Finding a friend's special lasagna or a fitness influencer's smoothie recipe on MyFitnessPal is not as straightforward as a simple user search. The app prioritizes user privacy, which means custom recipes and food diaries are private by default. This guide will walk you through the primary workarounds and provide step-by-step instructions for each method.
Method 1: The Official Friend-Based Workaround
This is the most reliable method for finding a recipe from a friend. It relies on them having their food diary sharing settings configured correctly and logging the recipe as a meal.
Step-by-Step Instructions for App Users
- Become Friends: Ensure you and the other user are connected as friends on MyFitnessPal.
- Adjust Diary Sharing: Ask your friend to go to the 'More' menu -> 'Settings' -> 'Sharing & Privacy' -> 'Diary Sharing' and set it to 'Friends Only' or 'Public'.
- View Their Diary: Navigate to the 'Friends' page, tap on their name, and then tap the 'Diary' icon (which looks like a book).
- Find and Copy the Meal: Scroll to the day the recipe was logged. Tap the three dots next to the meal containing the recipe, select 'Copy to Date,' and choose a date and meal to copy it into your own diary.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Web Users
- Establish Friendship: Be sure you are connected with the user on MyFitnessPal.
- Verify Sharing Settings: Confirm that your friend has enabled 'Friends Only' or 'Public' diary sharing by asking them to check their 'Settings' -> 'Diary settings'.
- Access Their Diary: Visit their profile page by clicking their name on your friends list. On their profile, click 'View Diary'.
- Use Quick Tools: Locate the meal you want to copy. Click the 'Quick Tools' link below the meal, and then select 'Copy to Today' or 'Copy to Date' to add it to your log.
Method 2: Searching the Public Custom Food Database
For a recipe to be found this way, the user must have specifically saved it as a public custom food item. Many users don't know how to do this, but if they have, you can find it through the standard food search.
How to Search for Public Custom Foods
- Have the Full Recipe Name: You'll need the exact or close-to-exact name they used when they saved the recipe. This is not always reliable, as users may use inconsistent naming conventions.
- Navigate to Food Log: Go to your food diary and select 'Add Food' for any meal.
- Search for the Recipe: In the search bar, type the name of the recipe. The app will search its database of millions of public food entries, which includes public custom recipes.
- Filter Results (Optional): On the web, you can sometimes refine your search to 'My Foods' or 'Database' to help, but this isn't a precise method for finding someone else's public custom recipe.
Method 3: Requesting Recipes via Community Forums
If the above methods fail, the MyFitnessPal Community Forums can be an excellent resource. Here, you can ask other users to share their recipes, find threads dedicated to sharing, or request a recipe from someone who mentioned it publicly.
Steps for Using the Forums
- Access the Forums: On the MyFitnessPal website, click the 'Community' tab. In the app, go to 'More' -> 'Community' -> 'Forums'.
- Find Recipe Category: Look for the 'Recipes' category in the forum list.
- Post Your Request: If you can't find a relevant thread, create a new post asking for the recipe. Provide as much detail as you can. It's a great place to find inspiration if you're not looking for a specific user's recipe.
Comparing Recipe Sharing Methods
| Method | Requires Friendship? | Requires Privacy Change? | Ease of Use | Reliability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copy from Diary | Yes | Yes | High | High | Requires user to log the meal on a visible date. |
| Public Custom Food | No | No (User sets public) | Low to Medium | Low | Naming convention can be inconsistent; difficult to search. |
| Community Forums | No | No | Low | Low | Relies on someone seeing your request and responding. |
Conclusion
While MyFitnessPal does not offer a direct search for another person's private recipes, these methods offer viable paths to accessing the information you need. The most direct and reliable approach is to become friends with the user and have them adjust their diary sharing settings. This allows you to copy meals containing their recipes directly into your diary. If that isn't possible, searching for public custom foods or posting in the community forums are worthwhile alternatives. Ultimately, communication with the person who created the recipe is key to successfully obtaining their details.
For more detailed information on privacy and diary sharing, refer to the official MyFitnessPal Help Center. Read more here
Lists
Steps for copying a meal via the app:
- Go to 'More' -> 'Friends'.
- Tap on your friend's name.
- Tap the 'Diary' icon.
- Navigate to the day and meal with the recipe.
- Tap the three dots (···) below the meal.
- Select 'Copy to Date' and choose the meal and date.
Best Practices for Sharing Your Own Recipes:
- Always create your custom recipes as 'Public' foods via the website to make them searchable.
- Use a consistent, descriptive naming convention for your public custom foods.
- Announce on the community forums when you've shared a new recipe to boost visibility.
- Consider sharing a screenshot of the recipe card in the forums or with friends.
Tips for Troubleshooting:
- If you can't see a friend's diary, ask them to check their sharing settings.
- Ensure you are searching with the correct and complete recipe name if using the public custom food method.
- Remember that only meals already logged in the diary can be copied using the friend method.
