Achieving Optimal Health and Wellbeing starts with awareness. When it comes to Habits of Healthy Weight Management and Habits of Healthy Eating & Hydration, paying attention to what you eat, how you feel, and the patterns that show up day after day is important. That’s where food journaling comes in.
Food journaling can help you understand your habits and identify triggers, allowing you to make choices that support your health goals. When you write down what you eat, when you eat it, and even how you feel before and after, patterns begin to emerge. Maybe mid-afternoon cravings always hit after a skipped breakfast, or certain foods leave you feeling sluggish or bloated.
Seeing these trends on paper can give you the opportunity to make adjustments that work for your body.
Food journaling can also bridge the gap between intention and action. Many of us start the day with the best intentions: “I’ll eat well today, I’ll choose nutritious meals, I’ll stay hydrated.” But then life gets busy and stress piles up, we can drift off course without realizing it. Journaling what you ate — especially on the tough days — can bring clarity, showing you where you are and what you might want to shift.
A food journal doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. You can note the basics — food, time, amount, and how you felt, or you can add more details, like hunger levels or what was happening around you when you ate. For example, maybe you reached for an office donut on a day when deadlines were tight, and another project hit your desk.
Reflection is just as important as taking notes.
After a week or two of journaling, take a few minutes to review what you have written. Look for patterns and identify any areas that could use adjustments — and remember to celebrate your successes! Maybe you notice that changing your breakfast food helps stabilize your energy, or that moving snacks earlier in the day prevents late-night cravings. These changes may seem small, but they are big wins!
Ultimately, food journaling is about self-awareness. It’s a way to help understand your body and learn what works best for you. Whether you’re just starting your journey or you’ve been refining your habits for years, keeping a food journal can help give you accountability and insight.
If you have tips to share or questions about getting started, join our community on Facebook to connect with others on their journey towards Optimal Health and Wellbeing.