The Definitive Guide: How to Log Protein on MyFitnessPal

January 3, 2026 •

4 min read

Protein-rich diets can aid satiety and support muscle mass during weight loss. Learning how to log protein on MyFitnessPal is a fundamental step toward achieving your fitness and health goals. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, from finding foods to tracking homemade meals.

Quick Summary

This guide explains how to log protein on MyFitnessPal using various methods, including the food database, barcode scanner, and custom recipes. It details how to set macro goals and monitor progress effectively.

Key Points

Set Your Macro Goals: Adjust your daily protein target in the 'Goals' section based on your fitness level and aspirations.
Log with Multiple Methods: Use the food database, barcode scanner (Premium), or custom food/recipe builder to log protein.
Prioritize the Barcode Scanner: For packaged items, scanning the barcode is the quickest and most accurate logging method, though it requires a Premium subscription.
Create Custom Entries for Homemade Meals: For precise tracking of unique recipes or items not in the database, use the 'Create a Food' or 'Create a Recipe' features.
Monitor Your Progress Regularly: Check the 'Nutrition' section in your diary to see your daily and weekly protein intake compared to your goal.
Use Premium for Precision: Upgrade to Premium for the ability to set macro goals in exact gram amounts, which is essential for advanced tracking.

Your First Step: Setting Protein Goals

Before you start logging, it's crucial to set an accurate protein goal. MyFitnessPal provides a starting point based on your profile, but you can adjust it for a more personalized target. For many active adults, a goal of 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is often recommended.

To set or adjust your protein goal in the MyFitnessPal mobile app:

Tap the 'More' menu in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Select 'Goals'.
Tap 'Calorie, Carbs, Protein & Fat Goals'.
On the next screen, you can adjust your macro percentages. In the free version, adjustments are made in 5% increments, so you may not be able to set an exact gram amount.
If you have MyFitnessPal Premium, you can set your macronutrient goals in precise gram amounts instead of percentages, offering greater control.

Four Core Methods for Logging Protein

MyFitnessPal offers several ways to log your food, each suited for different situations. Using a combination of these methods will give you the most accurate and efficient tracking experience.

1. Search the Food Database

For most foods, the simplest method is to use the app's extensive database. The database is built on both verified sources and user-submitted data, so it's wise to double-check against a nutrition label when possible.

Tap the + button, then Food, and select the meal.
Type the food name into the search bar (e.g., 'chicken breast', 'Greek yogurt').
Review the search results, looking for entries with a green checkmark indicating a verified food item.
Select the food, adjust the serving size and number of servings, and tap the checkmark to log.

2. Use the Barcode Scanner

For packaged goods, the barcode scanner is the fastest and most accurate method for logging protein. This feature is available only to MyFitnessPal Premium subscribers.

Tap the + button, then Food, and select the meal.
Tap the 'Barcode Scan' option.
Align the barcode with the camera's frame. The app will automatically identify the food item and add its nutritional information.
Confirm the serving size and log the food.

3. Create a Custom Food

If you are logging a brand-specific food that isn't in the database or want to use a specific serving size (e.g., a weight in grams), creating a custom food is the best option.

Go to 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Foods'.
Tap 'Create a Food'.
Enter the nutritional information directly from the food label. Using grams as the serving size allows for more precise logging later.
Save the food, and it will be available in your personal database for quick logging in the future.

4. Log a Homemade Recipe

For home-cooked meals with multiple ingredients, the recipe builder feature is essential. It calculates the macros for the entire dish and divides them into servings you define.

Go to 'More' > 'Meals, Recipes & Foods' > 'Recipes'.
Tap 'Create a Recipe' and add the ingredients one by one.
Specify the total number of servings the recipe yields. MyFitnessPal will calculate the per-serving nutrition.
Log the recipe from your 'Recipes' section whenever you eat it.

MyFitnessPal Free vs. Premium: Protein Tracking Features

While the free version of MyFitnessPal is a powerful tool, the Premium subscription offers several enhancements that make protein tracking more precise and convenient.


Feature	Free Version	Premium Version
Barcode Scanner	No	Yes
Set Macro Goals	In 5% percentage increments	In precise grams or 1% increments
Meal Scan (AI Food Recognition)	No	Yes
Quick Add Macros	No	Yes (can enter grams directly)
Ad-Free Experience	No	Yes

Checking Your Daily Protein Intake

Once you have logged your meals, checking your progress is straightforward. On the diary screen, tap the 'Nutrition' button (often represented by a pie chart icon) to access detailed macro reports. This screen shows your total daily protein consumption compared to your goal and provides a visual breakdown of your macros.

For a more in-depth analysis, you can view your progress over the past week to spot trends and adjust your meal planning accordingly. This helps ensure you are consistently hitting your protein targets to support your fitness goals. For a useful overview of nutrient tracking, visit the official MyFitnessPal blog.

Conclusion: Making Protein Tracking Second Nature

Mastering how to log protein on MyFitnessPal can seem daunting at first, but it quickly becomes a habit. By utilizing the app's core features—the database, custom food entries, and the recipe builder—you can track your intake with precision. For those serious about their macro goals, the Premium version offers advanced features like exact gram tracking and barcode scanning, streamlining the process even further. Consistency is key, and with MyFitnessPal, you have all the tools you need to stay on top of your protein intake and crush your fitness goals.

Common Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues while logging, here are some quick solutions:

Verify Serving Size: Always adjust the serving size to match what you actually consumed. This is especially important for items like protein powders or meats.
Use Grams for Accuracy: When creating custom foods or recipes, using grams as the base measurement is more accurate than relying on volumetric measurements like cups.
Check the Database Entry: If a search result seems inaccurate, compare it to the product's nutrition label. If it doesn't match, create a custom entry or find a more reliable match in the database.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. With the free version of MyFitnessPal, you can only set macro goals as a percentage of your total calories. To set a precise goal in grams, you need to upgrade to MyFitnessPal Premium.

MyFitnessPal's database is extensive but includes user-submitted data, which can sometimes be inaccurate. Always cross-reference nutritional information with the product's label when possible, especially for specific brands.

If the barcode scanner doesn't work, you can manually search the database by typing the food name. Alternatively, you can create a new custom food entry using the nutritional information from the product label.

For homemade dishes, use the 'Create a Recipe' feature under the 'More' menu. Add all the raw ingredients, specify the number of servings, and the app will calculate the macros per serving for easy logging.

You can view your daily and weekly macro reports by navigating to your Diary and tapping on the 'Nutrition' button at the bottom of the page.

Yes, for the most accurate tracking, using a food scale to weigh your portions in grams is highly recommended, especially for protein sources. This eliminates inaccuracies that can occur with visual estimation or volumetric measurements.

MyFitnessPal's protein calculator and goals take your activity level into account to provide a recommendation, but it's important to set an appropriate activity level and log your exercise manually for the most accurate results.