Sharing Recipes with Friends (The Workaround)
While MyFitnessPal does not currently have a feature to directly share a custom recipe from one user to another's recipe list, there is a simple and effective workaround using the app's diary sharing functionality. This method allows a friend to log a custom recipe as a meal and for you to copy it directly from their diary. This requires both users to be 'Friends' on the app and for the recipe creator to set their diary visibility to at least 'Friends Only'.
Step-by-Step Guide for Mobile Apps
To copy a logged recipe from a friend's diary using the mobile app (iOS or Android), follow these steps:
- First, the friend who created the recipe must log it in their food diary as a meal.
- Next, both users must be connected as friends. If not, send a friend request through the app.
- The friend sharing the recipe needs to ensure their diary sharing settings are set to 'Friends Only' or 'Public.' This can be found under 'More' > 'Settings' > 'Privacy Center' > 'Sharing & Privacy Settings' > 'Diary Sharing'.
- Once settings are correct, open your 'Friends' page. You can access this via the 'More' menu.
- Tap on your friend's name in the list, then tap the diary icon to view their log.
- Navigate to the correct day and locate the meal entry. You will see three dots (...) next to the entry.
- Tap the three dots and select 'Copy to Date.' Choose the meal slot and date you wish to copy it to.
- The recipe will now be added as a meal to your own diary and will contain all the nutritional information, though it will not appear in your personal 'Recipes' list.
Step-by-Step Guide for the MyFitnessPal Website
The process is similar on the web version of MyFitnessPal:
- Ensure your friend's diary is visible to friends.
- Go to 'My Home' > 'Friends' and click on your friend's username.
- Click 'View Diary.'
- Locate the meal entry you wish to copy and click 'Quick Tools' underneath it.
- Select 'Copy to Today' or 'Copy to Date' to add the meal to your diary.
Finding Curated Recipes: The Official Route
If you are a Premium user, or simply looking for inspiration without needing a friend's specific recipe, MyFitnessPal offers an official 'Recipe Discovery' feature. This provides access to a database of curated recipes, often developed by registered dietitians.
Accessing the Recipe Discovery Feature
- From the main menu ('More' tab), select 'Recipe Discovery.'
- Here you will find collections of recipes organized by diet type, meal, or nutritional goals, such as high-protein, low-carb, or vegetarian.
- Premium users can save or bookmark these recipes directly for future use.
- Free users can view the full ingredient list, directions, and nutritional information to manually log the recipe or save it elsewhere for reference.
Comparison: Copying a Friend's Meal vs. Recipe Discovery
| Feature | Copying from a Friend's Diary | MyFitnessPal Recipe Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Requires being friends with the recipe creator and their diary visibility to be set to 'Friends Only' or 'Public'. | Available to all users, though Premium members have extra features like saving. |
| Content Source | Custom recipes created by your friends and community connections. | Curated recipes developed or approved by MyFitnessPal and its dietitians. |
| Ease of Use | A workaround that requires multiple steps, including coordinating with a friend. | Straightforward and integrated within the app, designed for browsing. |
| Recipe Storage | Only saves to your daily log as a meal; does not add to your personal 'Recipes' list. | Premium users can save recipes to a personal collection for easy access. |
| Customization | The copied entry is fixed. To modify, you must manually edit the meal after copying it to your diary. | You can take the information and create your own modified recipe from scratch using your personal tools. |
Sharing Your Own Recipes Publicly
Although seeing other people's recipes is limited, you can make your own recipes more discoverable by saving them as public 'Foods' on the MyFitnessPal website. This workaround makes your creation searchable by the wider community.
How to Create a Public Food on the Website
- Log in to your account on the MyFitnessPal website.
- Navigate to the 'My Foods' tab.
- Click 'Create Food.'
- Enter the details of your recipe, including a descriptive name and nutrition information.
- Crucially, at the bottom of the form, check the box that says 'Yes, let other MyFitnessPal members use this food'.
- Save the food. Now, other users can find your recipe by searching for the exact name you used.
The MyFitnessPal Blog for More Recipes
For an even broader source of inspiration, the MyFitnessPal blog is a fantastic resource. It offers a wealth of recipes, fitness advice, and nutrition articles. To access it:
- From the main menu ('More' tab), select 'Blog.'
- Use the menu on the blog to filter for recipes based on your preferences. You can find everything from quick weeknight meals to recipes tailored for specific dietary needs.
- Unlike the Recipe Discovery feature, these recipes are presented in a traditional blog post format and require manual entry into your food diary.
Conclusion
While MyFitnessPal does not offer a public, searchable database for user-submitted recipes within the app, several workarounds and official features make it possible to find and share meal ideas. To see a friend's recipe, you must use the diary sharing feature, which allows you to copy a meal from their log. For a curated list of recipes, the Recipe Discovery feature offers a streamlined experience, particularly for Premium users. Finally, for those wanting to contribute, creating a public 'Food' on the website is the best way to share your creations with the wider MyFitnessPal community. By utilizing these methods, you can effectively leverage the social and content features of the platform to find new, healthy meal options.
Using the App for Recipe Ideas
- Diary Sharing Workaround: To get a friend's recipe, have them log it as a meal and set their diary to 'Friends Only' so you can copy it.
- Recipe Discovery: Use this feature in the app's 'More' menu to browse dietitian-curated recipes organized by collections.
- MyFitnessPal Blog: Find additional recipes and expert advice by navigating to the blog from the app's main menu.
- Sharing Your Own: Create public 'Foods' on the MyFitnessPal website to make your recipes searchable by others.
- Meal vs. Recipe: Understand the distinction between a saved 'Meal' (often for personal use) and a 'Recipe' (more detailed, can be made public as a 'Food').
Q&A
question: Is it possible to search for a specific user's custom recipe directly in the app? answer: No, the app does not have a search function for individual user-created recipes. The only way is to either copy it from a friend's shared diary or have them create a public 'Food' on the website.
question: Can I save a copied meal from my friend to my personal 'Recipes' list? answer: No, when you copy a meal from a friend's diary, it appears in your diary as a meal for that day, but it is not automatically saved to your 'Recipes' list. You would need to manually recreate it in your own recipe tool.
question: Do I have to pay for MyFitnessPal Premium to see other people's recipes? answer: The primary methods for finding user recipes, like the diary sharing workaround and blog, are available for free. However, the official 'Recipe Discovery' feature, which offers a curated experience, is a Premium feature.
question: How do I adjust my diary sharing settings so a friend can copy my recipe? answer: Go to 'More' > 'Settings' > 'Privacy Center' > 'Sharing & Privacy Settings' > 'Diary Sharing.' Change the setting from 'Locked with a key' to 'Friends Only' or 'Public'.
question: What's the difference between a 'Meal' and a 'Recipe' in MyFitnessPal? answer: A 'Meal' is a bundle of pre-existing foods saved together for easy logging, whereas a 'Recipe' breaks down a dish by individual ingredients to calculate nutrition. You can only copy a logged meal, not the underlying recipe itself.
question: Why can't I find a custom food or recipe in the app's search bar, even if it's public? answer: Publicly searchable custom 'Foods' are typically created on the website, not the app, and may not appear prominently in the app's search. The website's search might be more reliable for these.
question: What is the best way to find low-calorie dinner ideas from the MyFitnessPal community? answer: For curated, low-calorie options, explore the 'Recipe Discovery' feature (Premium) or check the MyFitnessPal blog. For community-submitted recipes, you must rely on sharing with specific friends or searching for public 'Foods' created by users on the website.
