As a registered dietitian who frequently uses MyFitnessPal—for my own tracking and with my clients—I’ve seen how time constraints can make consistent logging a challenge. But MyFitnessPal’s new Voice Logging feature really simplifies the process, making it faster and easier for busy users.
For example, I’ve been using the feature to track my typical breakfast: two scrambled eggs, a slice of whole-wheat toast, chicken sausage, and avocado, with a cup of coffee.
Speaking that into the app and reviewing it takes just about 15 seconds—a time frame even the busiest people can manage!
Keep reading to learn more about MyFitnessPal’s new Voice Logging feature and how to get started ASAP.
What Is the Voice Logging Feature?
Voice Logging is a Premium feature and new to the MyFitnessPal app. Not a Premium member? No problem! Try Premium for free for 30 days.
The feature makes logging multiple foods, meals, and serving sizes easier. Instead of manually typing and searching for items, all you need is your voice (and a couple of taps).
Watch the magic in action:
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Log Meals Using the Voice Logging Feature
If you’re a free member, see if you qualify for a free 30-day Premium membership to try the new Voice Logging feature (plus, get access to Barcode Scan, Meal Scan, and more!)
If you’re already trialing or a Premium member, you’re ready to start using the voice logging feature! Just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the MyFitnessPal app.
- Step 2: Tap the add button (+) at the bottom navigation bar in the app.
- Step 3: Select the “Voice Log” option.
- Step 4: If it’s your first time using the feature, you’ll have to allow MyFitnessPal access to your microphone, and grant permissions for MyFitnessPal to access speech recognition functionality.
- Step 5: When you see the gray arrow, start describing the meal (or meals!) you want to log. The more details the better! Include brand names, descriptions of serving sizes, and the meal you want the items logged for (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks). You’ll know the app is listening when the arrow turns blue.
- Step 6: When you’re done describing your meal/s, tap the blue arrow.
- Step 7: Best match items will automatically populate. From here, you can choose to delete an item, tap “Try Again”, or tap to “Log” items and/or meals to your Diary.
Benefits of Using Voice Logging for Tracking
The Voice Logging feature offers several advantages for meal tracking in MyFitnessPal:
- Simplifies guesstimating portion sizes: It’s hard to know how much food you consumed in ounces, grams, or other measuring units. Now, describe your servings using your hand. For example, “I ate a serving of chicken for lunch that was the size of my fist.” Or “I had one handful of blueberries for a snack.” (See our handy guide to portion sizes below!)
- Saves you time: Voice logging replaces the need to type foods into search, which can make it faster and easier to track your meals and snacks. You can also log multiple foods at once by describing your meal out loud. Even better, you can log multiple meals at once! Come the end of the day, open your app, tap Voice Log from the logging menu, and describe your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Review, revise if needed, and log!
- Lets you log on-the-go: Multitasking? No problem. This feature is perfect for making sure you log your food, even when you only have a few seconds to spare.
- May boost consistency: Finding a way to log food that fits easily into your routine can help you stay consistent. And when you stay consistent with your health habits, you have a better chance of meeting your goals.
FAQs About Voice Logging in MyFitnessPal
You can log the food and drink items available in the MyFitnessPal database (which is one of the largest). Weight, workouts, and custom foods and recipes cannot be logged via voice commands at this time. Water can be logged, but only as part of your breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack.
It works best when you describe what you ate (or drank), how big the serving size was, and which meal you ate (or drank) it for. For example, “I had one cup of plain Greek yogurt, a drizzle of honey, a handful of blueberries, and a small cup of coffee for breakfast.”
Voice Logging is available on iOS and Android devices but may require updates for full compatibility across all models. To ensure you’re using the most up-to-date version of the app, visit the app store.
No, the MyFitnesspal Voice Logging feature requires an internet connection to process voice commands.
Currently, the Voice Logging feature is only available in English and availability is limited to the U.S. market.
The post How to Use the NEW Voice Logging Feature in MyFitnessPal appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.