A simple food diary template for a spreadsheet
By Juste Tools · Published
You can make a food diary spreadsheet with one row per entry and a small set of columns. Begin with date, time, meal, food, quantity and notes. No formula is needed if your purpose is simply to keep a readable record.
Copy these column headings
Keep any optional nutrient columns separate from the basic record. Do not add a target just because a template elsewhere includes one.
- Date: use one consistent date format.
- Time: approximate is fine if clearly marked.
- Meal or occasion: a label that helps you find the entry.
- Food or drink: a description you will recognise later.
- Quantity and unit: keep the unit beside the number.
- Source or notes: packet, recipe, estimate or a missing detail.
Keep the sheet easy to use
Freeze the heading row, use short column names and test whether you can add an entry on your phone. If you share the sheet, check who can view or edit it. A public sharing link is usually unnecessary for a personal diary.
Avoid storing unrelated sensitive information in the same file. Give the sheet a name you can find later and keep a copy before changing formulas or rearranging columns.
Check units before formulas
A total of quantities is meaningless if one row uses grams and another uses portions. If you calculate numbers, keep the same basis and distinguish estimates from label data. Use the spreadsheet for the record you need, rather than making the template complicated enough that you stop using it.