Using Siri with MyNetDiary

Are you using MyNetDiary's iPhone app? Then learn how to manually create iOS Siri shortcuts for some common logging scenarios in MyNetDiary. Setting up shortcuts allows you to perform tasks with just a tap or a voice command, making logging much easier and more convenient. This feature is available for all iPhone apps, with or without Premium membership.

Using Siri with MyNetDiary

With the latest MyNetDiary app update, the previous built-in Siri Shortcuts feature has been removed due to compatibility issues with iOS 18.2.1. We are transitioning to Apple's new App Intents API to improve Siri integration, but this is still being developed.

If you are not familiar with what App Intents are, here is a description from Apple:

“The App Intents framework provides functionality to deeply integrate your app's actions and content with system experiences across platforms, including Siri.”

Unfortunately, this means there is currently no direct Siri equivalent for quick calorie entry in MyNetDiary.

Some users create custom shortcuts in the iOS Shortcuts app for calorie logging. While it's not as seamless as our previous built-in Siri command, this may be a workaround until the new App Intents integration is available.

The following screenshot is the iOS Shortcuts app you can use to start creating Siri commands for easier logging in MyNetDiary.

Through Shortcuts, you can add actions such as logging food or meals, water, weight, checking your steps, calorie deficit, and more.

Creating shortcuts via the Shortcuts app

One thing you might want to do is check how many calories you have consumed and how many calories you have left for the day in your Calorie Plan.

To create a Siri shortcut for this, open the Shortcuts app. Tap the (+) symbol in the upper right corner to add a New Shortcut. Tap Add Action, then search for MyNetDiary.

You will see several shortcuts (also known as App Intents) available for MyNetDiary. Tap on Check Calorie Plan, and then tap Done. Your new shortcut will now show up on your main Shortcuts screen. However, you may need to rename your shortcut in such a way that Siri can easily understand your words.

To rename your new shortcut, tap and hold the shortcut until you see the option to Rename. Type in your new easy-to-remember shortcut, then tap Done. In this example, I renamed “Check Calorie Plan 1” to now read “Check Calories.”

Now test your new shortcut by saying “Hey Siri, check calories.”

Speak clearly and try to enunciate both words so that Siri can easily identify the phrase when you speak it. When you say, "Hey Siri, check calories," Siri will show you how many total calories you have consumed and how many calories you have left from your Plan, just like on Dashboard.

If you wish, you can add these shortcuts to your iPhone's Homescreen for easier access with just the tap of your finger.

You may also want to check your current calorie deficit for the day. Just like with the Analysis screen, this tells you if your calorie deficit is on track to meet your target weight by your target date.

MyNetDiary suggests using the phrase "Check Calorie Deficit" for this shortcut (using the instructions described above).

After saying, “Hey Siri, check calorie deficit,” Siri will inform you of your calorie deficit and whether or not you are on target to meet your weight goal.

Logging water

Siri shortcuts also works well for logging water intake. You can use the App intent named "log water” in the Shortcuts app.

Your new shortcut will now appear on your main Shortcuts screen, and you can test it by saying, “Hey Siri, log water.”

When setting up your shortcut, you can also change the number of servings you would like to log and change “serving” to “½ glass,” “Glass,” or “Bottle.” Tap done when you are finished.

This is what the screen looks like when you use that Siri shortcut to log water (e.g. after you say "Hey Siri log water." Siri will automatically add eight fluid ounces (237 ml) of water to your water log.

Meal logging

If you frequently eat the same foods together, you might consider creating a “Meal" to log it using a Siri shortcut. For instance, let's say you frequently eat strawberries, Kashi cereal, low-fat milk, and espresso for breakfast.

First, you must create this as a "Meal" in the MyNetDiary app. Tap Me / Manage My Foods / Meals, then tap Create New Meal.

For more details on creating recipes and meals in MyNetDiary, read Tips for entering recipes in MyNetDiary.

You will enter each food item into your Meal and then name it. In this example, I called my meal "Espresso Breakfast."

Next, go to the Shortcuts app. Type MyNetDiary in the search bar, scroll to the bottom, locate your newly created Meal, tap the three dots in the upper corner of your Meal, and tap New Shortcut.

The shortcut will now be located on the main Shortcuts screen. However, you will still need to tap on the three dots in the upper right corner of the Espresso Breakfast shortcut button to specify which Meal you would like to assign to that shortcut. In this example, I tapped “Espresso Breakfast”.

Now you have a Siri shortcut that will log that particular meal if you say "Hey Siri Log Espresso Breakfast." Note that Siri will automatically log this meal and inform you of how many calories you've consumed and how many calories you have left in your daily calorie budget.

Every time you create a “Meal” in MyNetDiary, you will be able to add a new Siri shortcut using these same steps.

Troubleshooting Siri Shortcuts

Siri is not responding to me

Make sure Siri is activated on your iPhone. Go to your phone's Settings / Siri & Search. Tap on Listen for and choose “Siri” or “Hey Siri.”

After completing this step, scroll down in your Siri & Search settings to locate the MyNetDiary app. Tap MyNetDiary and ensure all settings are enabled (see screen shot below).

My meals versus custom recipes

Perhaps you think you are using a Siri shortcut to log a meal (made with My Meal), but you are actually telling Siri to log a custom recipe.

Just remember that you can create Siri shortcuts for meals made with My Meal. You cannot (at this time) create a shortcut to log a recipe.

Make tracking easier using Siri with MyNetDiary

We hope you enjoy exploring how convenient creating Siri shortcuts can be for tracking and logging in MyNetDiary! You can log more consistently when using Siri to perform actions, especially when your hands and eyes are not free. Siri shortcuts are also helpful in getting an accurate timestamp for your meal.

If you have any questions or concerns about setting up your manual Siri shortcuts, you can email the MyNetDiary support team anytime at support@mynetdiary.com.

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