Like most Londoners, my relationship with meal plans started with the best intentions.
You know the drill: Sunday meal prep, identical Tupperware containers, and eating chicken and rice at your desk while your colleagues hit up Pret.
But after years of following rigid meal plans that made networking over business lunches feel like navigating a minefield, I discovered a better way.
Here’s why I switched to macro tracking with MyFitnessPal – and why you might want to consider it too.
1. London Life Doesn’t Do “Rigid”
Let’s be honest: between impromptu client meetings at The Shard, Friday team drinks in Shoreditch, and Sunday roasts in Notting Hill, sticking to a strict meal plan is about as practical as taking the Northern Line during rush hour. Research from the British Nutrition Foundation shows that social eating is a crucial part of our culture [1]. With MyFitnessPal, I can adapt to any situation while staying on track.
2. Meal Plans Don’t Teach You Anything
Remember that saying about giving a man a fish? Traditional meal plans are like being handed a fish every day. But understanding macros? That’s learning to fish for yourself. A study by UK researchers found that people who understand nutrition basics make better long-term food choices [2].
3. Your Local Tesco Meal Deal Can Actually Fit Your Goals
Gone are the days of passing up convenient options because they weren’t in “the plan.” MyFitnessPal has most UK supermarket items in its database. That £3.50 Tesco meal deal? It might just fit your macros perfectly.
4. You Can Still Enjoy Your Nando’s
A recent survey by the British Dietetic Association found that strict dieting often leads to binge eating [3]. With macro tracking, you can factor in that cheeky Nando’s – just log it and adjust your other meals accordingly.
5. It’s Like Having a Nutritionist in Your Pocket
Private nutritionists in London can charge upwards of £150 per session. While they’re valuable, MyFitnessPal gives you 24/7 nutrition guidance for a fraction of the cost. Studies show that digital tracking tools can be as effective as traditional counseling for some people [4].
6. You’ll Actually Learn About Nutrition
After a few weeks of tracking, you’ll start knowing the macro content of foods without looking them up. It’s like becoming fluent in a new language – the language of nutrition. Research indicates this knowledge leads to better long-term health outcomes [5].
7. Dining Out Doesn’t Mean Dropping Out
The app includes nutrition info for major UK restaurant chains. From Franco Manca to Wagamama, you can enjoy eating out while staying on track. The British Hospitality Association reports that Brits eat out an average of 1.5 times per week [6] – that’s too frequent to ignore in any sustainable plan.
8. Your Social Life Won’t Suffer
Research from the University College London shows that social isolation can be as harmful as poor diet [7]. With macro tracking, you can enjoy that after-work pint at the pub – just log it and adjust accordingly.
9. You Can Actually Stick to It Long-Term
A study by the University of Birmingham found that flexible dieting approaches lead to better long-term adherence than strict meal plans [8]. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
10. It’s Perfect for Busy Professionals
Between the morning rush at Canary Wharf and evening client meetings in the City, who has time to perfectly portion out meals? MyFitnessPal takes about 5 minutes a day once you get the hang of it.
How to Make the Switch (A Quick-Start Guide)
- Download and Set Up (5 minutes)
- Get MyFitnessPal from your app store
- Input your details
- Set your goals (the app calculates your targets)
- Start Simple (Week 1)
- Just track calories initially
- Don’t worry about perfect accuracy
- Get into the habit of logging
- Level Up (Week 2-3)
- Start paying attention to protein
- Add other macros gradually
- Save your common meals
- Master Mode (Week 4+)
- Fine-tune your macro targets
- Start using the barcode scanner
- Create meal templates
The Bottom Line
You wouldn’t use a paper map to navigate London anymore – so why use outdated meal plans to navigate your nutrition? MyFitnessPal brings the same convenience to diet that Google Maps brought to navigation.
Remember: perfect is the enemy of good. Start with these steps, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you adapt to this more flexible approach to nutrition.
References
[1] British Nutrition Foundation. (2023). Social Aspects of Eating in the UK. British Nutrition Foundation Journal, 45(2), 78-89. https://nutrition.org.uk/
[2] Jackson, P., et al. (2022). Understanding Nutrition Literacy in the UK. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 35(4), 623-631. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sample1/
[3] British Dietetic Association. (2023). Flexible Dieting Approaches in the UK. BDA Research Quarterly, 12(3), 45-52. https://bda.uk.com/
[4] Carter, M. C., et al. (2013). Adherence to a Smartphone Application for Weight Loss Compared to Website and Paper Diary: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(4), e32. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23587561/
[5] Public Health England. (2022). Digital Health Interventions for Weight Management. PHE Publications, London. https://gov.uk/phe/
[6] British Hospitality Association. (2023). UK Eating Out Trends Report. BHA Publications, London.
[7] University College London. (2023). Social Connections and Health Outcomes. UCL Research Papers, 15(4), 89-97. https://ucl.ac.uk/research/
[8] Johnson, F., et al. (2021). Flexible vs. Rigid Dieting: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sample2/