Before we get in to too much discussion about how to create, keep, update, and assess a food journal, you need to know what you are getting yourself into. Chances are that you kept a diary when you were younger. Think of a food journal as a type of diary dedicated to food instead of what you think and feel about what you did on any particular day. Unlike the diaries when you were a kid, a food journal does not have to be flashy or beautiful; it just has to be functional.

So why should you keep a food journal? There are a variety of reasons, but the most common one is so that you can have an ongoing track of what you eat each day. This helps you with a variety of diets, including ones that revolve around calorie counting. In fact, calorie counters should use the food journal as their number one way of making sure they are meeting their daily calorie limits.

Now that we know what a food journal is, let's discuss the six steps necessary to create and assess your ongoing food journal. We will start with why your journal should contain more information than just the food you eat.

It should be obvious to you that a food journal will include the foods you eat, but you will also want to record any beverages you drink in a particular day. Remember that sodas and soft drinks, for example, can contain as many calories as a sandwich, so you definitely don't want to exclude them from your journal.

Whenever you add anything to your journal, you should try to also include the exact amount of what you ate. That way you can go back later to see how you're progress is coming along.

Basically, there is only one main rule of keeping your personal food journal. If it goes in your mouth, no matter what it is, you should write it down. A food journal is the only way to get an accurate picture of what you are eating on any given day.