This article explains how to turn on food timestamps with MyFitnessPal Premium, how to set or change the time on a food entry, and where those times appear in your diary. Food timestamps are available on the iOS and Android apps only.
You already know what you ate, but when you ate it is the other half of the story. A 4 pm snack and a 9 pm snack can feel very different by bedtime, and seeing those times side by side is how patterns start to show up. Food Timestamps put the clock right next to your food, so you can spot what is working for your energy, your sleep, and your workouts.
How to turn on food timestamps
Food timestamps are off by default. You turn them on once in Diary Settings, and they stay on until you switch them off.
iOS
- Open the MyFitnessPal app.
- Tap the More menu in the bottom right. If you do not have a More menu, tap your Profile icon in the upper right instead.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Diary Settings.
- Toggle Show Food Timestamps on.
Android
- Open the MyFitnessPal app.
- Tap the More menu in the bottom right. If you do not have a More menu, tap your Profile icon in the upper right instead.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Diary Settings.
- Check the box for Show Food Timestamps.
How to change the time on a food entry
Once timestamps are on, a time will show for each item you log to the meal on the meal details screen. It starts at the current time, and you can change it to when you actually ate.
iOS
- Open the MyFitnessPal app and go to your Today page.
- Tap View diary to the right of where it says Meals.
- Tap on the time shown above the item you want to edit the time for.
- Choose the time you ate, then tap the check mark to save.
Android
- Open the MyFitnessPal app and go to your Today page.
- Tap View all to the right of where it says Diary.
- Tap on the individual food item you want to edit the timestamp for.
- On the food details screen, tap on the Time, then tap Edit Time.
- Make your edits to the time, then tap OK to save.
Want to see the bigger picture of your day? Learn what else you can do on the Today page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a subscription to use food timestamps?
Yes. Food timestamps are included with MyFitnessPal Premium and Premium+.
Why do several of my foods share the same time?
Foods logged at the same time are grouped under one timestamp to keep your diary easy to read. This is expected, not an error.
Can I log food without a time?
Yes. If you are not sure when you ate something, you can clear the time and the entry will show No Time. Your calories and nutrients are still counted the same way.
Do timestamps change my calorie or macro totals?
No. Timestamps only record when you ate. Your daily calorie, macro, and nutrient totals stay exactly the same.