Did you know your daily moods offer important clues as to missing nutrients in your diet?

While many factors may be influential into your feeling well - or not well, most people understand that food intake is a key component to a healthy body. The right balance of nutrients daily can boost the immune system enabling it to overcome illness, infection or disease. The right amount of protein, for example, can help eliminate late afternoon slumps. Tracking and analyzing your daily food intake (without judgment) using free diet journals, as well as, recording your daily feeling and moods (such as anger and irritability) can go a long way in helping you to feel well and energetic.

Once recorded and evaluated your daily food intake in a diet journal, it may surprise you to learn the actual nutrients you do or don't consume. Completing an anonymous diet journal (like the one below) daily for several weeks - coupled with the advance nutrition education (like that found in the course The Healing Power of Food) is an excellent way to evaluate your diet for nutrients, deficiencies and to create a plan for a healthier, more energized you.

Try It Out!

Complete the diet journal entry for today and press submit to email today's entry to your inbox for safekeeping. (You might want to create a designated folder to keep all these entries in.) Repeat this exercise daily for several weeks. Print out each journal entry and put in a three-ring notebook. Then be guided to evaluate your diet for nutrients through the lessons in The Healing Power of Food course.

Diet Journal Enter Today's Date:   What was your mood today?   For example, were you tired, depressed, agitated, angry, irritable, cranky, impatient, energetic, happy, focused, upbeat, creative or other?   How did you feel today?   For example, did you experience muscle cramping? Did you experience late morning or afternoon slumps?   Now record what you ate today. There is no judgment here. This diet journal is for your eyes only so be honest - and be detailed.   Breakfast   Time of:   Tracking the time you ate is significant because it is important to control glucose/insulin ratios whether they are high or low.   Where was meal eaten:   (e.g., home, restaurant, deli, work cafeteria, etc.)   What you ate: Enter serving portions for food groups that apply below (this will help you evaluate your diet for protein, carbohydrate and fat intake.) Write down the name brands or the restaurant you ordered from. Be as detailed as possible. Each food varies in its nutritional value and has the potential to change your daily needs, mood and energy level. E.g., Meats, fish, chicken, beef, pork, veal, eggs, cheese Vegetables Milk Soy products Grains, breads, pasta Fruit     Lunch   Time of:   Tracking the time you ate is significant because it is important to control glucose/insulin ratios whether they are high or low.   Where was meal eaten:   (e.g., home, restaurant, deli, work cafeteria, etc.)   What you ate: Again be as detailed as possible.     Snacks   Time of:   Tracking the time you ate is significant because it is important to control glucose/insulin ratios whether they are high or low.   Where was meal eaten:   (e.g., home, restaurant, deli, work cafeteria, etc.)   What you ate:     Dinner   Time of:   Tracking the time you ate is significant because it is important to control glucose/insulin ratios whether they are high or low.   Where was meal eaten:   (e.g., home, restaurant, deli, work cafeteria, etc.)   What you ate: Again be as detailed as possible.     Exercise   How much time (if any) was spent on exercise today: Again, this is non-judgmental -- so be honest.   Kind of physical activity:   Height:   Weight:   Send this journal entry to this email address:   Confirm above email address:   Security Code: Note: the numbers zero (0) and one (1) do not appear in the above image.   Enter Security Code:

Copyright © 2003 Julianne Koritz. All rights reserved. If you are interested in publishing this article, please email .


About Julianne Koritz



About Julianne's Nutrition Information Course

Learn to support and boost your body's immune system using advance nutrition information through this nutrition information email course. Lessons address common health complaints and remedies for issues such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, memory loss, joint pain, depression, and weigh loss.

• Learn behavior modification techniques for changing eating habits.
• Understand the role of comfort foods, processed foods, and important foods.
• Revisit and expand the old food pyramid that you learned about in school.
• Rediscover the nutrients you need in your daily diet for optimal health.

Be guided to a new eating and exercise plan based on your body's shape - a plan that will provide lasting health for your mind, body and spirit for years to come.