Is there a way to edit my recipes in MyFitnessPal?

Millions of users worldwide rely on MyFitnessPal to track their dietary intake and achieve health goals. Knowing how to manage your custom entries, including editing recipes, is a crucial part of maintaining an accurate food diary. This flexibility ensures your tracked data stays current with your real-life cooking habits.

Quick Summary

Yes, users can edit saved recipes on MyFitnessPal through both the mobile app and website. The process allows for modifying ingredients, adjusting serving sizes, and updating other recipe details to ensure accurate nutritional tracking.

Key Points

• Access the Editor: You can edit your recipes by navigating to the 'Recipes' section within the app or website interface.

• Edit Ingredients and Servings: The recipe editor allows for modifying ingredient quantities, adding new items, and adjusting the total number of servings.

• Mobile vs. Web: The process is similar on both the mobile app and website, with the website offering some slightly more detailed editing options.

• Duplicate for Variations: To save a version of your recipe with slight changes, you can duplicate it on the website, allowing you to edit without altering the original.

• Enhance Accuracy: Fine-tune your nutrition tracking by updating recipes to reflect changes in ingredients or cooking methods over time.

Editing Recipes in the MyFitnessPal Mobile App

The ability to edit recipes on the go is a key feature for many users. The process is straightforward, with slight variations between iOS and Android platforms.

For iOS Users

1. Open the MyFitnessPal app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the "More" menu, located in the bottom-right corner of the app screen.
3. Tap on "My Meals, Recipes & Foods."
4. Select the "Recipes" tab to see your list of saved recipes.
5. Tap the recipe you wish to modify.
6. Tap the "Edit Recipe" button. This will display your recipe's ingredients.
7. To adjust an ingredient, tap on it to change its quantity or serving size.
8. To add a new ingredient, tap the plus (+) icon.
9. To remove an ingredient, swipe left on the ingredient and tap "Delete".
10. Once your changes are complete, tap the checkmark icon in the top-right corner to save.

For Android Users

1. Launch the MyFitnessPal app on your Android device.
2. Open the menu by tapping the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner.
3. Select "Recipes, Meals & Foods," then choose the "Recipes" tab.
4. Tap on the specific recipe you want to edit.
5. Tap the three dots icon in the top-right corner and select "Edit Recipe".
6. To modify an ingredient, tap it to change its quantity or serving size. You can also add more ingredients using the plus (+) icon.
7. To delete an item, tap the box to its right and then tap the trash can icon at the top of the screen.
8. After making your adjustments, tap the checkmark to save.

Editing Recipes on the MyFitnessPal Website

For those who prefer a desktop experience or find the mobile app interface limited, the MyFitnessPal website offers a robust recipe editing tool.

1. Log into your account on the official MyFitnessPal website.
2. Click on the "Food" tab at the top of the page.
3. In the sub-navigation bar, click "Recipes".
4. Find the recipe you want to edit and click on its name.
5. Click the "Edit Recipe" button.
6. Hover your mouse over an existing ingredient to see options for "Edit Quantity," "Replace," and "Remove".
7. Use the "Add Ingredient" button to include new items.
8. Click "Save" when you are finished.

Advanced Editing: Duplicating and Bulk Changes

Sometimes, you need to make a one-off adjustment without altering the original saved recipe, such as when making a larger batch or a variation. This is where duplicating a recipe becomes useful.

1. Duplicate a recipe: On the website, go to Food > Recipes. Hover over the recipe you want to copy and select "Copy." This creates a new, identical recipe that you can edit without changing the original. In the app, you may need to save the recipe again with a new name after making changes, or copy the components into a new entry.

2. Adjusting Serving Size: If you find that a recipe yields a different number of servings than you initially calculated, you can change the serving size on the edit page. For maximum accuracy, especially with items like a large casserole, some users will edit the serving size to equal the recipe's total weight in grams after cooking. This allows for precise logging by entering the weight of the portion you eat.

How to Edit a MyFitnessPal Recipe: App vs. Website

Feature	Mobile App	Website	Best for
Access Method	Navigate through the "More" or Menu section.	Use the "Food" tab and then "Recipes."	Quick, on-the-go adjustments.
Ingredient Edits	Tap ingredients individually or swipe to delete.	Hover mouse over ingredients for options.	Precise, large-scale changes or replacements.
Bulk Ingredients	Can be imported from the web or entered manually.	Offers bulk import functionality.	Adding complex recipes with many components.
Advanced Features	Supports basic editing of quantities and ingredients.	Access to more specific editing controls and the duplication feature.	Modifying an existing recipe without losing the original.

Conclusion

Yes, MyFitnessPal offers robust tools for editing your saved recipes. Whether you're using the mobile app or the website, you have the flexibility to add, remove, and adjust ingredients and serving sizes to ensure your food tracking remains accurate. Utilizing these editing features is essential for reflecting variations in your cooking and staying on top of your nutritional goals. Remember to save your changes to update the recipe in your food diary accurately. For more assistance, refer to the official MyFitnessPal support site for detailed instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I edit the serving size of a recipe in MyFitnessPal?

To edit the serving size, open the recipe for editing on either the app or website. Find the recipe details section and change the number of servings. You can also use a precise method of making the serving size equal to the total weight of the finished recipe in grams.

Can I edit an ingredient in a recipe I've already saved?

Yes. After accessing the recipe edit screen, you can tap on an existing ingredient in the mobile app or hover over it on the website to change its quantity, serving size, or replace it entirely.

What is the difference between editing a meal and editing a recipe?

A 'meal' is a quick-log feature that bundles multiple foods for a specific diary entry. A 'recipe' is a custom entry with fixed ingredients and serving sizes. You can edit a remembered meal but not the underlying logged food items directly from the meal itself.

I can't find the edit recipe button. Has it been removed?

No, the edit functionality is still available. In the mobile app, it might be behind a three-dot menu icon in the recipe view. On the website, it's a clear button on the recipe page. If you are experiencing issues, check that your app is updated to the latest version.

Is there a way to duplicate a recipe so I can edit it without changing the original?

Yes, on the MyFitnessPal website, you can select the 'Copy' option for a recipe, which creates a duplicate that you can then modify and save separately.

How can I delete an ingredient from a recipe?

In the app, you can typically swipe left on an ingredient (iOS) or select it and use the trash can icon (Android) to delete it during the editing process. On the website, you can hover over the ingredient and click the 'Remove' button.

Why would I need to edit a recipe?

You might need to edit a recipe if you use different brands of ingredients, vary the ingredient amounts, or change the yield of the recipe. This ensures the nutritional information you track is as accurate as possible.