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After receiving her bachelor’s degree in dietetics and nutrition from LSU in 1997, Jeanne DeKeyzer worked for several years teaching children’s nutrition. She became a certified breastfeeding educator and volunteered as the coordinator of the Breastfeeding Support Group of Central Louisiana after the birth of her first child. Now employed as a sanitarian, Jeanne is the Standardization Officer for Region 6, which includes 9 parishes in central Louisiana. She teaches food safety to retail food employees and the public. Jeanne resides in Alexandria, where she enjoys cooking, dancing, power yoga and reading. She is married to Peter, who is a cotton farmer. They have 2 children, Aza Claire, 10, and Jack, 8. And yes, the kids do eat their vegetables! Nutritional Tip & Views from Jeanne : Why Should I Keep a Food Journal? Thinking of starting a food journal? Maybe you should. There are lots of reasons that keeping track of what you eat is beneficial. It can be easier than you think with lots of websites offering free services to calculate your nutrient intake and compare it to recommendations for your age, height, weight and activity level. Besides being a reality check for yourself and a deterrent for binge eating, your journal can also assist your trainer, weight loss partner or health care provider in dietary counseling. A record of your food intake can show your eating habits, lack of certain nutrients in your diet and what improvements you can make to meet your fitness goals. With the philosophy “you bite it, you write it”, the urge to binge can be controlled and you begin to focus on your food choices. You can practice mindful eating instead of mindless eating, make adjustments to ensure that your intake meets recommended dietary goals and achieve a balanced diet. The act of writing down what you eat also makes you aware of portion sizes, which is important when limiting caloric intake. Keeping a food journal is worth the time and effort it takes. Over time you will see your diet improve and have a record of your achievements. Search the internet for some free help with your journal. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish! |