8 Food Tracking Strategies to Try

Logging your calories and macros is a great way to stay on top of what you’re eating, and it’s one of thebest ways to lose weight. But there’s actually a lot more you can learn about your eating habits through tracking, especially if you switch up what you’re tracking. Here, dietitians share some of their favorite food tracking strategies to help you make key observations about your diet so you can improve the way you eat.

“Being on top of your daily fiber goal is a great way to improve the overall quality of your diet,” saysStephanie Hnatiuk, a registered dietitian.Fiberis found in tons of nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans and lentils. Hnatiuk recommends setting a fiber goal of at least 25 grams a day for women and 38 grams a day for men, which can encourage you to choose fiber-rich foods at each of your meals and snacks.

Tracking yourhunger and fullnessbefore and after you eat can be revealing. Simply keep track of this in the notes section of yourfood logging diary. “You may eat less naturally by learning to eat when you’re hungry, rather than waiting hours to eat until you’re overly hungry and then overeating,” explainsSarah Schlichter, a registered dietitian.

And heads up: Signs of hunger can be more subtle than just a growling stomach. “Some other signs may be headaches, loss of concentration, fatigue, and thinking about food. I generally encourage people to track these to see any trends to learn their body’s signals of hunger,” Schlichter says. It’s also super important to practice eating to a comfortable level of fullness, she adds.

“A unique take on tracking is to pay attention to how many colors you’re eating throughout the day, specifically when it comes to fruits and vegetables,” saysMackenzie Burgess, a registered dietitian. “The colors are commonly broken up into five different categories: red, yellow and orange, green, purple and blue, and white. Track how many colors you eat in a day, with the goal of eating as many as possible. All of thesedifferent colors represent different antioxidants and health-promoting nutrientssuch as potassium, fiber, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C.”

You might be surprised how many colors you’re missing. And if that’s the case, Burgess recommends starting with simple additions to pump up your fruit and vegetable intake. “Try topping yogurt with various berries, stirring colorful bell peppers into pasta dishes, or making a rainbow quinoa salad for a healthy side dish.”

Skipping mealscan be a big problem, causing people to fall short on their nutrition goals. “It can make it hard to get enough key nutrients like fiber, protein or essential vitamins and minerals,” Hnatiuk notes. “Skipping meals early in the day can also lead to food cravings and binge eating — especially in the evenings.” That’s why she suggests keeping an eye on how often you’re eating. Ensure you’re making time for at least three meals a day to help improve energy levels, maintain balanced blood sugar levels, and boost the quality of your workouts.

It’s hard to knowhow much water to drink, and Schlichter encourages people to track their water intake since most people are dehydrated, especially in the winter. “There are now water bottles that make this easier, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for half your body weight in ounces,” she says. “The active population will need to add more to this, but remember that fruits, veggies and other products that have a high water content also contribute to water intake.” To log your water in MyFitnessPal, scroll to the section of your diary labeled “water.”

有时候,食物以外的食物可以滑through the cracks, even if you’re logging the rest of what you eat. “We often unconsciously eat more snacks than we really think we do,” explainsKimberly Marsh, a registered dietitian. In addition to ensuring you track all your snacks, Marsh recommends considering why you ate the snack and making note of it. “Understanding our ‘extra’ calories can help us get real control on our overall intakes.”

Tracking isn’t just about numbers. It’s also about noticing the less tangible successes you have day-to-day. “Record all the things you did well,” suggests Jill Weisenberger, a registered dietitian and author ofPrediabetes: A Complete Guide. “For example, record when you chose healthful food over the vending machine at work, or when you chose not to eat the cookies in the break room. This is a great way to see your small wins, boost confidence and start making even greater wins by seeing yourself as someone who is successful at healthful eating.” Building faith in your habits and judgment can be a game-changer.

Another great way to use the notes section of your diary is to track the feelings you have about what you’re eating, Marsh says. Consider keeping a record of why you’re eating, what emotions are involved, and anything else you feel during or after the meal. “Understanding the how and why we eat is incredibly important before trying to change our actual eating,” Marsh adds.

There are so many reasons to track your food intake, including counting your calories and macros. But you can also learn a lot about how you eat from somewhat unexpected tracking strategies, like keeping an eye on how many colors you’re getting each day and whether your water intake passes muster. In the end, it all goes toward knowing yourself and your habits better and establishing a diet that helps you reach your goals.

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