Accurate food tracking is fundamental to achieving your health and fitness goals. Whether you made a mistake during a quick log or your serving size was larger than anticipated, knowing how to modify your entries is a critical skill for any MyFitnessPal user. The process differs slightly depending on whether you are using the mobile app or the website.
Editing Food Entries in the MyFitnessPal Mobile App (iOS and Android)
The process for editing individual, remembered, or recipe food entries on the mobile app is straightforward, though there are minor differences between iOS and Android.
Editing Logged Food in Your Daily Diary
For a single item you've already logged for the day, you can quickly make changes directly from your diary.
- Navigate to your Diary: From the home screen, tap the 'Diary' icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the Entry: Tap on the specific food entry you wish to change.
- Adjust Serving Size: On the food details screen, you can change the serving size and number of servings.
- Confirm Changes: Tap the checkmark or 'Save' button to update your entry in the diary.
Editing Saved 'My Foods' or Recipes
If you want to permanently change an entry you created yourself, you will need to edit it in your saved items list.
For iOS:
- Access More Menu: Tap the 'More' button in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Go to My Foods: Select 'My Meals, Recipes & Foods', then 'My Foods' or 'Recipes'.
- Select and Edit: Tap the item you want to modify, then tap the 'Edit Food' button. Make your changes and save.
For Android:
- Open Menu: Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Navigate to Foods: Select 'Recipes, Meals & Foods', then 'Foods' or 'Recipes'.
- Edit Item: Tap on the food or recipe, make your necessary edits, and tap 'Save'.
How to Modify Food Entries on the MyFitnessPal Website
For users who prefer the desktop experience or need to make changes to a wider range of items, the website offers robust editing capabilities.
- Login: Go to the MyFitnessPal website and log in to your account.
- Access Food Tab: Click the 'Food' tab at the top of the page.
- Manage My Foods: Click 'My Foods' or 'My Recipes' from the submenu.
- Search and Edit: Find the item you want to edit. Click on its name in the search results and then click the 'Edit' button to make your modifications.
Comparison: Editing on Mobile vs. Website
| Feature | Mobile App (iOS/Android) | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Diary Edits | Can edit serving size, number of servings, and remove entries directly. | Can edit serving size, number of servings, and remove entries directly from the diary. |
| Edit Personal Foods | Must navigate through 'More' or menu and find the specific 'My Foods' list. | Accessible via the 'Food' > 'My Foods' tab, offering a clearer overview of all personal entries. |
| Edit Saved Meals | Access through 'My Meals, Recipes & Foods', then 'Meals'. Offers robust editing including adding or removing ingredients. | Can edit meals by adding to diary and using the 'Replace an Existing Meal' function. |
| Database Edits | Limited functionality; can report inaccurate entries, but cannot edit public database items. | Can edit inaccurate public database entries, which effectively creates a new personal entry with corrections. |
| Navigation | Menu-driven, sometimes with slightly different paths for iOS and Android. | Tab-based, offering a clear and consistent navigation structure. |
Advanced Tips for Editing and Managing Entries
- Be Careful with Public Database Items: When editing an inaccurate food from the public database via the website, you are creating a new, corrected version in your personal 'My Foods' list. The original entry remains untouched for other users. Remember to log from your 'My Foods' list in the future to use the correct data.
- Overwriting Saved Meals: On the website, a powerful shortcut is to log a saved meal, make your adjustments in the diary, and then save it again, choosing the 'Replace an Existing Meal' option. This is particularly useful for frequent meals that change slightly.
- Leverage 'Frequent' and 'Recent' Lists: While editing, you can also leverage the 'Frequent' and 'Recent' lists to find entries quickly. Simply tapping an item allows you to make serving size adjustments before logging.
- Handling Syncing Issues: Occasionally, edits made on one platform might not sync immediately to another. Ensure your app has a strong internet connection and manually force a sync by pulling down on the diary screen to refresh.
- Correcting Macronutrient Errors: Some common mistakes in user-submitted entries include incorrect fiber or sugar calculations. When creating your own foods, be meticulous with the nutritional data from the food's label.
Conclusion
Mastering how to edit food entries in MyFitnessPal ensures your calorie and macronutrient tracking remains accurate and reflects your actual intake. By understanding the platform-specific steps for modifying daily entries, personal foods, and saved meals, you can maintain a precise food diary. Whether you're on the go with the mobile app or at your computer, the tools are readily available to keep your nutrition logs up to date. This level of control is key to making informed decisions and staying on track with your wellness journey.
The importance of accurate food tracking
For anyone serious about their health goals, precision in logging is paramount. Without the ability to correct a mistake or adjust a portion size, the data you rely on to make dietary decisions becomes unreliable. An accurately maintained food diary is an invaluable tool for understanding your eating habits, making healthier choices, and monitoring your progress over time. It prevents the frustration of seeing a plateau in your progress due to small, uncorrected errors that accumulate daily.
