Is Taking Pictures of Your Food a Realistic Diet Plan?

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Is Taking Pictures of Your Food a Realistic Diet Plan?

September 12, 2008

A new study has been floating around the health airways that claims taking pictures of everything you eat can aid in weight loss. I can't but help but think, "That's great, but who can realistically do that?" I guess with all the cell phone cameras out there these days it's not too much of a burden, but I am never one to promote diet ideas that are not something we can easily adapt into our lifestyles.

A food journal uses the same principals, recording evidence of meals hold us accountable, but does not require us to photograph our food. I'm sticking with my picture-free journals for now, but what do you think? Do you think that taking pictures of your food would be a realistic way for you to lose weight?

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28 Comments

CanadianAlissa 3 years

i don't get why everyone is all up in arms over this. usually what i eat looks good, lots of colour and textures. what is everyone eating that they say that the are shamed? i really don't get it.

vitisva 4 years

Sounds kinda useless. Unless you're supposed to either feel like you don't want to be bothered taking a photo or ashamed of what you ate later - I don't get the point.

ilanac13 4 years

i think that it makes sense to take pictures sometimes. i know that for myself i eat things based on the way that they look - and if there's something that looks more appetizing - i'm more liekly to eat it vs something that's not good. also if i can see 'HOW MUCH' i'm eating based on a photograph - then maybe it'll really help me monitor my portions and i can be more healthy and aware that way.

snowbunny11 4 years

Oh, my first reaction to this was, "and what other pro-ana tips do they suggest." But I guess I'm the only one who thought it would be insane to put this much effort into shaming myself about what I'd eaten.I think it would be ok to do it for a week, like the BBC show that was mentioned, but anymore than that, as part of a regular diet...just madness.Btw...jennjennbubba, I was so addicted to that show for like a week, the first time I saw it (on vacation), but then some of the things she said struck me as really weird, so I googled her and she is pretty much a quack and very hated and says lots of scientifically ridiculous things. Still! I would have expected better from BBC, and it's still entertaining, but if ya got the quack vibe from the doc, it's for a good reason! :)

snowbunny11 4 years

Oh, my first reaction to this was, "and what other pro-ana tips do they suggest." But I guess I'm the only one who thought it would be insane to put this much effort into shaming myself about what I'd eaten. I think it would be ok to do it for a week, like the BBC show that was mentioned, but anymore than that, as part of a regular diet...just madness. Btw...jennjennbubba, I was so addicted to that show for like a week, the first time I saw it (on vacation), but then some of the things she said struck me as really weird, so I googled her and she is pretty much a quack and very hated and says lots of scientifically ridiculous things. Still! I would have expected better from BBC, and it's still entertaining, but if ya got the quack vibe from the doc, it's for a good reason! :)

arimie33 4 years

Although I don't think it'd work long-term, I guess it could help you remember what you ate to log in a journal later. I'd rather whip out my cell (and look like I'm texting or something) than a spiral notebook (or whatever other journal) at a resturant.

rebelkate 4 years

I would not take the time to photograph everything. I do love the food journals though that they have in FitSugar. Cute colors and common sense layout. I even made copies for my mom and sister. We have monthly theme food and fitness challenges together during the fall/winter when we all tend to eat more and exercise less.

soapbox 4 years

I don't know about this. I'm all for food diaries but this would just make me hungry when I go back at the end of the day/week and look at what I ate. Besides, I really don't have the patience to print out pictures. I still have pictures from last spring that I still didn't print out. Oops.

Silverlining10 4 years

I would take a picture of a 1000 calorie dinner, put my camera away and chow down. Taking pictures does nothing to dissuade me from eating whatever I want.

aoitenshi 4 years

I like to take pics of yummy stuff I eat, but it sure doesn't help me diet. On the contrary, posting my food pics online and just looking at them actually makes me hungry.

Allytta 4 years

for all the guys who said they wouldn't use up the space on their camera - you know there's this little button delete. you can use it to get rid of already downloaded pictures.

Stellanz 4 years

I think it's a great idea for keeping track of portions e.g if you record yourself eating the same thing every week then you find you've put on weight or have stayed the same maybe you're portions have changed. You can't tell from writing unless you meticulously record the weight and volume etc.

jennjennnbubba 4 years

There is a series on BBC called <a href=http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/273/index.jsp>You are what you eat</a> that does sort of the same thing. She lines up a weeks worth of all intake and shows it to the person in need. Now, I don't consider myself a terrific dieter or anything but I do think I eat <em>decently</em>. With that said, I watched one episode where the woman ate and drank pretty much the same things as me and when I saw that lady's table of food, drinks, and sugar, I was in utter disgust! So yes, I def. think visual aid would benefit in my dieting.

jennjennnbubba 4 years

There is a series on BBC called You are what you eat that does sort of the same thing. She lines up a weeks worth of all intake and shows it to the person in need. Now, I don't consider myself a terrific dieter or anything but I do think I eat decently. With that said, I watched one episode where the woman ate and drank pretty much the same things as me and when I saw that lady's table of food, drinks, and sugar, I was in utter disgust! So yes, I def. think visual aid would benefit in my dieting.

lilcarzybizzo 4 years

Oooo! I love this idea! I think seeing the food your eating and the portions might actually help. Not to mention I love photography and it gives me an excuse to whip out the camera. As for in public...not sure if I would. Especially if I was by myself. But on that note, I wouldn't want to eat out so often for fear of people seeing me take pictures of it. Which in the long run actually will help me eat better and save money. I think this might just work for me! :)

gidigirl 4 years

Why not..Its fast and probably very effective.

gidigirl 4 years

Why not.. Its fast and probably very effective.

Swen 4 years

I tried this once as a food diary. I ended up preferring just writing down what I ate though. It was easier for me to analyze for some reason. This might be quicker and a better option for some people though.

codewhiz 4 years

I don't think food pictures are a waste of space on the digital camera, for me they provide memories of what we ate at the restaurant.

Spectra 4 years

I kinda get why it would work too...ever see on "The Biggest Loser" when they show the contestants a big table of everything they eat in a day? It's usually pretty mind-blowing. Still, I wouldn't waste space on my digital camera taking pictures of food.