When it comes to weight loss success, portion control is one of the key determinants . It can be difficult to accurately determine how much you eat over the course of a day. One way to track the amount of calories that you consume is to keep a food diary.
Keeping a food journal can be helpful even if you only record your eating habits for a few days. This is still enough time to begin to identify patterns of behavior and find out when you miscalculate your food consumption. This can be another good way to identify triggers in your life that can lead to overeating. If you decide to make a habit of keeping a food diary, you can continue to hold yourself accountable whenever you sit down for a meal or grab a snack on the go.
After recording what you eat for a few days, you can decide for yourself whether this is a helpful practice or not. Chances are, it will be an eye-opener as to how and what you eat, and this can be a way to create a more mindful and conscious attitude towards your healthy diet.
Written by Cara Harbstreet, Nutritionist at Camp Shane weight loss camp for children and teens.