FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Power of the Food Diary

"Dieters who write down everything they eat each day lose twice as much weight as those who don't, according to one of the largest weight-loss studies ever conducted.

This confirms the importance of keeping a food diary — advice that nutritionists and weight-loss programs have pushed for years. . .

Food diaries are a "powerful self-management technique. They help you figure out where the extra calories are coming from," he says. It works best if someone else looks over your food record. "When you put yourself in a position where you are accountable for your behavior, it changes behavior. . .

Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian in Chicago, tells people that a food diary "is the best way to monitor every crumb, morsel, nibble, sip, swallow and bite you take" (from "Using Food Diaries Doubles Weight Loss, Study Shows," Nanci Hellmich, http://www.usatoday.com/, July, 2008). To view the entire article, follow this link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-07-08-food-diaries_N.htm

Here are some great resources for how to start journaling (tracking), printable trackers, and online journaling:

http://www.laaloosh.com/ (my favorite)
http://www.weightwatchers.com/
http://www.leancuisine.com/
http://www.personal-nutrition-guide.com/food-journaling.html

Happy tracking!!!