Keeping a food diary brings awareness to your eating habits. If you experience certain side effects after particular foods, a food diary can be a useful reference to track possible food allergies or sensitivities. I have the members of The Fit Soul Tribe do this on a regular basis so we can begin to see what foods work for them – and which ones don’t.

 

There is no one size fits all diet.

 

I believe strongly in bio-individual nutrition. Each person is unique, personal differences such as anatomy, metabolism, genetics, microbiome (the microorganisms that live in the gut), and cell structure all influence overall health and nutrition requirements.

 

Before, during, and after each meal (including both foods and beverages), write down in a food diary, journal, or notebook how you feel both physically and emotionally.

 

You might begin to notice that certain foods cause different symptoms for you after a meal. Recording this will allow you to begin seeing those patterns so that you can eliminate the things that might not be working for your body – or the foods that make your body feel amazing!

 

Physical symptoms might include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Shakiness
• High energy
• Focus
• Strength
• Bright eyes
• Calm

Emotional symptoms might include:

• Anxious
• Depressed
• Restless
• Irritable
• Agitated
• Energized
• Humorous
• Happy
• Interested
• Calm

Food-Related Symptoms you might be experiencing:

• Joint pain
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Reflux
• Headache
• Anxiety
• Runny nose
• Poor concentration

 

 

If you happen to miss recording certain meals or foods – don’t stress. You can always pick up where you left off. Once you start to make clear connections between physical symptoms, emotions, and food, you may find you no longer need to record everything you eat.

 

When you begin to feel “out of balance,” refer back to this tracking tool to determine what might be causing your symptoms.

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As a passionate health coach, I offer programs, work one on one with clients and have The Fit Soul Tribe, my incredible fitness, health, and wellness membership. I am on a mission to empower women to believe in their own capacity to feel amazing, to be at home in their body and one with their purpose without dieting, deprivation and hours of exercise.

xoxo,