Create and Assess Your Food Journal in Six Steps

If you suspect that you tend to eat in response to emotions or stress, it is a good idea to make a note of your feelings in your food journal, too. It's important to write them down both before and after your meal. Doing so will help you to understand what emotions cause you to eat and what effect certain foods have on those emotions. You may wish to make a note of the specific situation that caused the emotional eating, such as "Argument today with boss" or "Missed deadline at school." When you understand what leads you to emotional eating, you can work towards planning alternative coping strategies for the next time the same situation arises.