Printable food diary: template and how to use it
What a food diary is for, what to record and how to use it in a dietetic consultation, with a printable weekly record and 24-hour recall template.
A food diary is one of the most useful tools in dietetic care: it provides a record of the patient’s actual intake, forms the basis of the dietary intake assessment and supports follow-up between consultations.
This page explains its purpose, what to record and provides a printable template (weekly record and 24-hour recall).
What a food diary is for
A food diary is an observation tool completed by the patient, which helps the dietitian estimate intake and identify habits. Two formats are most common:
It supports the dietary intake assessment carried out as part of a dietetic assessment; it is not a document with regulatory status. Its quality depends above all on consistent and honest completion.
What to record
- Time and location of the meal or eating occasion: at home, at work or elsewhere.
- Food and drinks. Type and estimated quantity (portions, household measures).
- Context. Alone or with others, standing or seated at a table, in front of a screen.
- How the patient felt. Hunger, fullness and associated emotions (useful in eating disorder care).
- Physical activity and sleep, where relevant to the patient’s care.
A good habit is to record intake at the time rather than reconstructing it at the end of the day, and to avoid changing usual habits during the observation period.
Download a food diary template
A weekly record and 24-hour recall to print and give to the patient. Enter your email address to access the PDF:
How to use it in a consultation
The diary is useful only if it is reviewed with the patient: identify intake, eating patterns and the contexts in which eating occurs, then define realistic goals. It is a starting point for jointly agreeing nutritional care goals, not a tool for judgement.
Save time on analysis and report writing
Analysing a diary, drawing a dietetic diagnosis from it and documenting the findings in the report takes time. Start from a consistent template, standardise the wording of your analysis and dictate your summary immediately after the consultation.
This is what Delta does: capture your analysis in notes during the consultation or through dictation afterwards, and the tool generates a report structured around your template, with a longitudinal patient record that carries weight, goals and history forward from one appointment to the next. HDS-certified hosting and GDPR compliance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a food diary?
It is a record, completed by the patient, of what they consume over a day or a week, including the context of eating. It helps the dietitian estimate intake and identify habits.
What is the difference between a 24-hour recall and a weekly record?
A 24-hour recall covers a typical day; a weekly record covers several days and better reflects day-to-day variations.
What should be recorded in a food diary?
The time and location, food and drinks with estimated quantities, the context of eating, feelings (hunger, fullness and emotions) and, where useful, physical activity and sleep.
How long should a food diary be kept?
Often a few days to a week; the key is to record intake at the time and avoid changing usual habits during the observation period.
Does a food diary replace a dietetic assessment?
No. It is a dietary intake assessment tool that informs the dietetic assessment; it has no regulatory status in itself.
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