Most people will tell you that they keep track of their monthly finances to make sure that the bills get paid, but far too few take the time to keep track of what they eat and how it affects them.

That's a surprising fact when you consider that there is so much research showing that diet affects preventable diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, either for the better or for worse.  You've heard that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.  When you use a printable food diary, you get to decide where that ounce comes from so you don't need the pound in the future.

For example, by keeping a printable food diary, you can make sure that you're eating enough meat to get the iron, zinc, protein and B vitamins that you need, while making sure that you're not getting too much saturated fat and cholesterol.

Recent scientific research clearly shows that a plant-based diet reduces your risk of the diseases mentioned above, but can also improve your mood and boost energy.  One important thing that you get from plants (e.g. legumes, corn, broccoli, fruit) is antioxidants.  It also keeps you feeling light (both mentally and phsyically).

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to get bogged down in the details.  Make your habit of keeping a food diary simple so that you do it consistently. Remember that having a little information from every meal is better than having a lot of information from just one meal.  Keep it simple.

To get you started, download this printable food diary and start tracking what you eat today.