The Importance of Balanced Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle

Image credit: nutrition.org.uk

What is a balanced diet?

A balanced diet will include a variety of foods from the following groups: Examples of protein foods include meat, eggs, fish, beans, nuts, and legumes. People who follow a vegan diet will focus entirely on plant-based foods. They won’t eat meat, fish, or dairy, but their diet will include other items that provide similar nutrients.

Why is a balanced diet important?

Calories are a measure of energy that foods supply. The number of calories you need will depend on your sex, age, and activity level. A balanced diet supplies the nutrients your body needs to work effectively. Without balanced nutrition, your body is more prone to disease, infection, fatigue, and low performance.

What should you eat on a balanced diet?

According to the USDA’s recommendations, half of a person’s plate should consist of fruits and vegetables. The other half should be made up of grains and protein. They recommend accompanying each meal with a serving of low-fat dairy or another source of the nutrients found in dairy. A healthful, balanced diet includes foods from these five groups:

What is a healthy balanced diet?

A healthy, balanced diet will usually include the following nutrients: A balanced diet will include a variety of foods from the following groups: Examples of protein foods include meat, eggs, fish, beans, nuts, and legumes. People who follow a vegan diet will focus entirely on plant-based foods.

How can planning help you eat a healthy and balanced diet?

If your goal is to consistently eat a healthy, balanced diet then planning can play a huge part in helping you achieve it. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, you have to find the right approach for you and your family, but we’ve outlined two of our planning resources below designed to help you get started.

What Is Balanced Nutrition

1. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/balanced-diet
3. https://www.nutrition.org.uk/creating-a-healthy-diet/a-healthy-balanced-diet/
4. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-a-balanced-diet
5. https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/eating-well/eatwell-guide-how-to-eat-a-healthy-balanced-diet
6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
7. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/
8. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324093