How to log a food that's not in the database

Not every food is going to be sitting in a database somewhere, and that's exactly why the option to build your own entry is there. If a search comes up empty, just create it yourself. You might even save the next person the same search. 

First, begin the food logging process as you normally would. If the food isn't found, use the steps below

Adding an item to your personal list (My Foods)

iOS

1. Open the MyFitnessPal app.
2. On the Today page, tap Log to the right of the meal you want to log to.
3. On the top menu bar, select My Foods.
4. Tap the + Create a Food button near the top.
5. Enter the food’s name and servings, then the nutritional information on the next screen.
6. Tap the check mark to save. The new food will appear in your My Foods tab and in future searches on your account only.

Android

1. Open the MyFitnessPal app.
2. On the Today page, tap Log to the right of the meal you want to log to.
3. On the top menu bar, select My Foods.
4. Tap the + Create a Food button near the top.
5. Enter the food’s name and servings, then the nutritional information on the next screen.
6. Tap Save in the upper right corner. The new food will appear in your My Foods tab and in future searches on your account only.

Website

1. Log in to the website using the same email and password you use with the app.
2. Click the Food tab at the top of the page.
3. Click My Foods.
4. In the top right, click Create Food.
5. Enter the food's name and nutritional info on this screen and the one that follows. If there's no brand, like for produce, just enter "Fresh" or "Generic."
6. Click Create Food to save. 

Sharing a food with the public database:

When you create a new food on the website, you can choose to share it with other members, and we'll add it to the MyFitnessPal database for everyone. Please make sure the information you provide is complete and accurate. We reserve the right to review, revise, or remove entries that violate our Terms and Conditions, Community Guidelines, or health and wellness objectives. Foods shared publicly can't be deleted from your My Foods list later, and you must choose to share at the time of creation.

Adding a food to the public database via barcode

iOS & Android

1. Scan a barcode that isn't linked to a food in our database yet.
2. Tap Create a Food to link the item to that barcode for all MyFitnessPal users.
3. Enter all available nutrition details completely and accurately, then save.

* Foods you share publicly can't be deleted from your My Foods list later, since other users may rely on them. You must decide to share at the time of creation. An existing personal food can't be shared with the public database afterward.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need MyFitnessPal Premium to create a custom food?

No. Creating a personal food entry is free on every platform.

Can I edit a food I created after I've saved it?

Yes, for personal (non-shared) entries. See our article on editing or deleting a food you created in My Foods.

What's the difference between My Foods and the public database?

My Foods entries are only visible in your own account. Public database entries are visible to every MyFitnessPal user searching for that food.