How to Use a Food Observation Log

Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms daily, weekly or monthly?  You could be having a reaction to food, cosmetics, cleaning products or a myriad of other environmental substances or toxins and not even know it.  But if you kept a log of the foods you ate, and products you use around the house and applied to your skin, not to mention the places you visit, you just might concur the problems you may be experiencing.

The most important tool you can use is an observational log!  Once you begin to open your awareness to the substances and foods you come into contact with, the more you will learn just how your body responds to those things.  AWARENESS is the key!  Learning to ask questions of yourself is your golden ticket.

The more you use an observational log, the more you heighten your awareness.  This heightened awareness causes you to slow down and ASSESS your body.  In doing so, you will ask yourself many questions as you scan how you feel.  The more you take notes and scan, the more you will find a connection to the food or substance you are exposing your body to–and the faster you will know to eliminate it.  Once you find that the symptoms disappear, you know you’re on the right track and you know to stay away from that food or substance.  No more pain.  No more inflammation.  No more wondering and no more trips to the doctor’s office.

How do you use an observational log? 

Listed below are some great tips to help you put this observation log to work for you:

Date every entry you make in the notebook.

Rate your entries/feeling with a 1-5 scale or use faces –

Great= <3, Good= :-), Okay= :-/, Not good= :-(, and Lousy= <.< or something similar

You can divide the book into sections that are important to you and your family.  Sections might include, but are in no way limited to:

— the foods you eat from the time you get up to the time you go to bed

— what time of day you eat those foods

— how the foods are prepared and if they’re fresh, canned, frozen or eaten when out

— your quality of sleep, how many hours daily, etc.

— how you feel when you wake up, after you eat, midday, evening and bedtime

— your work schedule and attitude towards work

— the quality of your family or social relationships

— medications you’re taking and how well they’re working (or not), increases or decreases

— Pain, frustration, depression levels, etc, minstrel cycles

— Doctor visits, beautician/nail salon visits, etc.

— Physical activity (type of activity, duration of activity, how you felt afterwards

— Use sticky notes as page dividers so they can be moved if needed.

— You can divide the book into sections or just begin at the front and work your way to the back of the notebook.

— 5”x7” spiral books work well for travel and putting into a small bag.

— Keep things brief and use bullet points when possible so it’s easier to find things.

— When you keep the notebook open, with pen attached, in the middle of your home, you will see it and use it more often than if it’s closed and out of the way.

— Use various colored highlighters for quick retrieval of facts (blue = meds info, yellow = meals, orange = how you’re feeling.

— Or use a pen with multiple ink colors for quick retrieval of notes.

For more tips and ideas for using your Food Observation Log, click here to get your free checklist.

If you want more ideas on how to use the logs effectively, just ask.  My clients have invented all sorts of ways to make observing an enjoyable experience.  Now they’re pros and you can be too!  🙂