A food journal is simply a record of what you eat. Portions and the time of day when you've enjoyed your meal, snack or drink can give you important clues about your health and provide incentive to become healthier. Your food diary doesn't have to be fancy; use an old notebook or an online tracking program. Being consistent about your journaling can provide the most benefits.
Pinpoints Allergies
A major benefit to journaling your meals, snacks and drinks is that if you suffer from food allergies, you may be able to pinpoint the food triggers that are making you feel bad. MayoClinic.com explains that a food diary is a first step toward diagnosing food allergies. This kind of record-keeping can also be used as a diagnostic tool for skin conditions and asthma, as these are chronic illnesses that can be triggered by certain foods. You might benefit from writing down your symptoms after each meal or snack as well as the foods you've eaten, in an attempt to zero in on the foods you'll need to eliminate from your diet.
Keeps Weight Loss on Track
"Success" magazine explains that a food diary can help you keep on track in terms of weight loss and overall fitness goals. When you write down everything you eat, you have nowhere to hide, and deluding yourself into thinking your diet is healthy, when maybe it isn't, is not as easy. Keeping track of the dessert you ate last night, for instance, might motivate you more to get up early for your jog, than if you didn't journal it and forgot about those extra calories.
A variation of a simple food diary can include your daily workouts or fitness goals in addition to the specific foods and beverages you've enjoyed. The added information might help you stay motivated and can also serve as a record of the improvements you've made in your physical fitness.
Provides a Nutritional Big Picture
Keeping a food journal helps you see--literally on paper--not only how much food you eat, but also the types of nutrients you are getting as well as those you may lack. One of the benefits of a food diary is that you've created a lasting record that you can refer back to at a later date. For example, if you have been feeling tired and are diagnosed with anemia, you can flip back through the pages of your food diary to realize that one of the reasons for your predicament may be that you have not been eating enough iron-rich foods lately. In a similar fashion, if you've got heartburn and your diary reminds you that you have been eating a lot of spicy foods, you have a clearer picture of what you'll need to cut out of your diet to feel better.
Member Comments