We do use Calorie King as the data base and there only can be so much loaded in there (compared to ALL the foods that are out there). Remember we can’t use a community database because we need there to be 100% accuracy to maintain that North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition approval.
1. I personally find that most people eat quite a bit of the same things for breakfast, lunch and snacks. I strongly suggest to take a little time and enter those into your Custom Options which can be found under the “Favorite Options” button on the Summary Overview. I personally just add the macro’s and calories, but you can add more detail if you like.
2. I then like to build at least one personalized menu (pull up any menu, under the “Menus” button on the Summary Overview) and you can click the grey “Customize” button in the top right hand corner which will allow you to delete any foods and use the blue “+” sign in the lower right hand corner to add anything you want. Just stick to your total calorie goal and ideally get protein in each meal. We normally suggest to get a minimum of 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass per day (Remember every gram of protein is roughly 4 calories).
3. Here are some workarounds to use My Fitness Pal and the bar code scanner feature from fitbit (even if you don’t use a fitbit):
a. My Fitness Pal:
i. We do have the tile titled “Net Pulse” to sync My Fitness Pal information, but it only reports total calories.
ii. Another way to do this is use Fitbit as the bridge between My Fitness Pal and dotFIT (and you don’t need to use a fitbit or pay any money to do this):
1. Download the Fitbit app and make a free account
2. Within My Fitness Pal, go to their section of syncing with 3rd party apps and sync with Fitbit
3. On your dotFIT program, go to “Program” and then “Apps and Devices” and connect to Fitbit
4. Now you will be able to see the macronutrients and calories of all foods logged in MFP on your dotFIT program!
b. Fitbit:
i. Since you made your free Fitbit account, you can also use their bar code scanner and full library (they have dotFIT in their library as well!) and it all will report on your dotFIT program!
Just take a few minutes to set yourself up with most common foods that you eat/like and it is very easy to do!