Keeping a Food Diary & Links

How can a food diary help with intentionality in nutrition and, possibly, weight loss? Seeing it all written down, and possibly discussing the information with a friend, slows down the rate of cookies and chips as they go in! If they go it, we have to write them down!

I've written before on Conversations@Intersections about keeping a food diary.

Have you done it and what was the result?

What was the biggest benefit?

What was your biggest obstacle?

Continuity is my downfall. I've found that I am healthiest when I am intentional. It is when the busyness of life overtakes my consciousness as to my time, habits and eating, that I just grab what's easy or I forego the things I know will benefit me in the long term.

As we get older, we are supposed to be more conscious of the long term ramifications

of our choices. Hmm, gotta slow down to contemplate more and choose well.

How about you?

A food diary can help us understand our habits and danger zones:

• Did you eat too little in the morning? Y / N
• Did you eat more at night than any other time? Y / N
• Did you graze instead of actually sitting down for a meal today? Y / N
• Did you eat a lot of high-fat foods, such as whole dairy, fried foods and desserts? Y / N

Food Diary templates for you to download.

Thinking Nutrition's Food Diary - simple and helps measure moods, habits and company when you eat.

Thinking Nutrition site

My Fit Printable Food Diary

Also, you may already have one on your computer. In Microsoft Office's Project Gallery under Planners you'll find Meals-Diets. There is very likely a Food Diary there you can print off and use to record your daily consumption.

There are also online options and iPhone apps that help you record consumption.

The main ingredients needed are your want-to and discipline to continue the practice.