Skip to main content

Calorie Goals By Meal with MyFitnessPal Premium

Updated

This article explains how to turn on calorie goals by meal, set a calorie target for each meal, and turn the feature back off. 

 

Calorie goals by meal takes your daily calorie goal and splits it across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You see where you stand at every meal instead of doing the math at the end of the day. Small course corrections at lunch are a lot easier than big ones at bedtime.

 

This feature is included with MyFitnessPal Premium and works on iOS, Android, and the website.

Creating calorie goals by meal

iOS and Android

  1. Open the MyFitnessPal app.
  2. Tap the More in the lower right corner or the Profile icon in the upper right to open the Menu. 
  3. Tap Goals.
  4. Tap Calorie Goals by Meal.
  5. Toggle the switch ON. (This is the same switch you’d use if you wanted to turn this feature off.)
  6. Enter a calorie goal for each meal.
  7. Tap the checkmark in the top right to save. 

Once the feature is on, tap any goal number in your diary to jump straight back to this screen and adjust it.

Website

  1. Log in to the website using the same email and password you use with the app.
  2. Go to Goals. 
  3. Find the Calorie Goals by Meal box and select Edit.
  4. Toggle the Setting ON (This is the same switch you’d use if you wanted to turn this feature off.)
  5. Enter a calorie goal for each meal.
  6. Click Save Changes.

Your diary now shows your progress meal by meal as you log.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Premium to use calorie goals by meal?

Yes. Calorie goals by meal is included with a Premium subscription. See everything else that comes with it in the full list of MyFitnessPal Premium features.

 

What happens if I go over the goal for one meal?

Nothing breaks, and nothing is lost. Your diary shows you went over for that meal and keeps tracking the rest of the day. A bigger lunch than planned is useful information, not a failed day. Adjust at your next meal if you want to, or let it ride.

 

Can I set different meal goals for different days of the week?

Yes! You’ll see the days of the week listed on the Calorie Goals by Meal page. 

 

Where do my calorie goals come from in the first place?

MyFitnessPal builds your daily calorie goal from the details you enter at sign-up, like your height, weight, activity level, and goal weight. Read more about how MyFitnessPal calculates your initial goals.

 

Related articles