Tracking your daily food intake helps you understand its value and your relationship with food. You will also learn to pay attention to the physical signals your body is sending.
1. Get a better understanding of food cravings.
Food cravings are common and can have several underlying reasons. It could be due to a deficiency in the body, a response to a stressful day, or emotional distress. Identifying the specific cravings, the times when they occur, and how you feel can give you a better idea of what may be causing those cravings.
For instance, if you crave cookies or crunchy salted chips after an upsetting event, it can mean an emotional trigger is causing the cravings instead of a specific deficiency.
2. Identify the high and low-energy foods.
You can track your mood after each meal to determine which foods give you energy and which make you sleepy. Balancing the right amounts of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in each meal is crucial to maintaining consistent energy levels throughout the day.
Consuming the wrong food combinations can deplete your energy and cause a sudden crash in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon. This may also raise your sugar levels, resulting in an energy slump.
3. Discover which food or events could be causing your bloating.
Bloating can have many causes, ranging from eating too quickly and food intolerance to being a symptom of other gastrointestinal issues. This is why keeping track of your food intake is crucial. If bloating becomes a persistent problem, follow up with your doctor to explore other possible causes.
4. Differentiate between a food allergy and an intolerance.
Some food allergies can develop in childhood, and you may be aware of them and avoid the foods that cause them. However, you may not realize you have other food allergies until you try a new food.
If you experience immediate symptoms such as an upset stomach, digestive issues, or a rash after consuming a specific food, it is possible that you have an allergy to that food, and you should follow up with your doctor to be sure.
On the other hand, if you experience discomfort after eating a food but the symptoms are not immediate, you likely have a food intolerance. In this case, the digestive system has difficulty breaking down certain kinds of food.
The body reacts with uncomfortable, painful responses, but the immune system is not involved. Not everyone is aware of all the symptoms. The most common are headaches, trouble sleeping, tiredness, sluggishness, irritability, crankiness, and even ear ringing!
5. Zoom in on the big picture.
Over a few weeks, you will notice recurring patterns in your eating habits and how they impact your body. You will also become more conscious of your hunger levels before each meal and how your diet could affect your sleep.
By learning more about your eating habits, you’ll better understand your relationship with food. This will guide you in making more informed choices about what and when to eat. If you prefer using an app, that’s fine. Otherwise, find a small journal and carry it with you. You may be surprised by what you discover.