Balanced Diet - Definition, Importance, Benefits & Diet Chart (2024)

Balanced Diet Definition

A balanced diet contains an adequate amount of all the nutrients required by the body to grow, remain healthy and be disease-free. In addition, a healthy, balanced diet provides the necessary energy requirement, protects against vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional deficiencies, and builds up immunity.

What are The Benefits of Eating a Balanced Diet?

A balanced meal helps provide the body with all the nutrients it needs to maintain normal growth and repair functions.

Benefits of Healthy Eating for Adults

A healthy diet helps boost immunity, reduces the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers, maintains a healthy weight, and helps recover quickly from diseases and trauma.

Benefits of Healthy Eating for Children

A healthy diet helps strengthen bones, supports brain development, boosts immunity, and regulates growth functions.

7 Essential Components of A Balanced Diet

Proteins, carbohydrates, fats or lipids, micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and water are the essential components of a well-balanced diet.

  1. Carbohydrates - Carbohydrates provide you with energy, which should constitute 50- 60% of your diet. Though it forms a significant diet component, you should not treat all carbs equally.

    Sources of healthy carbs are-

    • Whole grains like Oats, Quinoa
    • Whole wheat, Dahlia
    • Legumes
    • Millets like ragi, bajra, barley
    • Vegetables
  2. Protein - Protein helps you build muscles and develops skin and hair. It should constitute 10-12% of your diet.

    Sources of protein are-

    • Legumes and beans, soyabean
    • Poultry-Chicken, Turkey
    • Seafood- Fish, Crab, Prawn, Lobster
    • Eggs
    • Lean meat- Lamb, Beef, Pork
    • Nuts and Seeds
    • Greek yoghurt
  3. Fat - It is a misconception that fats are bad for your health. It would be best if you chose healthy fats as fats help you maintain your body temperature and help absorb fat-soluble vitamins ADE&K.

    Sources of healthy fat are -

    • Avocados
    • Nuts
    • Seeds
    • Extra virgin Olive oil
    • Fatty fish- Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel, Herring
  4. Vitamins - Though there are 13 essential vitamins, you should take vitamins A, C, B, and D measures.

    Sources of vitamins are -

    • Fruits
    • Vegetables
    • Poultry
    • Seeds
    • Nuts
  5. Minerals - Minerals help release energy from the food you take and promote the growth of organs. Some essential minerals are iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, and sodium.

    Sources of minerals are -

    • Fish
    • Meat
    • Beans
    • Cereals
    • Nuts & Seeds
  6. Fibre - Fibre helps in digestion and also helps in lowering your cholesterol levels and controlling sugar levels.

    Sources of fibre are -

    • Oats, dahlia, Quinoa and Brown rice
    • Beans
    • Whole grains
    • Nuts & seeds
  7. Water - You should take at least eight glasses of water as it hydrates your body and is used in body functions.

Foods to Avoid For a Healthy Balanced Diet

Avoid the below foods for a healthy life -

  • Red meat
  • Refined grains (cereals) like maida, white bread, sewain, noodles, pasta
  • Trans fat, butter, cheese
  • Added sugar
  • Pastry
  • Processed foods

7 Days Balanced Diet Chart

Here are a sample 7-days balanced diet chart. Please note that each body’s requirements are different so contact your dietician to get a customized balanced diet chart.

DaysBreakfastLaunchDinnerSnacks
Day 1Bowl of oats + Glass of milkRoti + Dal + Veggies + CurdBrown rice + Dal + Green saladNuts/Fruit/Seeds/Smoothie/Yoghurt
Day 2Omelette stuffed with veggies + Glass of milkBrown rice + Chicken/Paneer curry + Salad2 multigrain Roti + Dal + SaladSmoothie/ Nuts/Fruit/Seeds/Yogurt
Day 3Namkeen Dalia + Fruit2 Bajra roti + Dal + Veggies + CurdBrown rice + Dal + SaladFruit/Nuts/Seeds/ Smoothie/Yoghurt
Day 4Moong dal Cheela + Glass of milkBrown rice + Salmon fish curry/ Soya Bean + Salad2 Roti + Dal + SaladFruit/Nuts/ Seeds/Smoothie/Yoghurt
Day 5Besan Chilla + Glass of milk2 Jowar Roti + Dal + Veggies + SaladBrown rice + Dal + SaladFruit/Nuts/Seeds/Smoothie/Yoghurt
Day 62 Brown bread with an omelette + Glass of milkBrown rice + Dal + Veggies + Salad2 Multigrain roti + Dal + SaladFruit/Nuts/Seeds/Smoothie/Yoghurt
Day 7Poha + Glass of milk2 Roti + Mixed vegetable + Roasted Chicken + DalBrown rice + Dal + SaladFruits/Nuts/Seeds/Smoothie/Yoghurt

Importance of A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet-

  • Meet the nutritional demands of the body and prevent malnutrition
  • Keep up energy levels and maintain normal body functions
  • Boost the immune system and optimise cell repair
  • Prevent lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers
  • Strengthen bones, muscles, skin, teeth, and eyes
  • Help support healthy pregnancies

Planning a balanced diet also involves limiting the intake of sugars or salt in patients suffering from diabetes or hypertension.


Balanced Diet - Definition, Importance, Benefits & Diet Chart (1)

Balanced Diet - Definition, Importance, Benefits & Diet Chart (2024)

FAQs

Balanced Diet - Definition, Importance, Benefits & Diet Chart? ›

A balanced diet contains an adequate amount of all the nutrients required by the body to grow, remain healthy and be disease-free. In addition, a healthy, balanced diet provides the necessary energy requirement, protects against vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional deficiencies, and builds up immunity.

What is the importance of balance diet and definition? ›

A balanced diet is crucial to maintain good health, preventing chronic diseases, increasing energy levels, and improving the overall quality of life. It involves consuming various nutrient-dense foods in the proper proportions, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

What is the balance diet answer? ›

A balanced diet contains all of the essential elements that the human body needs. Carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, and water are all essential components in a well-balanced diet. A nutritious, well-balanced diet lowers the risk of disease and enhances general health.

What is a balanced diet in 10 points? ›

A balanced diet contains fruits, vegetables, nuts, pulses, milk, etc., to ensure the body gets enough protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and fibre. Whether a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you can easily put together a meal that provides nourishment to the body.

What is balanced diet in 300 words? ›

A balanced diet is one that provides the body with all the important and essential nutrients in order to function appropriately. A diet is a regimen of food and drink that a person follows. A balanced diet should include fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, legumes, and nuts.

How important is diet? ›

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

What is balanced diet chart? ›

A balanced diet chart is a structured plan outlining the optimal intake of various nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It ensures a well-rounded selection of foods to meet nutritional needs, promote health, and reduce the risk of diseases, supporting overall well-being.

What are the 7 things you need in a balanced diet? ›

There are seven essential factors for a balanced diet: carbs, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water. The rough percentage of daily calories that should come from each factor is shown in Table 10.

What is a balanced diet 500 words? ›

Answer: A balanced diet is a diet that contains all the essential nutrients in the right proportion. It includes foods from different food groups, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products. A balanced diet is important for maintaining good health and preventing diseases.

What happens if the nutrient intake is poor? ›

There are now strong links between low intakes of particular nutrients and the risk of developing chronic disease including some cancers, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression. During pregnancy, insufficient nutrient intake can have long-term health implications for the health of the child.

What is balance and why is it important? ›

Balance is the ability to distribute your weight in a way that lets you stand or move without falling, or recover if you trip.

What is the importance of eating a balanced diet to lifelong fitness? ›

Eating smart and being active have similar effects on our health. These include: Reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and some cancers and associated disabilities. Prevent weight gain and/or promote weight loss.

What are the 7 main components of a balanced diet? ›

By having an idea of the balance in your diet, it should be easier to enjoy food and be healthy. There are seven essential factors for a balanced diet: carbs, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water. The rough percentage of daily calories that should come from each factor is shown in Table 10.

Why is it important to understand the importance of nutrients in the diet? ›

Most people know good nutrition and physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight. But the benefits of good nutrition go beyond weight. Good nutrition can help: Reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers, and osteoporosis.

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