Keeping Track of What You Eat and Drink
A food diary is a useful way to record everything you eat and drink throughout the day. Keeping a diary can help healthcare professionals understand your eating habits, identify any nutritional concerns, and provide personalised advice to support your health and wellbeing.
Why Keep a Food Diary?
Recording your food and drink intake can help:
- Identify eating patterns
- Monitor appetite and food intake
- Highlight missed meals or snacks
- Support nutritional assessments
- Identify symptoms affecting eating and drinking
- Help healthcare professionals provide tailored advice
What Should Be Recorded?
Try to record everything you eat and drink, including:
- Meals
- Snacks
- Sweets and treats
- Water
- Tea and coffee
- Juice
- Milk-based drinks
- Alcoholic drinks
The more detailed your diary is, the more useful it will be.
How To Complete Your Food Diary
Complete the diary for:
7 consecutive days, including one weekend day
For each entry, record:
Time
When you ate or drank.
Food and Drink Consumed
Describe:
- What you ate
- What you drank
- How foods were prepared
For example:
- Chicken casserole
- Wholemeal ham sandwich
- Bran flakes with milk
Amount Eaten
Include as much detail as possible.
Examples:
- Ate all of the meal
- Half a sandwich
- One small bowl
- Half a cup
Symptoms Affecting Intake
Record anything that may have affected eating or drinking, such as:
- Feeling bloated
- Nausea
- Poor appetite
- Pain
- Difficulty swallowing
Tips For Accurate Recording
Record Everything
Include all meals, snacks, drinks, and treats throughout the day.
Be Specific
Try to describe foods clearly.
Examples:
- White bread or wholemeal bread
- Full-fat or semi-skimmed milk
- Fried, baked, or grilled foods
Ask For Help
A family member, friend, or carer may be able to help complete the diary if needed.
Record Symptoms
Symptoms can help explain changes in appetite or food intake and provide valuable information for your healthcare team.
Weight Monitoring
You may also be asked to monitor your weight alongside your food diary.
Helpful Tips
- Weigh yourself at the same time of day
- Wear similar clothing each time
- Use scales on a hard, flat surface
- Avoid weighing yourself more often than recommended
Small changes in weight are normal, but ongoing weight loss should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
If You Cannot Weigh Yourself
Other signs that may suggest weight changes include:
- Clothes becoming looser
- Belts needing tightening
- Jewellery fitting differently
- Changes in physical appearance
If you are concerned about weight loss or nutritional intake, contact your GP or healthcare professional.
Top Tips
- Complete the diary for 7 days in a row
- Include one weekend day
- Record everything you eat and drink
- Be as accurate as possible
- Note any symptoms affecting appetite or intake
- Share the diary with your healthcare professional
Further Information Available
This webpage provides a summary of how to complete a food diary and monitor your weight.
The full PDF resource includes:
- A 7-day food diary template
- Example diary entries
- Guidance on recording food and drinks
- Weight monitoring advice
- Weight record charts
- Space for notes and questions
For the full diary and monitoring sheets, please download the PDF resource.
