Keeping a food journal is something you might want to do for different reasons. Some people want to keep a close watch on how many calories, fat, or carbohydrates they are consuming. Others might want to just see in list form all the food they are eating. Whatever your reason might be, keeping a food journal can be a key tool in your quest to be healthy and fit.
Lately I have been keeping a food journal and have reflected on the various ways to keep one. I have tried to do this several times in the past, and it has been quite the task. Tracking all the food you consumed can be tedious. For example, to include everything on your list you need to log all your meals, snacks and drinks! However, once you get past the initial inconvenience and a find a way to log your food that works for you, you will be glad you made the effort.
There are several ways to keep a food journal. A non-tech way is to get a small notebook, write the date at the top and then horizontally list each item consumed. In the recent past people have been blogging their food intake online through various free or low-cost resources. More recently, phone applications can offer a very high-tech way to log your food with a few quick clicks. I have tried all three of these approaches, starting with writing down by hand in a small notebook. I was able to do this for a few days but then would misplace my notebook and loose interest in keeping track. Imputing online is a good option for people who spend a lot of time online. However, logging your food intake through a phone application has been my favorite way to food journal. For me it has become really easy- each time I sit-down to eat, or shortly after a meal if I am out with friends, I just whip out my phone and click a few buttons. The particular app that has worked well for me is called “My Fitness Pal”.
Have you kept a food journal? What works for you?
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