Official methods for exporting your MyFitnessPal data
There are two primary, officially supported methods for exporting your food diary and other data from MyFitnessPal. Both require using the MyFitnessPal website on a computer, as the mobile app does not have a direct export function.
Method 1: Exporting a Printable PDF Report
This is the simplest way to create a clean, organized report of your food log, perfect for printing or saving as a PDF to share with a healthcare professional or for personal review.
- Log in to the Website: Go to the MyFitnessPal website (myfitnesspal.com) and log in to your account with your credentials.
- Navigate to the Food Tab: Click the 'Food' tab at the top of the page. This will take you to your food diary for the current day.
- View Printable Report: Scroll to the very bottom of your daily food diary. You will find a link that says 'View Full Report (Printable)' or 'View a printable report'. Click it.
- Select Date Range and Details: On the next page, you can customize your report. First, select the start and end dates for the period you want to export. Then, choose the types of data you want to include (e.g., Food Diary only, Progress, Exercise, etc.).
- Generate the Report: Click 'Change Report' to generate a view of your diary for the specified period. Your data will be displayed in a clean, printable format.
- Save as PDF: Use your browser's print function (typically
Ctrl+Pon Windows orCmd+Pon Mac). Instead of sending it to a physical printer, select the 'Save as PDF' or 'Print to PDF' option from the list of printers. Choose a location to save the file and click 'Save'.
Method 2: Requesting a Complete Data Export (CSV Files)
For more advanced users who want to analyze their data in a spreadsheet program like Excel, MyFitnessPal offers a data export feature that provides CSV files.
- Visit the Export Page: Log in to the MyFitnessPal website and go to the Reports section, or navigate directly to
www.myfitnesspal.com/reports/export. - Request Your Data: On the export page, you will see a request form. Enter the desired date range for the data you want to download and click the 'Export' button.
- Check Your Email: MyFitnessPal will send an email to the address associated with your account with a link to download a ZIP file. This process may take a few minutes.
- Download and Unzip: Open the email and click the 'Download Files' button. Download the ZIP file to your computer. On a Mac, simply double-click the file to unzip it. On a PC, right-click and select 'Extract All'.
- Access Your CSV Files: The unzipped folder will contain several CSV files, including 'Your Nutrition', 'Your Exercise', and 'Your Progress'. You can open these files with spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis.
Using third-party tools and bookmarklets
While MyFitnessPal's official methods are reliable, some users have developed unofficial third-party tools or browser bookmarklets to streamline the process, especially for those looking for a simple CSV export without a subscription.
Comparison of Export Methods
| Feature | Printable Report (PDF) | Data Export (CSV) | Third-Party Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | PDF (not easily editable) | CSV (spreadsheet-compatible) | CSV or direct web display |
| Data Granularity | Meal-level totals and daily summaries | Meal-level details, food-level data (for nutrition) | Varies by tool |
| User Effort | Low; point and click | Medium; involves email and downloading ZIP | Varies by tool; can be simple |
| Best For | Sharing with dietitians, simple review | Deep data analysis, migration | Fast, simple extraction for technical users |
| Subscription Required | No | No | Varies by tool |
| Official Support | Yes | Yes | No; use at your own risk |
Troubleshooting common export issues
If you encounter problems while trying to export your food diary, here are some common issues and solutions:
- Export email never arrives: Check your spam or junk folder. The email containing the download link can sometimes be filtered by email clients.
- Mobile app export is missing: Remember that MyFitnessPal does not offer a direct export function within the mobile app. You must use the website on a desktop or mobile browser.
- Incorrect date range: Double-check that you've selected the correct start and end dates on the export page. If you've been using MyFitnessPal for a long time, consider exporting smaller date ranges to avoid large file sizes.
- CSV file is unreadable: Ensure you are opening the CSV file with appropriate spreadsheet software. If characters appear garbled, try opening the file and specifying UTF-8 encoding during the import process.
The importance of backing up your food diary
Exporting your food diary is not only useful for sharing with a professional but also serves as an important backup of your personal health data. This data is valuable for understanding long-term trends and patterns in your diet that might be missed in daily tracking. Regularly exporting your data can provide peace of mind in case you ever decide to switch to a different service or need historical information.
Conclusion
Exporting a food diary from MyFitnessPal is a straightforward process once you know the right steps. Whether you need a simple, printable PDF for a dietitian or a raw CSV file for in-depth analysis, the MyFitnessPal website provides the necessary tools. By following the official procedures outlined in this article, you can gain complete control over your nutritional data and use it to better manage your health goals. While the platform has evolved over the years, the core functionality for data export remains accessible and reliable.
For more information on exporting your data and other platform features, visit the official MyFitnessPal Help Center.
