Why Keeping a Food Journal is a Good Choice
By Genevieve Cunningham
If you've ever looked at any healthy eating advice, you may have come across the idea of journaling your food. This is an idea that many people use regularly. They swear by its results, and they will often suggest it to others who are looking to make a change in their diet. But what makes food journaling so great? If you are looking to improve your diet, lose weight, or simply create some healthy habits, take a look at why food journaling may be worth the effort.
It Makes You Aware
Oftentimes, we are completely unaware of what and how much food goes into our mouths. We simply don't give it enough thought. By writing down everything that we're eating, we become acutely aware of every last bite. We notice the extra cookie, the second bite of cake, or the third soda of the day. Being aware of the food that we eat is the first step to improving our diet and health.
It Helps Count Calories
By becoming aware of what we eat, we can also get a handle on our total calorie count. Do you know how many calories you're supposed to be eating? Are you under or over that number every day? Most people don't know the answer to either of these questions. Buy journaling our food, we can get at least a rough estimate on how many calories we’re consuming. With this number, we can make adjustments in one direction or another. If you're looking to lose weight or slim up, then knowing the calories is an excellent place to begin.
It Helps Create Healthy Habits
Healthy habits contribute to healthy living. While there are a million healthy habits that we could add to our lives, food journaling is an easy and effective one. Because it gives us an awareness of what we're eating, it also allows us to make appropriate changes. And this is exactly the purpose of healthy habits. If you're interested in really changing your habits in your life, starting a food journal might be the first step to healthier habits on a daily basis.
Food journaling might seem like a chore, but it actually is fairly easy once you begin. Grab a notebook and a pen, and write down everything that goes into your mouth. Be honest, as you are the only one who will ever see your journal. With just this one addition to your normal routine, you may find your weight drop, your diet improve, and your healthy habits get moving in the right direction.
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