With Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, it can be helpful to keep a diary of foods and symptoms. Here's how!
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes/meal
Here's How:
- Obtain a small notebook that you can carry with you and keep handy.
- Organize each page into columns. This can be done by using one page for each meal/snack, one page per day, or whatever works best for you (and the size of your notebook!).
- The first column is "How Much". Estimate the size (inches), weight (ounces), volume (cups) or number (5) of the food you ate.
- The second column is "What Kind". What kind of food did you eat? Be very specific, and be sure to remember condiments and toppings such as butter, salad dressings, mayonnaise, etc.
- The third column is "Time". What time of day did you eat the food?
- The fourth column is "Where". Write down where you ate. In a restaurant, at the dining room table, over the sink, in your car, etc.?
- The fifth column is for "Who". Fill in who you were eating with, or if you were alone.
- The sixth column is for "Activity". Write down what you were doing while you ate. Were you working, driving, watching TV, doing homework, etc.?
- The seventh column is for your "Mood". Take notes on how you were feeling while you were eating. Were you happy, sad, angry, stressed, etc.?
- The eighth, and probably the most important, column is for "Symptoms". Write down any symptoms you may have experienced after you ate. Some examples might be diarrhea, stomach upset, bloating, gas, or heartburn.
- Bring your food diary to your next doctor's appointment so you can review it together.
Tips:
- Be honest! It's important to report everything (even those cookies you ate at 2AM!).
- Update your records as you eat during the day. It can be difficult to remember everything you ate if you only make entries once each day.
- Be specific. The way a food was prepared or what it was served with can be important. For example, glazed carrots is a better description than just 'carrots'.
- Stick with it! You may be amazed at how a simple journal can help you and your doctor with your treatment.
What You Need:
- Notebook or organizer
- Pen or pencil
