New Garmin Training Features (2026): Nutrition tracking, lifestyle logging, and more

Food logging can be done in several ways. You can search for items in the provided database, scan barcodes from packaging, or use a camera and AI-based analysis to determine what you’re about to eat.

I tested this feature while on vacation and encountered some inconsistencies in the definition of food. For simpler items like eggs, fruit, and cheese, camera-based recording worked well. Once meals became more complex, the lighting needed to take photos wasn’t bright enough, or the AI ​​analysis had limitations in seeing exactly what was in the salad. It was starting to get more frustrating. This recorded data should also feed into Garmin’s Active Intelligence feature to provide insights and make recommendations based on your intake and even the timing of meals. However, my personal thoughts remained focused on informing me about my training and sleep trends.

The information is presented well at least on the watch. You have the added ability to log food there too, with the most recent items displayed to make doing so easier. But trying to type on the watch’s keyboard wasn’t a great experience. It’s a good start for a feature that has some familiar shortcomings, but it doesn’t make a Connect+ subscription any more attractive.

classification: 6/10

Garmin fitness trainer

After pioneering running and then adding cycling and strength training plans, Garmin is now including a general fitness training plan in its free trainer training platform. As with other Trainer plans, you can choose which days you want to work out and decide whether those workouts include gym equipment or just body-weight-based movements.

Photography: Michael Cao

You chose a plan based on your body weight and you chose the duration of the plan. Once created, the app syncs the plan to the watch. Workouts included familiar exercises such as mountain climbers or hip raises. If you don’t know what a mountain climber is, Garmin provides an animation to explain what it is and how to perform the move correctly.