Keeping food journals can be one of the best ways to increase awareness of what you’re eating and can be very helpful with weight loss. As I had mentioned in a previous post, people who keep food records tend to lose twice as much weight as people who do not keep records, even when following the same plan. Despite all of the research that is out there to support the importance of food records, many people really struggle to keep them.
Now there are many websites and apps for the phone to help make this process easier. The website that I recommend most frequently for keeping track of intakes is www.fitday.com. It is user friendly, and it is free to use! Not only can you track how many calories you’re eating daily, but you can also track your weight, exercise routines and much more. The website will show you how your nutrient intakes compare to the recommended levels of many nutrients including carbohydrates, protein and fat as well as vitamins and minerals.
Apps for phones are very convenient for those who always have their phone on them. The most popular apps for each type of phone are as follows:
| App | Phone | Cost |
| Lose It! | iPhone | Free |
| Livestrong.com Calorie Traker | iPhone, BlackBerry | $2.99 |
| Calorie Counter by FatSecret | BlackBerry, Android | Free |
The above apps have received good reviews and tend to be user friendly. However, there are other apps out there that you can try. All of these resources just help to increase awareness of intakes, so go with whichever tool is easiest for you so you’re more likely to stick with it.