Comments on: Dear Food Diary

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:17:52 +0000

One suggestion to add to a food diary: Include number of hours and quality of your sleep from the night before at the beginning of your diary each day. This can help determine how your sleeping habits effect your food cravings and quantity of food consumed. Keeping track of sleep habits will also help you distinguish between when your mood and cravings are food related vs. when they are sleep related.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:28:08 +0000

I use an app on my iphone that lets me enter favorite foods and then keep track of what I eat daily. It will track calories, carbs, nutrient balances, exercise, and your weight. It can also search for common foods and some restaurant items. It’s called Nutrition Menu. I’ve been using it for about a year and really helps me to stay on track.

By: Inga Lesko

Inga Lesko — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:06:41 +0000

Looking forward to eating healthy and adding it to my diary.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:38:34 +0000

The idea is great, but the execution depends on motivation. Unless there is a specific diet or dietary goal, the motivation will not be there to find the diary and to write in it.

It would be cool if someone made an iPhone app that let’s you take a photo food diary. At least the phone is likely to be with you all the time.

By: Jana

Jana — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:36:23 +0000

this is such a great idea! i’m going to start my food diary tonight!

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:25:40 +0000

I started a food diary due to digestive problems and hoped to determine food sensitivities. Just recently I discovered the problem was too much magnesium in the calcium supplement I had been taking for several years. (A suggestion – periodically ask your health provider to review not just prescription meds. but supplements as well.)

I had consulted a nutritionist who gave me a plan with suggested portion sizes and numbers of serving in each food group. This has helped me balance out meals..moods not so much. I have a column for physical and emotional notes but use it mostly for physical. Your suggestion to check in two hours after a meal is a very good one. I’ll try to remember to incorporate my mood more often after I’ve eaten instead of before.

Eggs are one of my favorite foods and although my doctor believes eggs raise cholesterol, I find that eating an egg (soft-boiled) along with whole-grain toast and fruit or vegetables is a good start for my day.

Regarding Jillian’s comment. When makeing a recipe from scratch for my husband and myself I list all of the ingredients of the recipe, include the number of servings and then show one serving. For eating out I list the ingredients and since I always eat half of the serving it stays within my portion size.

By: Jillian

Jillian — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:56:49 +0000

Food journals are very effective. However…it is really difficult to write down things like homeade soup or when you go out to eat you basically have to stick to garden salad.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:14:18 +0000

Thanks! This is WONDERFUL advice! I have tried to keep a food diary for years and usually been successful for only about 3 days. Your tips may be just what I need to make it a longer-term success! I’m already envisioning a little template in my head Thanks again, Alana!