Keeping a Food Log
By Jonathan Wood
I like to eat. When my brother and I were kids, our parents exposed us to all sorts of food. Some of it we liked. Some we scarfed down like pigs at a trough. It was also through this exposure that my brother routinely chose Cape Cod lobster for his birthday dinner, while I craved hot dogs topped with mashed potatoes and cheese.
As a grown up, I'm not so into hot dogs and I try to eat a healthy, balanced diet. When I was married this felt easier; I was cooking for two and it was fun to cook together. Now, I cook for myself. The dog watches me but it's not really the same a cooking with someone. And I've gotten sloppy...or rather less inventive...with my cooking. Some nights I just nibble at a few things from the fridge while knitting or answering emails.
Recently, however, I was talking with a friend about diet and nutrition. She suggested I keep a food log. So I did. Here are the key take-aways:
Breakfast: I eat a banana smoothie for breakfast every day. It has protein power, berries, a handful of raw baby spinach, and some peanut butter in it. Tastes like a PB&J sandwich, which I love. So great, the day is off to a good start.
Lunch: Water. Evidently, mostly I drink water for lunch according to my food log. And a protein bar. Not so fantastic. Sometimes I grab an inexpensive sushi roll from the local co-op. Usually this is around 3pm and I'm about to walk the dog and realize a little nibble would be a good thing. Still, not a consistent mid-day sustenance.
Dinner: Crackers, cheese, some salami, and maybe a bit of yogurt with honey. That was dinner three nights last week. I also had two burgers out with friends. I don't eat red meat at home but sometimes a boy wants a burger so that's what I did. And fries. And a few beers. I'm not much of a drinker, but with a burger, a beer is nice. Then there was the week I ate coconut milk ice cream for dinner. A whole pint. Each night. For four nights IN A ROW.
My track record isn't great for feeding myself. The dog enjoys better meals than I do. I cook him food once a week so he doesn't have to have kibble every meal. And he gets fresh watermelon because its hydrating and he loves it. But I digress.
Maybe you're feeling like your diet is lackluster, too. If so, check out these articles and resources:
Keeping a food log for a few weeks was insightful. If its something you've never done, its worth a try...just for the sheer curiosity of looking back over a period of time and seeing what you did/didn't eat. Take a look here for more info.
Last month, the Washington Post offered up an insightful perspective on How Fast Food Makes Us Fat, which helped me understand that not all processed food is the root of obesity.
I also was fascinated to learn more about gut health's direct impact to overall systemic, physical health. As a sauerkraut lover, I was intrigued to know more about the wide world of probiotics and other Magical Microbes.
And just to bring this full circle and give my lobster loving little brother another shoutout, here's a helpful article on how to be a Responsible Seafood Eater.