Standard Daily Diet

You may not take a lot of time to think about what you put in your body every day, but the food you eat plays a tremendous role in how you feel, the energy you have and your overall well-being. In an effort to help people get the most out of their diet, the U.S. government has established recommendations for what every person should get in terms of food groups and nutrients for a standard daily diet.

Calories

There is no one set number of calories every person should shoot for in terms of a standard daily diet. That's because everyone has different calorie needs based on your individual height, age, weight and average physical activity level. The U.S. government's guidelines are based on a standard 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. You can use a calorie calculator to determine your individual needs based on your physical makeup, and then make wise food decisions based on that number.

Food Groups

Part of a standard daily diet is making sure you're getting a balance of the major food groups. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established recommendations for these food groups, and how much you should get from each every day. According to the USDA, you should strive for 6 oz of carbohydrates per day. This includes grains, cereals, rice and pastas. Half of your total carbohydrate intake should come from whole grain sources. In addition, your standard daily diet should include 2.5 cups of vegetables -- especially leafy greens such as spinach -- 2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of dairy and 5.5 oz of meat, beans and other protein sources.

Nutrients

It's not only smart to pay attention to what food groups you're getting as part of your daily diet, you should also pay attention to the types and amounts of nutrients you're consuming, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA recommends limiting your total fat intake per day to 65 g -- no more than 20 g of which should come from saturated fat. You should also limit your sodium to 2,400 mg and cholesterol to 300 mg per day. The average person needs at least 300 g of carbohydrates per day, 25 g of which should come from dietary fiber sources.

Considerations

A standard daily diet is just a baseline, and you may need to adjust it as your circumstances change. For example, you may need to adjust your calorie needs as you lose or gain weight, or adjust your protein and carbohydrate intake depending on the type of physical activity you're engaged in on a regular basis.

Benefits

Following a standard daily diet helps you keep track of the nutrition you're putting into your body on a regular basis. A balanced diet that includes all of the major food groups and nutrients and limits your total calorie intake is the basis for properly fueling your body and guarding against conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.