Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTemplatesAppsTrackingKeeping a JournalHow Journals Help Providers
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Templates
Apps
Tracking
Keeping a Journal
How Journals Help Providers
A healthcare provider might have you keep a food journal detailing everything you eat and drink daily for a few weeks. You might be tracking food as a means of diagnosing a suspected health condition likeirritable bowel syndrome (IBS)or to manage a preexisting condition like a food intolerance or allergy.
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Food Journal Templates to Use as Example
Keeping a food journal can be easy. There are many examples to draw inspiration from, including theMy Food and Beverage Diaryfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.These templates can be printed and filled in throughout the day.
The basics of a food journal template contain columns and a heading to insert the date. One column lists the time of day or specific meal or snack. For example, a typical template has rows for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and snack. You can adjust the row names or how many snacks as needed. In another column, you can write down what you eat and drink. It is important to be as specific as possible, so include things like portion sizes, sauces, and how the food was cooked.
Food Tracking and Eating DisordersConsult with your healthcare provider about whether food tracking is right for you. Some research may suggest that food tracking with mobile devices or apps is associated with intensified symptoms of eating disorders. In one study, over 30% of participants reported using a food-tracking app significantly contributed to their eating disorder. Another 62.9% to 73.1% of participants said food tracking apps contributed moderately to somewhat to their eating disorder.If you suspect food tracking is contributing to disordered eating and there are emerging signs of an eating disorder in you or a loved one, contact theNational Alliance for Eating Disorder helplineat 866-662-1235 for support.
Food Tracking and Eating Disorders
Consult with your healthcare provider about whether food tracking is right for you. Some research may suggest that food tracking with mobile devices or apps is associated with intensified symptoms of eating disorders. In one study, over 30% of participants reported using a food-tracking app significantly contributed to their eating disorder. Another 62.9% to 73.1% of participants said food tracking apps contributed moderately to somewhat to their eating disorder.If you suspect food tracking is contributing to disordered eating and there are emerging signs of an eating disorder in you or a loved one, contact theNational Alliance for Eating Disorder helplineat 866-662-1235 for support.
Digital Food Journal Tracking and Apps
Keeping a digital food journal with a food tracking app means downloading an app and adding your food and beverage items. Two popular food-tracking apps are MyFitnessPal and Fooducate.
Digital food journals will often have additional features, like calorie tracking, nutrition information, and even personalized eating plans and suggestions. You can often choose between manually adding your food items or selecting them from a food database.
More research needs to be done to understand the accuracy of food tracking with apps. One study from 2020 found MyFitnessPal was accurate in terms of tracking total calories, macronutrients, fiber, and sugar, but not for sodium or cholesterol.
MyFitnessPal Study Shows Where You Live Can Affect Your Diet Quality
Timing of Food Journal Tracking
According to experts, food journaling and tracking success comes down to information accuracy and tracking consistency. Experts have found that tracking food and beverages right away rather than waiting until the end of the day leads to more accurate information for food diaries.
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Medical Reasons to Keep a Food Journal
Medical reasons to keep a food journal include finding causes of symptoms that are triggered or worsened with certain food and beverages.For example, someone with diabetes may keep a food journal for monitoring blood sugar (blood glucose) levels. Someone with heart disease may keep a food journal to track foods high in salt or cholesterol, which can contribute to heart disease.
Other medical reasons to track food include for:
People with medical reasons for keeping a food journal can often find tracking apps tailored to managing their condition. For example, people with diabetes can use certain apps for food tracking and blood sugar management.Be aware that some of these apps have onetime or monthly subscription costs associated, while others are free.
Best Apps for Managing Diabetes
How Providers Use a Patient’s Food Journal
There are many reasons a healthcare provider many ask you to keep a food journal. They may ask you to keep a journal for a single day, a few days, or for longer. Providers will use food journals for several reasons, including to:
If you have questions about why your healthcare provider is requesting you to keep a food journal, ask them how tracking can help. Also consult your provider if you have any concerns about food tracking and disordered eating or if you have a history of eating disorders.
Types of Eating Disorders
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.My food diary.Levinson CA, Fewell L, Brosof LC.My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders.Eat Behav. 2017;27:14-16. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.08.003Evenepoel C, Clevers E, Deroover L, Van Loo W, Matthys C, Verbeke K.Accuracy of nutrient calculations using the consumer-focused online app MyFitnessPal: Validation study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(10):e18237. doi: 10.2196/18237Harvard Health.Why keep a food diary?Medical University of South Carolina.Exploring the benefits of tracking food intake.American Heart Association.Food diary—Keep track of what you eat and drink.Howden Medical Clinic.Keeping a food diary.FamilyDoctor.org.Nutrition: Keeping a food diary.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.My food diary.Levinson CA, Fewell L, Brosof LC.My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders.Eat Behav. 2017;27:14-16. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.08.003Evenepoel C, Clevers E, Deroover L, Van Loo W, Matthys C, Verbeke K.Accuracy of nutrient calculations using the consumer-focused online app MyFitnessPal: Validation study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(10):e18237. doi: 10.2196/18237Harvard Health.Why keep a food diary?Medical University of South Carolina.Exploring the benefits of tracking food intake.American Heart Association.Food diary—Keep track of what you eat and drink.Howden Medical Clinic.Keeping a food diary.FamilyDoctor.org.Nutrition: Keeping a food diary.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.My food diary.Levinson CA, Fewell L, Brosof LC.My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders.Eat Behav. 2017;27:14-16. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.08.003Evenepoel C, Clevers E, Deroover L, Van Loo W, Matthys C, Verbeke K.Accuracy of nutrient calculations using the consumer-focused online app MyFitnessPal: Validation study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(10):e18237. doi: 10.2196/18237Harvard Health.Why keep a food diary?Medical University of South Carolina.Exploring the benefits of tracking food intake.American Heart Association.Food diary—Keep track of what you eat and drink.Howden Medical Clinic.Keeping a food diary.FamilyDoctor.org.Nutrition: Keeping a food diary.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.My food diary.
Levinson CA, Fewell L, Brosof LC.My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders.Eat Behav. 2017;27:14-16. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.08.003
Evenepoel C, Clevers E, Deroover L, Van Loo W, Matthys C, Verbeke K.Accuracy of nutrient calculations using the consumer-focused online app MyFitnessPal: Validation study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(10):e18237. doi: 10.2196/18237
Harvard Health.Why keep a food diary?
Medical University of South Carolina.Exploring the benefits of tracking food intake.
American Heart Association.Food diary—Keep track of what you eat and drink.
Howden Medical Clinic.Keeping a food diary.
FamilyDoctor.org.Nutrition: Keeping a food diary.
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