How a Food Diary Helps Weight Loss

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By Misha Safranski
eHow Contributing Writer

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If you're one of the millions of Americans trying to shed some extra pounds, you may not have considered keeping a food diary. It's easy to start and keep a food diary -- either on the computer or with pen and paper -- by recording every bite you put into your mouth each day. You should also record your mood or what you were doing at the time you ate. A food diary helps weight loss in several ways.

Meal Planning

A food diary helps weight loss by allowing you to track your calorie intake and plan meals and snacks accordingly.

Nutrition

A food diary helps weight loss by making it easier to track the breakdown of your nutritional intake such as fat, sodium and cholesterol.

Portions

By recording your exact food intake, you get a reality check on portion sizes. A food diary helps weight loss by holding you accountable with appropriate portions.

Mood

Keeping a log of your moods and eating times in your food diary helps weight loss by giving you an idea of why you eat and when you are most likely to indulge too much.

Considerations

Choosing an online food diary program allows you to break down your food intake by weight, volume or piece, and also shows you the nutritional value of everything you eat.