MyFitnessPal acquires meal planning app Intent for personalized ingredient shopping integration

Nutrition and food tracking app MyFitnessPal has acquired personal meal planning app Intent, consolidating its technology into services for its current 270 million users, further tailoring its offering to personal goals, preferences, dietary habits, and routines. 

Intent’s app uses proprietary algorithms and machine learning to create “approachable and delicious” meal plans for individuals and families. Integrating Intent’s functionalities, MyFitnessPal is now able to offer personalized meal plans that align with a variety of dietary approaches like low-carb, flexitarian, Mediterranean, and vegetarian.

The company says the move streamlines meal logging for a “more intuitive” food tracking experience, while automating grocery lists to simplify shopping. “Seamless ingredient ordering” aims to make shopping easier with add-to-cart technology at major e-retailers.

“Figuring out what to eat to support your health goals may feel overwhelming, especially without the time or experience to plan ahead. This is why learning how to create balanced, healthy meals is so important — particularly for those just beginning their health journeys,” says Mike Fisher, CEO of MyFitnessPal.

“With Intent’s technology, we’re meeting this demand by offering delicious, balanced meal options tailored to dietary preferences, while also helping users stick to their budgets. This integration allows us to offer a unique experience where we are able to not only enhance our existing platform but also attract new users who see meal planning as a crucial step in their health journeys.”

New premium offering

MyFitnessPal plans to make Meal Planner available in the spring through Premium+, an enhanced premium membership across the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The San Francisco-based Intent team, including co-founders Will Sun and Peter Zhang, have joined MyFitnessPal as part of the acquisition.

Sun says: “Intent’s mission has been to empower people to simplify their lives with customized meal plans that cater to their goals and preferences and our acquisition and future integration with MyFitnessPal feels like a natural next step in our evolution.”

“This collaboration amplifies our mission, leveraging MyFitnessPal’s incredible platform to bring personalized meal planning to millions. Together, we’re creating a comprehensive approach to their health journey.”

The free MyFitnessPal app is available for download via the App Store or Google Play, and current Intent users will have access to the Intent app until April 2026.

In other recent news, Alma launched its smart nutrition companion app, addressing a recent survey finding that over 95% of nutrition app users abandon them due to poor usability, low engagement, or inaccurate results. 

Backed by Menlo Ventures and data from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, the AI app offers “hyper-personalized” nutrition insights while functioning as a “pocket companion.” It also includes the expertise of Dr. Eric Rimm, a leading nutrition expert and member of Alma’s Scientific Advisory Board.