The minimum useful record
Write your main question first, then use these fields to describe the change. Leave gaps visible rather than reconstructing them.
Scroll sideways to read every column.
| Field | Example to bring | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Meal and rough portion | Lunch: chicken sandwich, about the usual amount. | Makes the entry more specific than “ate badly.” |
| Timing | Ate at 12:30; symptoms began around 14:00. | Preserves sequence without assuming causation. |
| Symptoms and impact | Urgency interrupted a meeting; pain was worse than usual. | Shows the effect on daily life. |
| Other changes | Poor sleep; travel; a new medicine or supplement. | Records context beyond food. |
| Actions and questions | Used the prescribed plan; want to ask about the next step. | Gives the appointment a decision to discuss. |
Examples are illustrative. Use your own words and your clinician’s preferred format.
Turn the record into one page
- Baseline: describe a typical manageable day, including usual bowel habits and appetite.
- Change: give the approximate start date and what became different.
- Examples: select two or three entries, including a better day as well as a difficult one.
- Actions: note treatment changes, missed doses or dietary changes accurately, without judging yourself.
- Questions: finish with what you want help deciding.
Illustrative summary: “Mornings were usually manageable. Over the last week, urgency has interrupted my commute on several days. I have examples from a better day and a difficult day, plus notes about sleep and a medication change. I tried the plan we previously agreed. What should I track or review next?”
This is a format example, not a patient case or an explanation of the symptoms.
Keep the burden small
You do not need to transcribe every ingredient or turn a week into a perfect spreadsheet. Add an ingredient when it is relevant to your question. Keep uncertainty visible: “around lunchtime” is better than an invented exact time.
If tracking is making eating more anxious, tell your clinician. Agree on fewer fields or a shorter period. A seven-day example can help organize scattered notes, but your team may want a different interval.
What the diary can and cannot show
NIDDK explains that clinicians consider symptoms, medical history, medicines and tests when assessing UC. A summary gives that conversation a timeline. It does not diagnose disease activity, confirm that the last meal caused symptoms or establish that an app is medically effective.
For a repeated food question, keep a separate personal UC food profile. For uncertainty about a delay after meals, read what symptom timing can and cannot tell you.
Prepare and share the relevant Hara records
Use check → log → retrieve → compare to keep food checks and later responses connected. Retrieve representative meals and daily context, review your health report, and make sure the summary reflects what you actually recorded.
Hara can export a health report or let you share selected records through Hara Care Portal. Ask the receiving team what format they use, and check the selected records before sharing. Several diary apps also support reports; compare the available workflows if you are choosing a tool.
When the next appointment is too far away
Severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, persistent vomiting, high fever or dehydration can require immediate medical care. Contact your team sooner for a significant change, falling intake or unintentional weight loss. Follow your personal action plan; a complete diary is never a prerequisite for asking for help.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to log every ingredient for my GI visit?
Start with meals, rough portions, timing, symptoms and important context. Add ingredient detail when it helps answer a specific question or your clinician asks for it.
Can a food diary show whether my IBD is flaring?
A diary cannot confirm intestinal inflammation. It helps describe the history that your clinician may consider alongside examination, tests and your treatment plan.
What if I have only a few days of notes?
Bring what you have, explain what is missing and write your main question. Ask your clinician which fields and time period would be useful next.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked October 18, 2026. Hara Health publishes this guide and makes Hara. The examples are editorial illustrations, not patient outcomes or clinical tests of the app.
Bring the story between visits
Review your meal and symptom history, choose relevant examples and prepare a concise summary for your care conversation.