Journal keeping has gained respect among researchers investigating what helps people heal or stay healthy. For example, nutritionists recommend keeping a food journal to reveal unwanted patterns or encouraging facts about eating habits. Some advice to get started: Record two weekdays and one weekend day for an overview; do a whole week if weight control is the issue. Write down all foods and drinks immediately; a small notebook helps. Forget about calories or fat content (analyze later), but keep track of portions. What qualifies as a serving tends to be smaller than we think, which is good if gauging fruits and vegetables, not so good if cake or salad dressing is the subject. Record mood and energy levels two or three times a day to evaluate how food affects you.
