Food is an essential part of our lives, and what we eat determines our health, energy levels, and overall well-being. In 2015, we made a conscious effort to keep a food diary and track our eating habits.

This helped us to identify areas where we needed to make changes to our diet, and also where we were doing well. In this article, we will share our experiences with maintaining a food diary and our plan for next year’s diet.

Maintaining a Food Diary

Maintaining a food diary can be a tedious task, but it is one of the most effective ways to keep track of what you eat and identify areas for improvement. We started by writing down everything we ate and drank in a notebook or using a food diary app.

We also made a note of the time of the day we ate, where we were, and how we felt before and after each meal.

After a few weeks of tracking our food intake, we started to notice patterns. For example, we noticed that we tended to snack more when we were stressed or bored, and that we often skipped breakfast when we were in a rush in the morning.

We also noticed that we tended to eat more on weekends when we had more free time.

The Results

Keeping a food diary helped us to make some significant changes to our diet.

We were able to identify areas where we needed to cut back, such as sugary snacks and processed foods, and we also identified areas where we needed to eat more, such as fruits and vegetables. We also made an effort to eat more whole foods, such as whole grains and lean proteins, and we started cooking more meals at home instead of eating out.

After a few months of following this new diet, we started to notice some positive changes in our health and energy levels.

We felt more alert and focused throughout the day, and we also noticed that we were able to maintain a healthy weight more easily.

Our Plan for Next Year’s Diet

After reviewing our food diary and identifying areas where we needed to improve, we have come up with a plan for our diet for next year. Our main goal is to continue eating a healthy and balanced diet while also enjoying our meals and snacks.

1. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

We want to make sure we are getting enough vitamins and nutrients in our diet, so we plan on eating more fruits and vegetables each day. We will make an effort to include a serving of fruits or vegetables with each meal and snack.

2. Cut Back on Processed Foods

We noticed that we tend to rely on processed foods, such as snacks and frozen meals, when we are short on time or energy. We plan on cutting back on these foods and making an effort to cook more meals from scratch using whole foods.

3. Watch Our Portion Sizes

We tend to overeat, especially when we are eating out or snacking. We plan on being more mindful of our portion sizes and listening to our bodies to determine when we are full.

4. Experiment with New Recipes and Foods

We want to make sure we don’t get bored with our meals, so we plan on experimenting with new recipes and foods. We will try new fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and spices to keep our meals exciting and flavorful.

5. Allow for Occasional Treats

We don’t want to feel deprived or restricted in our diet, so we plan on allowing ourselves to indulge in occasional treats.

We will make an effort to choose healthier options, such as dark chocolate or homemade desserts, instead of processed or sugary snacks.

Conclusion

Maintaining a food diary helped us to make some significant changes to our diet, and we plan on continuing to make healthy choices in the coming year.

By eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting back on processed foods, watching our portion sizes, experimenting with new recipes and foods, and allowing for occasional treats, we hope to maintain a healthy and balanced diet while also enjoying our meals and snacks.