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