Tracking can help you...
- increase awareness around your eating habits
- bridge the gap between perception and reality
- create a feedback loop for change
- provide accountability
Ask yourself:
- WHY do I want to track?
- WHAT do I want to track?
- HOW do I want to track?
PROS
- easy to access
- can be educational
- provides real-time feedback
- may work best for those who like numbers and/or have specific goals
CONS
- “freemium” pricing
- data can be overwhelming
- may feel “judgy”
- input can be tedious
- may create unhealthy relationship with food
Keep a photo journal
- May be easier and less time-consuming than a traditional food tracking app
- Eliminates a focus on numbers
- Do it on your own, or use an app such as:
- FoodView (free)
- See How You Eat (in-app purchases)
- Ate Food Journal (7-day free trial)
Kick it old school
- Research on food journaling told us it was effective before smartphones were invented!
- Track what you eat on paper, in an electronic document or in the notes app of your phone
- Keep it simple: record time of day, what you ate or drank and approximate amount
- This is enough information to get you started!
Track specific habits
- If you already have a sense of what specific areas you want to focus on, you can just track those.
- Ideas may include:
- Drinking more water
- Eating more fruits or vegetables
- Snacking habits
- Portion sizes
- Meal and snack timing
- Emotional eating
Don’t track your food at all
- Try a “non-food” journal where you reflect on:
- successes
- challenges
- insights and observations
- next steps
- anything else that you find relevant
Tracking checklist
- Is this way of tracking the right fit for me?
- How am I using the information to help me?
- Do I need to take a break or make a change?
