How do I log a meal in MyFitnessPal? A Step-by-Step Guide

November 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to MyFitnessPal data, users who consistently log their food are more likely to achieve their weight loss goals. This guide explains exactly how do I log a meal in MyFitnessPal, covering several quick and easy methods for logging your breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks with precision and consistency.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for logging a meal in MyFitnessPal, detailing several methods including manual searching, barcode scanning, and using saved meals to streamline the food-tracking process effectively.

Key Points

Basic Logging: Use the in-app search function from the Diary tab to find and add individual food items to your meals, adjusting the serving size as needed.
Barcode Scanning: For premium users, the built-in barcode scanner instantly logs packaged foods by scanning their barcode with your phone's camera, significantly saving time.
Save Meals and Recipes: Combine frequently eaten foods into a single 'Saved Meal' to log entire meal compositions with one tap, rather than searching for each component every time.
Copy from History: For routine meals or meal prep, utilize the 'Copy Meal' or 'Copy Day' feature to duplicate a previous entry to the current day, eliminating redundant logging.
Create Custom Foods: For items not in the database or when precise nutrition information is needed, create your own food entry under the 'Foods' section in the 'More' menu.
Focus on Consistency: Remember that accuracy is important, but consistency is key to success. Aim to log your food consistently, even if you have to estimate sometimes, to gain valuable insights into your eating habits.
Verify Food Entries: When searching manually, prioritize entries with a green checkmark, as these are verified for better accuracy by MyFitnessPal.

Getting Started: The Basic Method of Food Logging

Logging a meal in MyFitnessPal is a straightforward process once you're familiar with the app's interface. The most common and simple way to log your food is by using the search function, which taps into the app's extensive food database.

To begin:

Open the app and navigate to your Diary: From the home screen, tap the 'Diary' icon located in the bottom navigation bar.
Select a meal slot: Tap the '+ Add Food' button beneath the meal you wish to log (e.g., Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Snacks).
Search for your food: In the search bar at the top of the 'Add Food' page, type the name of the food. For more accurate results, include brand names or preparation details (e.g., 'cooked chicken breast' or 'Uncle Ben's jasmine rice').
Choose the best match: Look for a green checkmark next to the search result, which indicates a verified food entry. Tap the item to select it.
Adjust serving details: Specify the serving size and the number of servings. You can often change the unit of measurement (e.g., grams, ounces, or cups) for greater accuracy.
Log the food: Tap the checkmark or 'Add' button to save the food to your diary.

Advanced and Time-Saving Logging Techniques

For those looking to streamline their food tracking, MyFitnessPal offers several powerful features that go beyond a simple search.

Barcode Scanning

Logging packaged foods is incredibly fast with the barcode scanner. This is a premium feature but a massive time-saver for many users.

Start a new entry: From your Diary, tap '+ Add Food' for the desired meal.
Access the scanner: Tap the barcode icon, typically located in the top-right corner of the search screen.
Scan the barcode: Align your phone's camera with the barcode on the food packaging.
Confirm details: The app will automatically pull up the food's information. Adjust the serving size if necessary and add it to your diary.

Saving Meals and Recipes

If you frequently eat the same combination of foods, saving them as a meal or recipe can save you from logging each ingredient individually.

Saving a Meal from Your Diary

Log your meal as usual: Enter all the foods for one meal slot into your diary.
Save the meal: Tap the three dots (...) or 'Quick Tools' next to the meal and select 'Save as Meal'.
Name your meal: Give the meal a memorable name (e.g., 'Everyday Oatmeal').

Logging a Saved Meal

Add a new food: Tap '+ Add Food' under the correct meal slot.
Navigate to 'My Meals': Swipe through the tabs just below the search bar until you find 'My Meals'.
Select your saved meal: Tap the meal you wish to log. You can still adjust individual serving sizes if needed before adding it to your diary.

Copying Previous Meals and Days

One of the most efficient ways to log meals is to copy them from a previous day. This is perfect for meal prep or repeating your eating routine.

To Copy a Single Meal

Find the meal: In your diary, locate the meal you want to copy.
Copy the meal: Tap the three dots (...) or 'Quick Tools' and select 'Copy to Date'.
Select the destination: Choose the date and meal slot to copy the food to.

To Copy an Entire Day

Go to your Diary: Find the day you wish to copy.
Start the copy process: Tap 'Edit' at the top of your diary. Select 'Select All', then tap 'Copy'.
Choose the new date: Tap 'Copy to Date' and pick your desired date.

Comparison of MyFitnessPal Logging Methods


Feature	Manual Search	Barcode Scanner (Premium)	Saved Meals	Copy/Paste Days
Time Efficiency	Moderate	Very High	High	Very High
Best For	Whole foods, restaurant items, new foods	Packaged goods with clear labels	Regular, routine meals	Meal prep or repetitive schedules
Accuracy	Good (with verification)	Very high	High	High
Effort	Requires manual input	Minimal (point and scan)	One-time setup, then minimal	One-time setup, then minimal
Flexibility	Highest	Limited to packaged goods	Easy to adjust serving sizes	Retains previous adjustments
Downsides	Can be time-consuming; need attention to detail	Requires premium subscription; works only on packaged foods	Requires initial setup time	Not ideal for day-to-day variety

How to Create a Custom Food Entry

Sometimes, a food you're eating isn't in the database or has an incorrect entry. MyFitnessPal allows you to create your own custom foods for accurate tracking.

Go to 'More': Tap the 'More' menu in the bottom-right corner.
Find 'Create a New Food': Select 'Meals, Recipes & Foods', then tap the 'Foods' tab and press 'Create a New Food'.
Enter nutritional information: Input the food name, serving size, and all available nutrition facts from the label.
Save the food: Tap 'Save'. Your new food will be available in your 'My Foods' tab for future logging.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Logging Strategy for You

Effective food tracking with MyFitnessPal is about consistency, not perfection. The best approach is to find the logging method or combination of methods that best fits your lifestyle and helps you stay on track. For packaged foods, the barcode scanner is the fastest option for premium users. For homemade recipes or staples, creating and saving custom meals saves a lot of time in the long run. By using a mix of manual search, saved meals, and the copy/paste function, you can create an efficient routine that makes food tracking a seamless and informative part of your day, rather than a chore. Consistency, as MyFitnessPal's own data shows, is the most important ingredient for success.

Frequently Asked Questions

To edit a logged food, go to your Diary, tap on the food entry you want to change, and then adjust the serving size or number of servings. For more advanced editing, you may need to delete the entry and re-add it.

If you can't find a food, you have a few options. First, try searching again with more specific terms (e.g., brand name). If that fails, you can manually create a new food entry using the nutritional information from the label.

Yes, you can pre-log your meals for future dates. This is a great strategy for meal planning. Simply use the 'Copy to Date' feature to move saved or recent meals to a future day in your diary.

No, as of October 1, 2022, the barcode scanner is a premium-only feature. The free version does not support this function.

To save a custom recipe, go to the 'More' menu, select 'Meals, Recipes & Foods', and then tap the 'Recipes' tab to create a new one. You can either import it from a web address or manually add the ingredients.

A green checkmark signifies that the food entry is verified by MyFitnessPal. This means it has been cross-checked for accuracy and is considered a reliable source for your calorie and nutrient tracking.

The fastest way is to save frequently eaten food items or combinations as a meal. Once saved, you can log the entire meal from the 'My Meals' tab with a single tap.