How do I search for a food?
Type the food or drink into the search bar and select the most appropriate result. You can make your search more specific to help find the right item – for example, search for “white bread” rather than just “bread”, or “cheddar cheese” rather than “cheese”.
You can also use filters such as brand and category to narrow down your results.
What if I don’t know the brand?
If you don’t know the brand, select the closest match available. You can also use a non-branded (generic) food where appropriate. Fruits and vegetables are listed as non-branded items.
What if I can’t find my food at all?
Try changing your search terms. Being more specific can help, and you may also need to include the cooking method – for example, “potatoes boiled” or “tomato raw”.
If you still cannot find the item, choose the closest equivalent and contact the PROSPECT-UK team with the details so we can look into adding it.
How do I record how much I ate or drank?
Once you have selected your food or drink, you will be asked to enter the amount you consumed. Depending on the item, you may be able to select a picture, a standard weight or enter the amount directly.
If you know the exact weight, you can enter this directly into the Enter Amount box.
What if I don’t know the exact amount I had?
Use the portion size or picture that most closely represents what you ate or drank. You can also adjust the quantity if you had more or less than one portion.
Can I record homemade meals?
Yes. If you have cooked a meal from scratch, you can use the Recipe Builder to enter all the ingredients and calculate the portion you ate.
Can I save a recipe that I eat regularly?
Yes. Once you have created a recipe, it will be saved to your profile and can be accessed through My Recipes. This can be useful for meals or combinations of foods that you have regularly.
I made a mistake – can I edit my food diary?
Yes. You can edit the amount, meal or other details by selecting the pen icon next to the item. You can also delete an item using the X icon.
I forgot to add something. What should I do?
Don’t worry. Before finally submitting your diary, you can return to your diary and add anything you have forgotten. You will have an opportunity to review your diary and check that you have recorded everything you consumed.
Can I change my diary after I submit it?
No. Once you press Submit, you cannot return to your diary. Please make sure you have recorded everything you ate and drank and have completed your final check before submitting.
What if I can’t find the exact food or drink I had?
We ask you to enter the specific brand and product you had wherever possible. MyFood24 contains over 45,000 food and drink items, including branded products, supermarket foods and generic options. First, try using different or more specific search terms and use the available filters.
If you still cannot find your exact food or brand, please select the closest equivalent available in the database. Then, email the PROSPECT-UK team (prospectuk@kcl.ac.uk) with the name of the food or drink and the brand you were looking for. We will then request that it is added to the database.