The Fight for Fitness » food journal http://blakehagen.com Getting fit. Eating Healthy. Staying Happy. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Photo Food Journal Recap http://blakehagen.com/2010/01/photo-food-journal-recap/ http://blakehagen.com/2010/01/photo-food-journal-recap/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:46:18 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=854

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!

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2010/01/photo-food-journal-recap/feed/ 0 Guatemalan Food and Other Stuff http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/guatemalan-food-and-other-stuff/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/guatemalan-food-and-other-stuff/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:52:31 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=826 It’s been a bit crazy these last few days.  Trying to get the house deep cleaned and some stuff fixed so not a lot of time (or room) to make good meals.  Been taking advantage of gift cards and relatives in town…

Food Journal: December 30, 2009

This is my Grandma.  Mami Yoli.  She taught us how to make good tortillas and huevos rancheros… Guatemalan style. 

 

Food Journal: December 29, 2009

CPK.  California club.  Gotta love gift cards.  :)

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/guatemalan-food-and-other-stuff/feed/ 3 Last Couple of Days http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/last-couple-of-days/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/last-couple-of-days/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:28:23 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=817 Food Journal December 28, 2009

 

Food Journal: December 27, 2009

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/last-couple-of-days/feed/ 0 Day 26 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-26-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-26-food/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:34:06 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=813 Food Journal: December 26, 2009

Leftover rolls and cereal for breakfast.  Breakfast of champions, I know. 

Six inch subway sandwich for lunch.  Did 9 mile run and then apple. 

Used a gift card we got for Christmas to eat at Spicy Thai.  Pad thai and yellow curry.  So good.  And those Christmas cookies keep showing up… need to eat them so there are no more! :)

Still trying to get back on track after the holiday. 

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-26-food/feed/ 1 Christmas Eve and Christmas Food! http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/christmas-eve-and-christmas-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/christmas-eve-and-christmas-food/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:28:36 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=804 I hope everyone had a great Christmas.  I really enjoyed mine.  Enjoyed the food too:

Food Journal: December 24, 2009

Smoothie for breakfast.  Apple, banana, strawberries.  Snack was the filling from chimichangas from the other day on a piece of wheat bread. 

Did total 60 mins on the bike, including hard intervals.  After had egg/salsa burritos.  Then we went to my in-laws for the Christmas Eve celebration.  Above shows plate of chips/salsa, onion quiche, and bread with salami and tomato. 

Yup, I had 3 plates. 

Gingerbread cookie.  After the party, we went to my family’s house for the traditional Guatemalan fiesta.  My mom is from Guatemala and the whole gang came over and we had some tamales.  Ate one. 

Also had some grapes.  Had a mouthful when wife grabbed this pic.

Food Journal: December 25, 2009

Christmas morning back at in-laws.  More onion quiche.  Not pictured is cinnamon roll I ate.  Lunch was leftover tamale. 

Did another hard 60 mins on bike.  After back to in-laws for Christmas dinner.  Crackers w/ brie cheese and then steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, pearled onions, and rolls.  Good dinner.  :)

Topped it all off with a bit of ice cream and a couple of cookies. 

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/christmas-eve-and-christmas-food/feed/ 1 Day 23 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-23-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-23-food/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:35:12 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=797 Food Journal: December 23, 2009

Subway for lunch with wife. 

Got my 4.75 mile run in.  After that was feeling lazy.  Didn’t want to make dinner so we got Panda Express.  Wife and I shared what is pictured.  Ate apple after. 

We made some Christmas cookies to give away to friends/neighbors, etc.  I had two.  We’ll see how we do on Christmas Eve and Christmas.  I’m excited for some good food.  :)  Also have 9 mile run planned for the weekend.  That should be fun too!

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-23-food/feed/ 1 Day 22 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-22-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-22-food/#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:17:26 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=793 Food Journal: December 22, 2009

Not pictured was the banana bread muffin (from the other day) I had for breakfast.  Lunch was leftover chicken chimichangas from yesterday.  Went to in-laws for dinner and to watch the BYU v. Oregon State football game.  Had a Costa Vida salad.  Also had some of wife’s quesadilla and beans/rice.

Christmas goodies are in full-swing right now… Shared the cookie on left with wife.  Ate the other two on right.  Yummy, but made my tummy ache after.  Today was a day where I really felt like I ate too much.  I could definitely feel it.  Also no fruit again.  No worries.  Do better today. 

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-22-food/feed/ 1 Day 21 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-21-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-21-food/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:56:46 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=786 Food Journal: December 21, 2009

Smoothie after run.  Oven-baked chicken chimichangas for dinner.  Stuffed with chicken, corn, black beans, onions, red peppers, and salsa.  Salsa on top with avocado.  I had two. 

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-21-food/feed/ 0 Day 20 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-20-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-20-food/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:02:40 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=780 Food Journal: December 20, 2009

Toast in morning and then leftovers after church.

Cereal snack.  Banana bread muffins.  Made these for family dinner.  Ate 3.

My mom made pork chops and potatoes with mushrooms and asparagus.  Also, chocolate hazelnut pie.  1 piece.

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-20-food/feed/ 1 Day 19 Food http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-19-food/ http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-19-food/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:53:30 +0000 Blake http://blakehagen.com/?p=776 Food Journal: December 19, 2009

Apple, banana, strawberry smoothie after 25 min bike and 8 mile run.  

Wife made ranch chicken for dinner with broccoli and other veggies. 

Had Magleby’s chocolate cake after the BYU basketball game.  If BYU scores more than 80 points it’s free.  Yup.  We took advantage.  One for me and one for wife.  Also, chocolate/caramel covered pretzel.  Christmas treats starting to show up already.  :)

Other Posts You Might Like:

]]> http://blakehagen.com/2009/12/day-19-food/feed/ 1