Tracking food on MyFitnessPal: Why accuracy matters more than you think
Let’s be real — staying active in winter is hard. The mornings are dark, the rain won’t quit, and your doona is winning the motivation battle. But even when the weather turns grey, your goals don’t have to.
If you’ve ever thought “I’ll just move more when the weather improves”, this one’s for you.
The problem with generic entries
Those generic MFP entries like “medium banana” or “1 slice of bread” might seem convenient, but they can be wildly inaccurate. Even if they have the little green verified tick, they’re often averaged or uploaded by users, not always based on actual weights or updated nutritional info.
Take my recent pear mistake as a prime example:
I logged a pear as “1 medium pear” in MyFitnessPal. Easy. But when I actually weighed it on my food scale, I discovered the entry was short-changing me by:
~30 calories
~8g carbs
That might not seem like much at first. But multiply that by every meal or snack over the day, and suddenly your macros or calories are off — sometimes by hundreds.
Why this matters (even for healthy foods)
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about being obsessive. It’s about being intentional.
If you’re following a set of macros, aiming to lose fat, build muscle, or just learn how to fuel your body better — accuracy matters.
Here’s what happens when your logging is off:
You might undereat without meaning to (and feel tired, hungry or not see progress)
Or you could overeat, thinking you're within your goals, but getting frustrated when things don't shift
And your macros might look balanced — but the reality is different
How to track more accurately in MFP
✅ Weigh your food in grams whenever possible
This goes for fruit, oats, meat, sauces — everything. If you're using cups or "medium" servings, try switching to grams for a week and notice the difference.
✅ Use verified entries with gram weights
Search something like “pear raw 100g” or “rice cooked 150g” instead of just selecting the first entry that pops up.
✅ Don’t rely on green ticks alone
Some verified entries are still off. Compare a couple of entries if you're unsure and choose one that lists per 100g with macros that align with known averages (or food labels).
✅ Create your own custom entries or recipes
Batch cooking? Homemade meals? Enter your own recipe and divide by portions to keep it consistent.
The takeaway
If you're putting in the effort to track your food, make it count.
Using accurate entries, weighing your food, and skipping those vague “medium banana” logs can make a huge difference over time — and save you confusion, frustration and stalled progress down the track.
Your body knows what you're eating — even if MyFitnessPal doesn't.
Want help with tracking and food planning?
My Build My Diet Assessment and 6-week meal plans are designed to take out the guesswork and make eating for your goals easier — no dodgy pear entries required.
And if you need extra guidance, I offer 1:1 coaching to help you navigate plateaus, build sustainable habits, and optimise your nutrition as your goals evolve. DM me or reply to this post if you’re curious!
Curious about more simple nutrition tips? Join me at Flex Food Life and join my Facebook group community for real, practical advice that fits into your lifestyle!
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