MyFitnessPal Add Food: How to Log Meals

MyFitnessPal lets you add food to your daily diary by searching its database, scanning a barcode, or entering a custom item. You log a meal by selecting the meal slot (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks), searching for the food, and entering the portion size. The app then calculates the calories and macros for that entry and adds them to your daily totals.

How to Add Food in MyFitnessPal

Adding food is the core action in the app, and it works the same on iOS and Android. Here are the steps:

1. Tap the + icon in the bottom center of the screen, or tap the Diary tab and then a meal section (like Breakfast).
2. Choose Food from the options that appear.
3. In the search bar, type the food name (e.g., “chicken breast� or “banana�). You can also scan a barcode by tapping the barcode icon.
4. Select the closest match from the list. Pay attention to the serving size and the brand.
5. Adjust the number of servings or use the serving size dropdown to match what you actually ate.
6. Tap the checkmark or Add button. The food appears in your diary with its calories and macros.

You can also copy a meal from a previous day: go to the day you want to copy to, tap the three dots next to a meal, and choose “Copy from� to select a past date. This is handy if you eat the same breakfast often.

Understanding the Food Database

MyFitnessPal’s database contains millions of foods, but it is user-generated. That means entries can be inaccurate, incomplete, or duplicated. For example, searching “apple� might yield dozens of results with slightly different calorie counts. To get reliable data, look for entries with a green checkmark (verified by the company) or entries that match the nutrition label on your food package.

You can also use the scan barcode feature to pull up the exact product. If the barcode isn’t in the database, you can create a custom food with the label’s nutrition facts.

Creating a Custom Food

When you can’t find a food, or you eat a homemade recipe, you can add it manually. For a single food item:

1. Go to More → Foods → Create a food (or “My Foods�).
2. Enter the name, brand (optional), and serving size (e.g., 1 cup).
3. Enter the calories, protein, carbs, and fat per serving. You can also add fiber, sugar, and other micronutrients.
4. Save it. It will appear under “My Foods� for future use.

For a recipe with multiple ingredients, use the Recipes tab. Enter each ingredient and the number of servings the recipe makes. MyFitnessPal calculates the nutrition per serving.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Users often run into a few issues when adding food:

• Wrong portion size: The default serving may be in grams, cups, or ounces. Use a food scale for accuracy, especially for calorie-dense foods like nuts or oils.
• Duplicate entries: You might have two similar foods in your diary. Delete one by swiping left or tapping the pencil icon.
• Barcode not found: If the scan fails, you can type the barcode number manually or create a custom food.
• Calories seem off: Double-check the serving size and the entry’s nutrition info. If it’s a user-created entry, it might be wrong.

If you frequently eat the same foods, save them as “Frequent� or “Recent� to speed up logging.

MyFitnessPal Premium vs. Free

The free version of MyFitnessPal lets you log food, see calories and macros, and use the barcode scanner. The Premium subscription adds features like: food “quick tools� (e.g., adding a food from a past day), macronutrient goals by meal, and the ability to log foods ahead of time. However, adding food itself is free—you don’t need Premium to log meals.

One limitation of the free version is that you can only see your daily totals, not the breakdown by meal, unless you pay. But you can still add food and track your overall intake.

How to Log Water and Weight

While not food, logging water and weight are part of the same diary. To add water, tap the water glass icon on the diary page. Each tap adds 8 oz (or 250 ml). You can change the glass size in settings. To log weight, go to More → Weight and enter your current weight. This helps the app adjust your calorie goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete a food from MyFitnessPal?

Go to your diary, find the food entry, and swipe left on it (iOS) or tap the pencil icon and then delete (Android). You can also tap the three dots next to the meal and select “Clear all� to remove everything from that meal.

Can I add a food that isn’t in the database?

Yes. You can create a custom food by going to More → Foods → Create a food. Enter the nutrition info from the label. You can also add a recipe with multiple ingredients.

Why does MyFitnessPal show a different calorie count than the label?

The database entry may be outdated or incorrect because users can submit foods. Always check the serving size and the nutrition info. If it doesn’t match, use the barcode scan or create a custom food with the label’s data.

How do I add food for tomorrow?

You can log food for any date. Tap the date at the top of the diary and select a future date. Then add food as usual. This is useful for meal planning.

Does MyFitnessPal add food automatically?

No, you have to manually log each food. However, if you connect a fitness tracker or a food app (like Apple Health), some activities and steps may sync automatically, but food logging is always manual unless you use a third-party integration that logs meals.

Can I copy a meal from yesterday?

Yes. Tap the three dots next to a meal in today’s diary, select “Copy from�, and choose a past date. You can copy the entire day or a single meal.

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