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The Food Diary and Food Allergy Triggers

Determining which foods trigger your allergy symptoms may take a little detective work, but by keeping a food diary, uncovering the offending food can be easy. All you have to do is record what you eat and when you get allergy symptoms, and then look for common factors.

Starting a Food Diary

Print the following sample food diary and use it to record the foods you eat each day and when you eat them. (Don't forget to include snacks and beverages!) Record any allergy symptoms you experience, as well as the time the symptoms begin. Share your food diary with your doctor to help determine which foods may be triggering your symptoms.


Food Diary Week of __________________


SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SYMPTOMS

BREAKFAST

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____

SNACK

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____

LUNCH

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____

SNACK

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____

DINNER

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____

SNACK

Time: _____

 . . . . . . . Time: _____


Example:


SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SYMPTOMS

BREAKFAST

Time: 7 a.m.
 2 eggs, bacon, toast & butter, orange juice . . . . . . Time: _____

SNACK

Time: 10 a.m.

 Candy bar, water . . . . . . Time: 11 a.m.

Stomach cramps, diarrhea

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Jonathan L Gelfand, MD on February 05, 2009
© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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