Whether you're trying to lose weight or simply lead a healthier lifestyle, a food diary is essential. Not only does a food diary allow you to keep track of foods eaten throughout the day, but you can also record any weaknesses and cravings you notice. In other words, a food diary makes you more conscious of what's going into your body. In this week's blog, you'll learn the importance of a food diary and what should be included in your daily entries.

I tried off and on for several years to keep a food diary. It wasn't until this year that I finally stuck with the commitment. When I started, I would simply write down what I ate, how many calories were in each food, and I would total up that day's calories. A food diary can be much more than that though. If you need to increase your calcium or fiber intake, you can keep totals of that as well. My current food diary includes the following:

A bi-monthly weigh-in
Foods eaten
Calories, along with a total
Amount of water drank
Any cravings I experience, along with the time that they occur
A daily summary of the good things I did and what I need to work on

This food diary was just what I needed to make me more aware of my eating habits. But it also made me more aware of my trouble areas. For example, I noticed that I crave sweets late in the afternoon. Still, I feel that best part of the food diary is making note of the good things you do. Having a list of accomplishments makes you want to keep doing the right things for your body.

If you're trying to lose weight, I highly suggest keeping a food diary. You will quickly notice how some foods take up a large amount of your daily calories. When you become conscious of this, you will choose foods that allow you to eat more and stretch your calories further.

What are you waiting for? Grab a pen and start a food diary.