How to Share MyFitnessPal with Your Nutritionist

Over 50 million people use MyFitnessPal to log their food and exercise, making it a popular tool for tracking wellness goals. Collaborating with a nutritionist can enhance your health journey, and learning how to share MyFitnessPal with your nutritionist is a key step for transparent communication and effective coaching.

Quick Summary

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for sharing MyFitnessPal data with a nutritionist, covering methods like adjusting diary privacy settings, utilizing app integrations for professionals, and exporting data as a PDF. It also details the key benefits and potential considerations for clients working with a coach.

Key Points

• Diary Sharing: The simplest way to share MyFitnessPal is by adding your nutritionist as a 'Friend' and setting your diary to 'Friends Only'.

• Printable Reports: For a more private, periodic sharing method, export a printable PDF report of your food diary from the MyFitnessPal website.

• Professional Integration: Some nutritionists use coaching software like Trainerize or SENPRO that directly integrates with MyFitnessPal for seamless data synchronization.

• Communicate with Your Nutritionist: Discuss the best sharing method, frequency, and privacy settings with your professional to ensure a smooth and effective process.

• Log Accurately: The value of the data for your nutritionist depends on the accuracy of your logging. Utilize the app's features to track food and exercise precisely.

Sharing your food and exercise diary with a healthcare professional can significantly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of your nutritional guidance. By granting your nutritionist access to your MyFitnessPal data, they can gain a comprehensive understanding of your daily habits and provide more personalized, evidence-based recommendations.

Method 1: Adjusting Diary Privacy Settings

This is the most common and straightforward method, especially if your nutritionist also has a MyFitnessPal account. The process involves setting your food diary's visibility to be accessible to friends.

Steps for mobile app users (iOS and Android):

1. Open the MyFitnessPal app and navigate to the 'More' menu.
2. Scroll down and tap 'Settings'.
3. Go to 'Diary Settings' and then 'Diary Sharing'.
4. Change the setting from 'Locked with a key' to 'Friends Only'.
5. Add your nutritionist as a friend in the app using their MyFitnessPal username.
6. Once connected, they can view your diary directly from their account.

Steps for web users:

1. Log into your MyFitnessPal account on the website.
2. Click 'My Home' in the top navigation, then 'Settings'.
3. Select 'Diary Settings'.
4. Change the 'Diary Sharing' setting to 'Friends Only' and click 'Save Changes'.
5. Have your nutritionist send you a friend request or send them one.

Method 2: Exporting a Printable Report

If your nutritionist does not use MyFitnessPal, or you prefer to share your data periodically, exporting a printable PDF report is an effective alternative. This feature is available to all users on the web version.

1. Log into your account via the MyFitnessPal website.
2. Click the 'Food' tab at the top of the page.
3. Scroll to the bottom and click the 'View Printable Report' link.
4. Select a date range for the report and click 'Change Report'.
5. Use your browser's print function to 'Save as PDF'.
6. Email or send the PDF file to your nutritionist.

Method 3: Utilizing Professional Integrations

Some professional coaching platforms are designed to integrate directly with MyFitnessPal, creating a seamless sync of your data for your nutritionist. Platforms like Trainerize and SENPRO allow professionals to view their client's nutrition data directly within their coaching dashboard.

1. Your nutritionist will provide you with instructions on how to connect your MyFitnessPal account to their chosen platform.
2. This typically requires you to set your MyFitnessPal diary sharing to 'Public' and provide your username to your nutritionist.
3. The professional platform then pulls your food diary and macronutrient data automatically for their review.

Comparison of MyFitnessPal Sharing Methods

Feature	Diary Sharing (Friends Only)	Printable PDF Export	Professional Integration (e.g., Trainerize)
Convenience	High (once set up)	Low (manual export each time)	Very High (automatic sync)
Access	Real-time viewing within MFP	Static, periodic report	Real-time viewing in coach's dashboard
Professional Tool	No, uses standard friend feature	No, requires external PDF reader	Yes, specifically built for professionals
User Privacy	'Friends Only' or 'Locked with a key'	Manual control over who receives the PDF	Dependent on professional platform's privacy policy
Premium Required?	No	No	No (integration is typically managed by the coach's software)
Data Granularity	Full diary view	Summary for selected dates	Depends on the integration, often includes calories, macros, and meals

Considerations for Sharing Your Data

While sharing your data is beneficial, it's important to consider what information is appropriate to share with your nutritionist and to ensure your privacy is respected. Discuss your data sharing expectations with your professional upfront.

Accuracy of logging

For your nutritionist to provide the most effective guidance, your logged data must be accurate. Ensure you are diligent in tracking all foods and beverages, including portion sizes. The MyFitnessPal app features like the barcode scanner and recipe builder can help improve accuracy.

Frequency of sharing

Decide with your nutritionist how often they need to review your data. Some professionals prefer daily access, while others may only need weekly reports. Match your sharing method to their preferred frequency.

Using a Premium account

Premium MyFitnessPal users have additional data export options that can be useful for professionals, including more detailed nutrition summaries and the ability to export food history to a spreadsheet. This may be a valuable upgrade if your nutritionist requires more in-depth data analysis.

Conclusion

Sharing your MyFitnessPal data with your nutritionist is a powerful way to foster collaboration and improve your nutritional outcomes. The method you choose—whether adjusting diary privacy settings, exporting periodic reports, or using a professional-grade app integration—will depend on your and your nutritionist's preferences and workflow. By clearly communicating and establishing a routine for sharing, you can ensure your nutritionist has the information they need to guide you effectively toward your health and wellness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my MyFitnessPal diary without making it public?

Yes. You can set your diary sharing settings to 'Friends Only', allowing only individuals you have connected with on the app, like your nutritionist, to view your food and exercise logs.

How do I add my nutritionist as a friend on MyFitnessPal?

You can add them by their MyFitnessPal username. If you are on the mobile app, go to 'More' > 'Friends' > 'Add Friends' and enter their username.

Do I need a MyFitnessPal Premium account to share my data?

No, sharing your diary with a friend or exporting a printable PDF report can be done with a free account. A Premium subscription offers more advanced export features, but it's not required for basic sharing.

What information can a nutritionist see when I share my diary?

When you share your diary, your nutritionist can see your food and exercise entries, including calorie and macronutrient breakdowns. They will not, however, be able to see your private weight information unless you choose to share that separately.

Is it possible to share specific meals instead of my whole diary?

MyFitnessPal's standard sharing methods show your entire daily diary. However, you can save specific meals or recipes you create and share those with your friends or community.

Can a nutritionist make changes to my MyFitnessPal diary?

No, sharing your diary provides read-only access. Your nutritionist cannot directly edit or add entries to your diary. They can only view the information you have logged.

What if my nutritionist uses a different platform?

Many professional platforms, like Trainerize and SENPRO, integrate directly with MyFitnessPal. If not, you can use the printable report method to export your data and share it with them via email.