What constitutes a balanced diet?

Written By Rachel Parnell

You probably hear it said a lot - ‘try to eat a balanced diet’ - but what exactly does this mean?

We’re going to break down the meaning behind a balanced diet and how you can maintain it on a day to day basis…

Think Of The Basics

One of the key elements of a balanced diet is including each of the basic food groups which are:

  • Proteins

  • Carbohydrates

  • Fats

  • Fruit and Veg

  • Dairy

These are what the NHS describe as the essential food groups and we should aim to include them in our day to day diet

Now Break It Down A Little Further

Now lets look at some key things we should be aiming for within these essentials:

  • Aiming for 5-7 portions of fruit and veg per day

  • Keeping the majority of your fats unsaturated e.g. olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados

  • Aiming for wholegrains rather than starchy carbs

  • Not consuming too much red meat, aiming for lean high quality protein

These are a few key ways that you can keep your diet balanced.

Let’s consider the extras

So we’ve broken down how to manage the essential food groups within your diet, now let’s take a look at other things to consider:

  1. Water intake - we should be aiming for at least 1-2 litres a day. Remember that tea and coffee will dehydrate you so for every cup you have each day you should be rehydrating through water

  2. Alcohol Intake - According to national health guidelines, men and women should aim for no more than 14 units per week of alcohol. If you are looking to improve your diet and lifestyle, you may consider having less than that.

  3. Variety - having a varied diet will help ensure that you consume a wide range of vitamins and minerals through your diet which will help keep your immune system strong. This means trying not to eat the same foods all the time, allowing for different cuisines, flavours and styles of food to keep your diet interesting!

To summarise, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is actually more straightforward than it sometimes seems. By trying to include food sources from all the key groups, you will ensure that your body is properly fuelled and nourished. Keeping your water intake high and your alcohol and sugar levels in moderation will help to contribute towards a balanced lifestyle.

If you found this helpful, you may like to take a look at the following:

Should I Be Cutting Out Alcohol?

Building A Healthy Gut Microbiome

Smart Snacking Strategies

Rachel Parnell
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