Which practice best helps you evaluate your current food intake?

• A. Keep a food journal
• B. Read nutrition labels at the grocery store
• C. Follow a celebrity diet
• D. Skip meals to lose weight

Answer: (A)

Tracking what you eat with a food journal gives you a clear, objective view of your current intake. By recording everything you consume—foods and drinks, portions, and the times you eat—you create a real picture of your daily habits. This self-monitoring builds awareness and helps you spot patterns you might miss, such as frequent oversized portions, late-night snacking, or not including enough fruits and vegetables. With this information, you can compare your actual intake to your goals and make targeted adjustments.

Reading nutrition labels is helpful for choosing items wisely, but it captures information about individual foods rather than your entire day or week of eating. Following a celebrity diet or skipping meals to lose weight doesn’t provide an accurate picture of your normal intake and can distort your understanding of your eating patterns.