How to Quick-Add Macros in (without creating a custom food)
One of the most common questions new users coming from MFP ask is: "How do I quick add macros to my diary?"
Maybe you grabbed a sandwich from a gas station, or tried a new restaurant that had macros listed on the menu but you don't need to save it as a custom food. This is for you.
How to Find Quick Add
Search "quick add" in the Cronometer food database just like you would any other food. You'll see options for:
- Quick Add, Carbohydrate
- Quick Add, Fat
- Quick Add, Protein
- Quick Add, Calorie
- Quick Add Fiber (see note below)
Pro tip: Star/favorite each one so they're always at the top of your favorites tab for faster access.
What About Quick Add Fiber?
Quick Add Fiber isn't natively in the database, but you can create it as a custom food in about 60 seconds:
- Go to the Foods tab
- Tap Custom Foods → Create Food
- Enter these values:
- Food Name: Quick Add Fiber
- Serving Name: gram
- Serving Weight: 1g
- Energy: 4 kcal (fiber is typically 0–3 cal/g, so adjust if you prefer)
- Carbs: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
Efficiency Hack: Create a "Quick Adds" Meal
Once you've got all your quick add entries saved as favorites, you can take it one step further and create a custom Quick Adds meal so they're all in one place:
- Add all your quick add foods to your diary
- Swipe right on the diary group
- Tap "Create Meal from Diary Group"
- Name it "Quick Adds"
Now it lives in your meals library, and you can pull it up anytime, explode it, and log all the quick adds you need.
Want to see a video walkthrough of how to create a Quick Adds meal? Tap here to watch the video.
Note: I cannot take credit for this hack, u/cinderblock33 mentioned it in here last week!
When I Use Quick Adds
- Menu shows total calories — I'll log the protein source separately and quick add calories to hit the total
- Deli/sushi/sandwiches — If I'm only buying it once, not worth building a custom food
- BLTs (bites, licks, tastes) — Grabbed a few chips or some nuts at a party? It can be easier to quick add ~200 calories than break down seven random bites