Sydney, Australia, Tuesday 21 July 2026 – New research from global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, reveals functional nutrition products are becoming a mainstream part of active Australians’ diets, alongside whole foods and broader nutrition habits.
The survey of 1,011 Australians reveals that more than 2 in 5 (42%) active Australians consider changing their nutrition to increase fitness performance, with performance goals (23%) and convenience (12%) being some of the biggest influences to their food choices before or after training, and increasing energy levels (23%) as the leading motivator for changing nutrition to increase fitness performance.
To support these training goals, Australians surveyed reported intentionally increasing their intake of protein (67%) and carbohydrates (41%). Australians surveyed also reported consuming functional food or drink products to meet the increased intake, such as protein shakes (32%), electrolyte drinks (26%) and energy gels (18%), while fewer respondents (9%) rely on whole foods to meet the increased intake.
Nutritionist and MyFitnessPal ambassador, Michaela Sparrow, said the findings reflect how Australians are taking a more intentional approach to performance nutrition.
“More Australians are becoming aware of the role nutrition plays in supporting energy, endurance and overall performance, and we’re seeing functional nutrition products become a more common part of active lifestyles,” said Michaela.
“At the same time, whole foods remain an important foundation of overall health and performance nutrition. Functional products can be useful tools, but they work best as part of a balanced and varied diet.”
“The body needs a broad range of nutrients to perform at its best. Tools like the MyFitnessPal app can help people better understand their nutrition intake, track their habits, and make more informed choices based on their individual health and fitness goals,” she said.
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