Photo Food Journal Recap
Posted on January 21, 2010
This was our dinner from a couple of nights ago. Grilled chicken, broccoli, and sweet potatoes has to be one of my favorite food combinations. Anyway, I realized today (after a reporter from the NY Times wanted to talk to me about the photo food journal concept) that I never wrote a recap post about my photo food journal from December. This is that post.
So the question is can a photo food journal be helpful for someone trying to eat healthier? I think so. There’s just something about seeing what you actually ate that day that helps keep you on track. There’s something about knowing you have to take a picture of what you’re about to eat. Accountability. That’s the key.
For a photo food journal to work, you don’t necessarily have to publish it to the world. It can just be you that sees the pictures and honestly evaluates them. Now, the one disconnect with the photo food journal (or a regular food journal) is cheating. Not taking a picture here and there can really add up, especially when it’s cookies, brownies, doughnuts, etc. I was honest with my food journal, and looking back, December may not have been the best month to do this. Lots of holiday treats in my pics. : )
For me, I was just trying to see what it would be like to keep an honest photo food journal and see if I could create/maintain good habits. I feel like I eat pretty healthy (most of the time) and get plenty of exercise, so I didn’t track anything else but the pictures for the month.
So, to recap… a photo food journal can be helpful, if you don’t cheat. It creates an awareness of what is going into your body and can help avoid “mindless eating.”
Try it. See if it helps you. If taking pics is too much, keep a regular food journal. It might have the same effect.
Happy and healthy eating!
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