Food Journaling

Even as I'm typing this, I hesitate to write this post. Keeping a food journal is just not for everyone. I have kept one in the past and found it completely counterproductive. If having constant control over what you're eating has led you to struggle with disordered eating, then keeping a food journal might be walking a dangerous line. That being said, I have found it an incredible help now that I am at a healthy place in my relationship with food. Although I no longer obsess about food the way I used to, it is still a big part of my life, and I tend to get total food anxiety when I have to make constant decisions all day about what to eat next. Some of you might think this sounds weird, but I know there are some of you out there who know exactly what I'm talking about. Keeping a food journal has completely removed this part of stress from my life, because I plan out everything for the next day's eats the night before.

Not only has this helped me make MUCH better choices, but it has helped me spend significantly less time preparing and planning food. At first, it felt a bit cumbersome, since planning it out and packing all my food the night before took me up to an hour. Now, I've got it down to under half an hour, and although it can feel long doing it all at once, it's way less time than I would cumulatively spend throughout one day panicking about my foods choices.

On top of that, it helps me make much healthier choices and plan out my protein intake carefully to build those muscles. It also gives me a feeling of success - like I've already conquered the next day in my journey. I can look at my food journal the night before and say "Wow! I ate 1,600 calories and 70 grams of protein!" even though I haven't done it yet... Yes, that's crazy, but it works for me.

I always hesitate to share everything I eat in a day, because every person is so different, not only in their nutrition needs, but in the types of food they crave and love. These are just examples of a day in the life.

If anyone would like this version of the Excel spreadsheet, just shoot me an email. I'd be happy to forward along a template. Like I've mentioned before, I'm just focusing on calories and protein right now, since a cleansed diet lets me not worry about added sugar or too much unhealthy fat.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Whole Foods has an amazing new line of creamy vegan salad dressings!!

They are in the refrigerated section near the lettuce and run about $5. That's a bit steep, but the bottles are HUGE. Don't be fooled. This week we bought the vegan caesar and the avocado vinaigrette (super creamy). They were both fantastic. I've been using them not only on my salads, but also on my POWERBOWLS.

Today's POWERBOWL (sorry, no picture):

• 1/2 c. chopped sweet potato
• 1/2 c. white northern beans
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/3 red bell pepper
• Handful of sprouts
• 2 tbsp. roasted red pepper hummus
• 2 tbsp. vegan caesar dressing

Nutrition facts:

360 calories

10 grams protein

Today's mantra: make it hurt to reach for the protein powder. 

[I totally achieved this today! I pushed myself so hard lifting at the gym - today was an ARMS day - that when I got home, reaching up into the top of the cupboard to get the protein powder down made me shake...that's not embarrassing. That's just BEAST.]

Til next time,

Vegan [Wanna-Be] Housewife