Scripps Cancer Center
Food Log
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Instructions
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Record all food and beverages consumed over three consecutive days
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Ideally record two weekdays and one weekend
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Choose days that represent usual eating habits - do not record on holiday or celebratory days
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Include estimated portion size - use measuring cups and spoons for accuracy
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Be very specific, for example:
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Instead of writing "milk," state the type of milk and percent fat
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Instead of writing "bread," state the kind
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Instead of writing "chicken sandwich," stat what was in it
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Example: two slices whole wheat bread, 3oz chicken breast, one slice swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayonnaise
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Instead of writing "oatmeal," state what was added
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MEAT
One serving size of meat is about 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards or a small adult palm. One serving size of fish can be a little larger
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FRUIT
One piece of fruit is about the size of a tennis ball
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GRAINS
One serving size of grains, such and rice and pasta, is about the size of a computer mouse or a small adult fist
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CHEESE
One serving size of cheese is about the size of four dice
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FAT
One serving size of oil and butter is about 1 tablespoon (tip of the thumb) and one serving size of nut butter and salad dressing is about 2 tablespoons (whole thumb)
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Serving Sizes of Common Foods
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Food group
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Food
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Serving size measurements
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Estimated serving size
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Fruits
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Whole fruit
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1 medium size
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Tennis ball
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Chopped fruit
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½ cup
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Tennis ball
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Dried fruit
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¼ cup
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Palmful, cupped hand
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Fruit juice
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½ cup or 4 ounces
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Small fist
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Vegetables
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Cooked or raw veggies
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½ cup
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Half of a baseball
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Raw leafy greens
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1 cup
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Baseball or handful
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Protein
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Beans/lentils
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½ cup
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Tennis ball
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Meat
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3 ounces
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Palm or deck of cards
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Fish
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4 ounces
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Size of small hand
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Egg
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1 egg
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--
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Tofu
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¾ cup
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Baseball
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Grains
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Rice
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½ cup
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Computer mouse
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Pasta
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½ cup
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Computer mouse
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Potato
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½ cup
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Computer mouse
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Bread
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1 slice
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CD case
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Bagel
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1 ounce
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Half of a baseball
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Popcorn
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3 cups
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3 baseballs
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Cereal
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1 cup
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Small fist or a baseball
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Dairy
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Yogurt
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6 ounces
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Baseball
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Milk
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1 cup or 8 ounces
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Baseball
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Hard cheese
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1.5 ounces
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4 dice
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Shredded cheese
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¼ cup
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Palmful, cupped hand
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Cottage cheese
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1 cup
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One baseball
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Ice cream
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½ cup
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Tennis ball
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Fats
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Avocado
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1/3 of a medium size
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2-3 thin slices
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Butter, oil, mayonnaise
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1 tablespoon
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Tip of the thumb
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Salad dressing
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2 tablespoons
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Thumb
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Peanut/nut butter
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2 tablespoons
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Thumb
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Nuts
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¼ cup
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Palmful, cupped hand
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DAY 1
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Meal or snack
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Amount and type of food or beverage consumed
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Comments (nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, bloating, reflux, etc.)
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BREAKFAST
Time
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SNACK
Time:
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LUNCH
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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DINNER
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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DAY 2
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Meal or snack
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Amount and type of food or beverage consumed
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Comments (nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, bloating, reflux, etc.)
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BREAKFAST
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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LUNCH
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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DINNER
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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DAY 3
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Meal or snack
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Amount and type of food or beverage consumed
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Comments (nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, bloating, reflux, etc.)
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BREAKFAST
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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LUNCH
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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DINNER
Time:
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SNACK
Time:
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