Is a registered dietitian, I understand how crucial—and sometimes overwhelming—monitoring nutrient intake can be. It’s not always easy to determine whether you’re getting the right balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats). Many of my clients often wonder if they’re consuming enough protein or vitamins.
Understanding your nutritional status is vital. This knowledge doesn’t just support weight loss efforts but also ensures you feel your best in everything you do. Tools like MyFitnessPal can provide valuable insights, making it easier to monitor and manage your nutrient intake.
With MyFitnessPal, you can go beyond calorie counting. The app allows you to track your complete nutrient profile, offering a detailed look into the macro and micronutrients fueling your body.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use MyFitnessPal to set, monitor, and adjust your daily nutrient goals. Thanks to its robust tracking features and comprehensive nutrient database, MyFitnessPal can help you fill nutritional gaps, meet specific nutrient needs, or work toward a more balanced diet.
Why Monitoring Nutrients is Crucial for Health
The nutrients in your diet power every function in your body, from maintaining energy levels to supporting brain function. By tracking key nutrients—both macronutrients like proteins, carbs, and fats, as well as micronutrients like vitamins and minerals—you gain a clearer understanding of your diet’s strengths and potential gaps.
Who Should Track Macronutrients?
Tracking macronutrients is especially beneficial for individuals with specific fitness or body composition goals, such as athletes and weightlifters. It’s also a valuable tool for anyone aiming to lose weight (1) or build muscle. By monitoring protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake, you can align your diet with your energy needs, promoting muscle growth and recovery.
Tracking micronutrients can be helpful if you’re managing specific health goals or addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. For example:
- Vegetarians or vegans may want to monitor iron levels (2).
- Individuals concerned about blood pressure may focus on sodium intake (3).
- Those prioritizing immune support, bone health, or energy levels can ensure they’re meeting essential vitamin and mineral requirements (4).
How to Track Macronutrients in MyFitnessPal
Tracking your food, snacks, and drinks is simple. Here’s how in five steps:
- Log Your Food: Enter your meals into the diary to start tracking your intake.
- Access Macros: From your food diary, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner, select “More,” then “Nutrition.” Click “Macros” to view your macronutrient breakdown.
- Check Today’s Intake: You’ll see a pie chart showing your daily macronutrient distribution and how it compares to your goals. Scroll down to view which foods contribute the most to each macronutrient.
- Review Another Day: Use the “Day View” menu above the pie chart to navigate to yesterday, tomorrow, or a specific date.
- Analyze Your Week: For a broader view, click “View Day” > “View Week” to see a column chart of your weekly macronutrient intake and the foods that contributed the most.
(US users): The app also features a Progress Bar that shows your meal progress, protein goals, and other nutrient targets, offering tips to stay on track.
How to Track Micronutrients (Vitamins & Minerals)
Monitoring micronutrients may be beneficial if you’re targeting a specific nutrient or managing a deficiency. Here’s how to do it:
- Log Your Food: Enter your meals into the diary.
- Access Micronutrients: From your food diary, tap the three dots, select “More,” then “Nutrition.” Click “Nutrients” to view both macro and micronutrient data.
- Check Today’s Intake: See charts for all monitored nutrients, including your daily intake, goal, and remaining amount needed.
- Review Another Day: Use the “Day View” menu to navigate to a different date.
- Analyze Your Week: Click “View Day” > “View Week” to see your average weekly intake and how it compares to your goals.
How to Set Nutrient Goals in MyFitnessPal
Setting Macronutrient Goals:
- From the dashboard, click More > Goals.
- Under Nutrition Goals, tap Calories, Carbs, Protein, and Fat Goals to adjust default settings.
- Modify each macronutrient as a percentage of total calories. The app will display the corresponding grams.
Premium subscribers can set macronutrient goals in grams for more precise tracking.
Setting Micronutrient Goals:
- From the dashboard, click More > Goals.
- Under Nutrition Goals, tap Other Nutrient Goals.
- Set specific gram-level targets for nutrients like sodium, potassium, fiber, sugar, vitamins, and minerals.
Premium members can also set calorie goals by meal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nutrient Tracking
What nutrients can I track with MyFitnessPal?
You can track macronutrients (protein, fat, carbs), different types of fats, cholesterol, fiber, sugar, and micronutrients like sodium, potassium, vitamins A, C, D, calcium, and iron.
Can I set specific nutrient goals in MyFitnessPal?
Yes! Navigate to More > Goals > Nutrition Goals to customize macronutrient and micronutrient targets.
How accurate is the nutrient information in the MyFitnessPal database?
The database includes commonly consumed foods, with data curated over nearly 20 years. While we strive for accuracy, always verify information and report discrepancies to help improve the app.
Can I track macronutrients and micronutrients in MyFitnessPal?
Yes, both are supported.
Why is tracking micronutrients like vitamins and minerals important?
Not everyone needs to track micronutrients, but it’s helpful if you’re addressing deficiencies or focusing on specific health goals.
How do I check if I’m meeting my daily nutrient goals?
Go to More > Nutrition > Nutrients > Daily View to assess your progress.
Can I track nutrients for my own recipes or meals?
Yes! From the dashboard, click More > My Meals, Recipes & Foods to view or log custom recipes.
The post How to Monitor Nutrient Intake with MyFitnessPal first appeared on the MyFitnessPal Blog.
