your Diary, tap 'Add Food', then select the 'Scan Barcode' option which appears below the search bar. Alternatively, you can tap the main plus (+) icon and choose 'Barcode Scan'.
2. Scan the item: Center the barcode of the product in the camera view. The app will automatically read the barcode and display the food item if it's in the database.
3. Verify and log: If the item appears, confirm the serving size and add it to your diary. If the item is not found, the app will prompt you to manually create a new food entry, which is then linked to that barcode for future use.

Creating Custom Foods for Unique Items

Sometimes, a food is not in the database, or you have specific nutrition information for an item. This is where creating a custom food is essential.

How to manually create a new food:

1. Go to 'My Foods': Tap 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Foods' > then tap the plus (+) icon.
2. Enter details: Input the brand name (or 'Generic' if none), the food description, and the serving size. Use accurate information from a nutrition label if possible.
3. Add nutrition facts: Fill in the calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat at a minimum. You can add more detailed information like sugar, fiber, and sodium if available.
4. Save the food: Tap 'Save' to add the new custom food to your personal database. It will now appear under the 'My Foods' tab when you search for it.

Creating and Logging Custom Recipes and Meals

For homemade dishes, creating a recipe is the most accurate and efficient way to track nutrition. MyFitnessPal can either import a recipe from a URL or let you manually enter ingredients.

How to build a custom recipe:

1. Access the recipe tool: Tap 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Recipes' > 'Create a Recipe'.
2. Choose your method: Select 'Enter Ingredients Manually'. Give your recipe a name and specify the number of servings it yields.
3. Add ingredients: Search for and add each individual ingredient, specifying the amount used. The app will calculate the total nutrition for the entire recipe based on these ingredients.
4. Save the recipe: Once all ingredients are entered, save the recipe. When you want to log it, you'll simply find it under 'My Recipes' and specify how many servings you ate.

Comparison of MyFitnessPal Food Entry Methods

Feature	Database Search	Barcode Scan	Custom Food Entry	Recipe Builder
Best For	Common foods, restaurant items	Packaged and pre-made foods	Unique products, supplements	Homemade meals, complex dishes
Accuracy	Varies; cross-check with labels	Generally very high	Depends on user-input data	High if all ingredients are measured
Effort	Low, if food is in database	Very low, instant logging	High first time, low later	High first time, low later
Time Saving	Moderate to high	High, especially for many items	Saves time on repeat logs	Significant for frequently made meals
Detail Level	Comprehensive	Comprehensive	User-defined	Comprehensive based on ingredients

Advanced Nutrition Tracking for Macros and Micros

MyFitnessPal offers premium features for more advanced tracking, such as setting specific gram goals for macros (carbs, protein, fat) and customizing micronutrient tracking.

How to customize goals:

1. Go to the Goals section: Tap 'More' > 'Goals'.
2. Edit your nutrition goals: Tap 'Calories, Carbs, Protein & Fat Goals'.
3. Adjust macros: The free version allows percentage-based adjustments (in 5% increments), while the premium version enables precise gram-based goals. When adjusting, the total must always add up to 100%.
4. Set micronutrient goals: Under the 'Goals' menu, select 'Additional Nutrient Goals' to track specific micronutrients like sodium, sugar, and fiber.

Conclusion

Adding nutrition in MyFitnessPal is a flexible process with several methods to suit your needs. Whether you're quickly logging a common item, scanning a package, or detailing a homemade recipe, the app provides tools to help you accurately track your intake. By understanding and utilizing these functions, you can ensure your food diary is comprehensive and reflective of your true dietary habits, ultimately supporting your health and fitness goals. Using the recipe builder for homemade meals is a highly effective long-term strategy for saving time while maintaining precision in your nutrition logs.

The Food Database and Your Role

MyFitnessPal's food database is largely crowdsourced. This means user input contributes to its breadth and depth. When you create a custom food for a barcode that is not yet in the system, you have the option to make it public, thereby helping the entire community. This collaborative approach is a key reason for the app's robust database. However, this also means that occasionally, entries may be inaccurate. Always compare the logged nutritional information with the physical nutrition label, especially for important values like sodium or sugar. For recipes, the system aggregates the nutritional data of the individual ingredients, providing an accurate total for the dish. This decentralized approach empowers users to contribute while also requiring a degree of personal verification for absolute accuracy.

Tips for Efficient Logging

To make your nutrition tracking as painless as possible, consider these tips:

• Log consistently: Aim to log your food as you eat it, or at the very least, at the end of the day. Waiting too long can lead to forgetting items.
• Save favorite meals: For dishes you eat frequently, like breakfast, use the 'Save as Meal' feature to re-log with a single tap.
• Use the 'Copy' function: If you eat a similar diet day-to-day, you can copy previous meals or entire days to make logging a breeze.
• Weigh your food: For maximum accuracy, especially with homemade recipes, weigh your ingredients in grams rather than using volume measurements like cups. This is crucial for precise macro tracking.
• Create recipes for bulk meals: If you meal prep, create a single recipe for the entire batch. Then, determine the total weight and the number of servings. Log your portion by weight for perfect accuracy.

By leveraging these tools and best practices, you can make the process of tracking nutrition in MyFitnessPal a simple and powerful part of your health journey. For more information on how to build healthy eating habits, consult resources like the CDC's recommendations.

CDC Nutrition Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I log a food not in the MyFitnessPal database?

To log a food not in the database, go to the 'More' menu, then 'Meals, Recipes & Foods', and select the 'Foods' tab. From there, tap the plus (+) icon to create a new custom food and manually enter its nutritional information.

Can I import a recipe from a website into MyFitnessPal?

Yes, MyFitnessPal has a recipe import feature. Go to 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Recipes', and select the option to import from the web. You can paste the URL of the recipe, and the app will match the ingredients.

How do I create a custom meal I eat regularly?

To create a custom meal, log all the foods for that meal in your Diary as you normally would. Then, tap the three dots at the bottom right of the meal entry and select 'Save as Meal.' You can then name and save it for future use.

Why are my MyFitnessPal macro percentages locked at 5% increments?

In the free version of MyFitnessPal, macronutrient goals are adjustable only in 5% increments. For more precise, gram-based control, you need to upgrade to MyFitnessPal Premium.

What should I do if the barcode scan shows incorrect information?

If a barcode scan pulls up incorrect information, you can search for a different entry or create a new custom food using the correct information from the product's nutrition label. The crowdsourced database can sometimes have errors.

How can I track micronutrients like sodium or fiber?

You can track additional micronutrients by going to 'More' > 'Goals' > 'Additional Nutrient Goals' and setting specific targets for nutrients like sodium, fiber, and sugar.

Is it better to weigh or measure my food for accuracy?

For the most accurate nutrition tracking, it is always better to weigh your food in grams using a food scale rather than relying on volume measurements like cups. This is especially important for custom recipes.

Can I edit a recipe after I've created it?

Yes, you can edit your saved recipes. Navigate to 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Recipes,' and then select the recipe you wish to modify. Tap 'Edit Recipe' to make changes to the ingredients or serving size.