Almost every health/nutrition/weight loss expert agrees that most people are unaware of what (and how much) they're truly eating. And food journaling is the best way to change that! "Very often people will eat subconsciously—a bite here, a snack there—and not realize how many calories or what types of foods are going down the hatch," Dr. Talbott says. "So food journaling makes us more aware of what we're eating, when we're eating it, and why—and it almost always makes us think about making better choices."
You can always go the pencil-and-paper route, but there are many new apps and sites designed to help you log your daily intake—Dr. Brody recommends Myfitnesspal.com. The best part about food journaling is that you only need to do it every once in a while for it to be effective, even once a week can help you recognize bad habits and see where you might be able to make better nutrition choices.
One caution however: "For people who get obsessive or have an eating disorder history, sometimes tracking food can trigger negative behaviors or self judgment," Dr. Brody says. If this describes you, talk to your doctor about alternate ways of improving your eating habits.
