Good nutrition is one of the most important building blocks of proper health. Your body needs vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to keep it functioning. A balanced diet can help to prevent health problems like heart disease, vitamin deficiencies and diabetes. The key to a balanced diet is to enjoy a variety of different healthy foods and understanding the nutrients each type of food offers.
Step 1
Create a list of healthy foods to eat as part of a balanced diet (see "Tips" and "References"). Jot down a list of nutritious foods that you like from each of the food groups. Then, arrange those foods into meals--getting a good balance at each meal and throughout the day of the recommended servings and portions from the food groups.
Step 2
Add diversity to your diet by consulting healthy cookbooks or do a Web search for healthy recipes. Look for recipes that include the foods you have in your list broken out by food groups--easy recipes that combine servings from several food groups are a good choice.
Step 3
Snack on healthy foods such as whole-wheat crackers, fruit, carrots and celery sticks. These are all good snack options that can help ensure a balanced diet and sufficient calorie intake to keep you from getting too hungry. Squeezing in these nutritious snacks can also help ensure you get enough servings from the essential food groups--especially fruits and vegetables.
Step 4
Stock up on a variety of different vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Eating lots of different healthy foods is the key to a balanced diet--and preventing boredom. Try different cooking oils for a variety of nutrients and flavors. You don't want to get bored eating the same few foods--and you want to be sure you get as many nutrients as possible.
Tips and Warnings
- You'll need to understand what a balanced diet is before you can commit to one. Study the food pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture, which offers a visual breakdown of a healthy, balanced diet. It breaks down the basic food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and beans, oils and discretionary calories) and lets you know how many you need of each every day. Keep a copy of the food pyramid and consult it regularly to make sure you're getting what you need for a balanced diet. Create your own recipes--consider mixing together a fresh vegetable soup, adding some lean chicken and a slice of whole-wheat bread. Create another menu option by combining whole-wheat pasta topped with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables, or a salad sprinkled with walnuts and fresh fruit. Alter your old favorites with healthier substitutes; sneak in vegetables and fruits wherever you can.
- Don't get into a rut. Experiment with different colors and flavors for a delicious and balanced diet.
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