Why do people hide their food diaries on here?

Because they don't want to share them.

If I had no friends, I would keep it private because then my point of being here wouldn't be to socialize but I think those with friends ought to open it up. Although, coming from an ED past, I could see how it would be triggering to open it up to criticism, it's hard enough dealing with the internal criticism.

Mine's open and I could care less if you see me eating steamed veggies or a whole chocolate sheet-cake. :laugh:

People judge when they think you eat too much and they judge when they think you eat too little. This is all relative, as what works for one person, may not work for another. I keep my food diary closed because I don't need to be accountable to anyone but myself. Also, at this point, I am more concerned about exercising and just staying active.

Plus, I just ate a big @$$ cookie for breakfast. Don't judge...

People judge when they think you eat too much and they judge when they think you eat too little. This is all relative, as what works for one person, may not work for another. I keep my food diary closed because I don't need to be accountable to anyone but myself. Also, at this point, I am more concerned about exercising and just staying active.

Plus, I just ate a big @$$ cookie for breakfast. Don't judge...

Yesterday I had a cookie ice cream sandwich before lunch.

same as this

Mine's open. I can't imagine that anyone would have the time or the interest to bother looking through it anyway. I mean, seriously people do that??? If someone decided to give me any unsolicited advice, that's their time and effort that has been wasted if I choose not to take it. I'm not going to get offended though, more surprised that someone had nothing better to do! But, if I'm going to post for advice about weight not shifting or bloating etc, I think it's a bit of a waste of time if no one can see what I'm doing.

Mine is hidden because it is for my benefit. I don't want to share it with others, it's a calorie counting tool for me and nothing more. I rarely post on the forums either, people use the site for different reasons I think.

I think it's better for more people to have their diaries open. I understand that it is a personal thing and if there was less non-constructive criticism out there, I'm sure more people would. At least for me, it's definitely an accountability. I am much more conscious of what I put in my mouth knowing that everyone else will know too. This is the whole reason most of us signed up for MFP - our own, private, personal eating and self-accountability wasn't working. We need the constant support and motivation to make better choices. But, I can understand the other side.

What I find more helpful with those that have open diaries, regardless if we are friends or not, is help with my own eating. Particularly when I started this journey, I had no concept of portion sizes/calories and what I could eat that fit in my allotment. A lot of the beginning stages were trial and error. However, as I've gotten more savvy with the community aspect, I can see others diaries and maybe try different foods/recipes that others with successes are eating just to change things up a bit. It's comforting to know someone is consistently losing weight and staying in their calorie goals while having a chocolate ice cream bar. It reinforces that not everything needs to be fruits, vegetables and brown rice and keeps me from "falling off".

wow...such animosity, I was wondering myself...
The answer to all your questions as to "why should you care?", well for me:
1.I would love some inspiration!, when someone is doing well, I like so see what they are doing so that I can also try to see if it'll work for me.
2. It helps to know I'm not the only one struggling sometimes, we all do, and when my MFP friends need encouragement, I'm there!, I have many recipes, and love to share my food discoveries, and I feel more motivated and accountable. I have come to understand MUCH more from looking at people's diaries!, I have made many changes due to this!.

I THINK THAT'S PROB ONE OF THE REASONS MFP WAS CREATED THIS WAY, TO HAVE LIKE MINDED PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER!.

To those talking about strangers, crazed diet junkies or peeps with eating disorders commenting and making you fell bad etc:
I have my food diary set for friends only, that's an option!, and you CAN CHOSE your friends!, and DELETE them if they are jerks...I don't understand those arguments.
To those that are self conscious: I keep it real, I have never been ashamed to log ANYTHING I eat or drink...alcohol, eating like a pig at my Italian aunts house..ugh such good food!!!! lol!, we are not unique, we are all here because in one way or another we all had some bad food choices that got us to where we are, and we all will slip up from time to time, and if an MFP friend doesn't get what I'm about etc., then I will explain it!!. and if I have to, I'll just delete them!, easy.
I must be lucky as I have AWESOME friends!, I have NEVER had anyone comment negatively on anything I've logged, I've always had great support!.
I'll state something my husband told me a while ago that made me realize how ridiculous I am sometimes about my weight.
I have always tried extremely hard to hide my weight, suck in belly, hide bingo arms with little over-sweater things with long sleeve or 3/4 length sleeves, wear only pants to hide legs, even in summer ugh!, anyway, I was in my room looking in my full length mirror after trying on a very short sleeved shirt that looked great everywhere else but revealed my arms, and none of my over sweaters/shirts looked good with it, they in fact hid the slimness of my waist and made me look bigger!.
I must have been grumbling my indecision to wear the top out loud, as just then, my husband gently said: "Either with the sweater or without the sweater, you are still the same size, and nothing can disguise that, so be free!, who cares what people think!, do you think people will be shocked to see that your arms are also overweight?", lol!, yep!, he's an honest guy, sometimes to a fault lol!. but I realized that he was right!. These sweaters weren't like magic cloaks lol!, I'm fat regardless, I'm not fooling anybody but myself, and suffering for it!, especially during summer!!, so in conclusion: knee length skirts and dresses and t-shirts here I come summer 2013!!! LOL!, and I'm sure I'll look a hell of a lot more comfortable and relaxed in those clothes!.

I have taken that approach to my journey with MFP, I'm honest about everything I log, as doing otherwise would only be fooling myself ,so I'm gonna take all the advice and encouragement I can get off of here while I'm at it!, no sense in worrying about being self conscious!, I am serious about this weight loss and I'm going for it all the way!.

NOTE!!!: I am not saying anything against people with private diary settings-to each his/her own, simply giving you my reasons "why I would care" to see the food diaries of my friends, and why I decided to share MY diary,

Who the **** cares ,that's their business

Exactly. Don't they have enough friends to share with for help or do they just want to be snarky. I don't get why this subject keeps coming up. And for the last tme, I'm not lying to myself or anyone else if I eat too much junk on occasion. It happens self righteous so-and-sos.

There are 2 official reasons:

1. What I eat doesn't make you *kitten*.

2. What you eat doesn't make me *kitten*.

That is all.

I'm a fairly private person, and the idea of some random stranger perusing my food choices is a little creepy to me. My diary is open to friends, though.

They do it to avoid judgments from the uninformed.

I keep mine closed because theres so many different opinions out there, I will always be wrong. I eat about 1600+ calories and I eat back most of my exercise calories... but to some thats too much... and to others thats too little. And to some I am eating way too many carbs ( I eat 50% carbs per my nutritionist.) To some I eat too clean and am depriving myself, and to others I'm not eating clean enough. I don't need advice from every Tom, ****, and Harry who thinks that they are geniuses because they lost 2lbs telling me what I need to eat. I don't ask anyone for advice regarding diet on MFP, I research it myself.