MyFitnessPal Change Serving Size: How To
Yes, you can change the serving size for any food in MyFitnessPal, and doing so correctly is essential for accurate calorie and macro tracking. This article explains exactly how to adjust serving sizes on the app and website, what the different measurement options mean, and how to avoid the common mistakes that throw off your daily totals.
Why Serving Size Accuracy Matters
MyFitnessPal calculates your daily nutrition based on the sum of every food entry you log. If you log a serving size that doesn’t match what you actually ate, your calorie count, protein, carbs, and fat numbers will all be wrong. For example, if a food label says one serving is 30 grams but you eat 45 grams, logging it as “1 serving” undercounts your intake by 50%. Over a day, these small errors can add up to hundreds of calories, which can stall weight loss or cause unexpected weight gain.
How to Change Serving Size in the Mobile App
The process is nearly identical on iOS and Android. After you search for a food and tap it to add it to your diary, you’ll see a screen with the food name, nutrition info, and a serving size field. Here are the steps:
- Tap the food entry in your diary to open the detail screen.
- Tap the serving size number or the “Serving” dropdown menu.
- Choose from the list of available units (e.g., 1 cup, 100 grams, 1 ounce, 1 whole item).
- Type in the number of servings you actually consumed (e.g., 1.5, 2, 0.75).
- Tap the checkmark or “Save” button to confirm.
If the food has multiple unit options, you’ll see them all in the dropdown. For example, a bag of frozen berries might offer “1 cup” and “140 g” as separate options. Pick the unit that matches how you measured your portion.
How to Change Serving Size on the Website
The web version works similarly but with a slightly different layout. When you search and select a food, it appears in your diary on the right side of the screen. Click on the food name to open the detail panel. Then click the serving size dropdown, choose your unit, enter the quantity, and click “Save Changes.” The diary updates immediately.
Understanding Different Unit Options
MyFitnessPal’s database contains foods with many different serving definitions. Some are based on volume (cups, tablespoons), some on weight (grams, ounces), and some on whole items (1 apple, 1 slice). This variety is helpful but can cause confusion. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Weight units (g, oz) are the most accurate because they directly reflect the mass of the food.
- Volume units (cups, ml) are less precise for foods that can be packed or heaped, like flour or shredded cheese.
- Whole-item units (1 banana, 1 egg) are convenient but assume a standard size, which may not match your actual food.
If you weigh your food with a kitchen scale, always choose the weight option (grams or ounces) rather than cups or pieces. This eliminates guesswork.
Common Mistakes When Changing Serving Sizes
Even experienced users make errors. The most frequent problems include:
- Confusing “servings” with “units”: If you eat two cups of pasta, you should set the serving size to 2 cups, not 2 servings of a 1-cup serving. The app multiplies the base nutrition by the number you enter.
- Ignoring the base serving size: Some foods list “1 serving” as the default, but that serving might be 50 grams or 200 grams. Always check the unit and the gram weight next to it.
- Using volume for solids: A cup of chopped chicken and a cup of whole chicken breast have very different weights. Weighing is more reliable.
- Not updating after changing the food: If you swap a food for a different brand, the serving size resets to the new item’s default. Double-check before saving.
What to Do When a Food Has No Serving Size Options
Occasionally, a food entry in MyFitnessPal’s database has only one serving size listed, or the serving size is something odd like “1 package” with no gram weight. In that case, you have a few options:
- Search for a more complete entry from a different brand or a verified food.
- Use the “Create a Food” feature to add your own entry with the exact serving size and nutrition from the label.
- Use a generic entry (e.g., “banana, raw”) that has a standard weight you can adjust.
Creating your own food is the safest route when the database entry seems wrong or incomplete. You can enter the serving size as 100 grams and then multiply it to match what you ate.
How to Change Serving Size for Recipes and Meals
If you log a recipe you created in MyFitnessPal, the serving size is determined by how many servings you defined when you built the recipe. To change it, open the recipe, edit the number of servings, and save. The app recalculates the per-serving nutrition automatically. For a meal (a saved combination of foods), you can’t change the serving size directly; instead, you adjust the individual foods within the meal or log the meal and then edit each component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my serving size change not saving?
This usually happens when you type a number but don’t tap the checkmark or press “Save” before leaving the screen. On the app, make sure you tap the blue checkmark in the top right corner. On the website, click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the food detail panel. If it still doesn’t save, force-close the app and try again.
Can I change the default serving size for a food I log often?
Yes, but only for foods you create yourself. In the app, go to “Meals, Recipes & Foods,” then “My Foods,” find the item, and edit its serving size. The new value becomes the default each time you log it. For database foods, you’ll have to adjust the serving each time you add it.
Does changing the serving size change the nutrition facts?
No. MyFitnessPal multiplies the per-serving nutrition by the number of servings you enter. It does not recalculate the nutrient density. If you enter 2 servings, all calories and macros double. If the food’s nutrition data is wrong, you need to create a corrected food entry.
What is the difference between “serving” and “portion” in MyFitnessPal?
In MyFitnessPal, “serving” refers to the defined unit in the food database (e.g., 1 cup, 100g). “Portion” is not a separate setting; it’s just the amount you actually eat, which you enter as a multiple of the serving. So if you eat half a cup, you enter 0.5 servings.
Can I change serving size to grams if the food only shows cups?
Only if the food entry has grams as an available unit in the dropdown. If it doesn’t, you can’t convert it within that entry. Instead, search for the same food with a gram-based entry, or create a custom food using the label’s gram weight.
Why do some foods show “1 serving = 1 package” with no gram weight?
That entry was likely added by a user who didn’t include the weight. It’s unreliable for tracking. Check the nutrition label on your actual package, and if the grams don’t match the entry, use the “Create a Food” feature to add the correct information.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.