| Most diets recommend keeping nutrition journals, or | | | | that their brains "conveniently" leave certain items off |
| food diaries, on a regular basis. These journals are | | | | the list.This, of course, leads to inaccuracy, and the |
| supposed to do several things:First, by keeping track of | | | | journal loses its value.3. It needs to be reviewed. Unless |
| everything a person eats, you can figure out exactly | | | | the journal is being reviewed regularly by someone |
| how many calories and how much fat is | | | | who understands nutrition well, you may not know |
| consumed.Second, it makes people accountable for all | | | | what changes, if any, to make.Sometimes people can |
| of those little snacks that they might not think about | | | | analyze their own nutrition journal and see what the |
| otherwise (like that one piece of chocolate that you | | | | problems are. Most folks, though, are not as fortunate, |
| grabbed on the way from the kitchen into the living | | | | and just continue to make the same mistakes over |
| room).Third, nutrition journals help people see patterns | | | | and over again.Should you use a nutrition journal?You |
| in their eating habits. Habits are a lot easier to change | | | | can, but you don't have to.If you choose to keep a |
| when you know what they are.All of this sounds great, | | | | food diary for your child, keep the following points in |
| so...what's the problem?Well, that was what nutrition | | | | mind to increase your chances of success. |
| journals are supposed to do. Reality can be somewhat | | | | Don't try to record everything your child eats every |
| different.The Drawbacks of Nutrition Journals1. They | | | | day. Only do one or two days at first, then bring the list |
| are labor-intensive. Keeping a diary takes a lot of time | | | | to your doctor to comment on.Don't scatter your |
| and effort. It is difficult for most people to change their | | | | focus. Use the diary to help you with one particular |
| routine so drastically that it will last more than a few | | | | area.In other words, don't try to keep track of calories, |
| days.Change can be a good thing. But, in order for it to | | | | fat, protein, sugar, cholesterol, etc. at the same time. |
| stick, changes need to occur slowly. Trying to make | | | | Pick one thing to look at and improve upon.Don't worry |
| too many changes too quickly is a frequent cause of | | | | if you miss something or forget a day. A journal is just |
| failure.When I talk with families in my practice, I stress | | | | a tool for you to help your child eat better.Don't let your |
| the importance of not changing your lifestyle drastically. | | | | nutrition journal be what derails your weight control |
| Make a small positive change and let it become a habit | | | | plan!Michael P. Scaccia, MD, FAAP is a physician, |
| before adding on something else.The bottom line... if it's | | | | author, |
| too much work, people won't keep it up.2. People | | | | speaker, and child health expert whose goal is to help |
| cheat. I know... I'm not exactly showing my usual | | | | families live healthier and more satisfying lives. For |
| optimism here, but it's true.Just because people are | | | | more information, go to=> you like a speaker who is |
| supposed to write down every single item doesn't | | | | knowledgeable, dynamic, and |
| mean that they will.It's human nature to want to make | | | | entertaining? Dr. Scaccia speaks on a variety of child |
| things seem better than they may be. It isn't because | | | | health |
| people are consciously manipulating the system. It's just | | | | topics. |