Many Americans fail to realize just how important a balanced diet is for myriad reasons. Not only does proper nutrition help us to achieve a healthy weight, it is also necessary for a high quality of life. Far too many people focus solely on the quantity of calories consumed when in reality, the quality of calories consumed is equally if not more important. Improper nutrition has many consequences including fatigue, poor performance, and a tendency to be disease prone, which is why following a model for a balanced diet is so important. A balanced diet is nutritious, including a plethora of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains that are rich in vitamins and minerals.
Far too often the emphasis is placed entirely on monitoring caloric intake, usually by counting and restricting. People are under the false impression that a low-calorie diet is a proper diet. Yes, counting and restricting calories will help you lose weight but will do so at the expense of your health. Today’s society has conditioned us to think that skinnier equals healthier, when in reality that is not the case at all. Maintaining a proper weight is a side effect of good nutrition, so a larger emphasis should be put on the latter. But how are we to understand what it means to eat a balanced diet? The USDA offers lots of helpful information on their website about what proper nutrition is.
The first step to eating a proper diet is to determine how many calories you need to consume daily based on your height, weight, gender, and activity level. Remember, this number will vary from person to person, so refrain from comparing your necessary caloric intake with someone else’s. Next, you need to meet that caloric intake goal with many nutrient-dense foods. Avoid empty calories, which are high in fat and/or sugar and low in nutritional value. Try to eat a substantial amount of fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats. Fruits can be high in sugar, so pay attention to serving sizes. Vegetables are high in many necessary micronutrients and should be consumed with every meal. When eating grains, refined white flour should be avoided. The nutrient-dense hull of the grain is removed during the refining process, leaving a flour with little to no nutritional value. Meats are important for protein but try hard to invest in a more “lean” meat in order to cut back on saturated fats. All these are components of a balanced and healthy diet.
In conclusion, a balanced diet may seem complicated at first glance, but in reality, is simply comprised of a few basic food groups. Eating properly doesn’t have to be difficult and can be achieved by being mindful of what goes into our bodies. Use common sense when making food-related decisions, and avoid foods high in sugars and fats. Instead, opt for foods high in nutritional value which are sure to leave you far more full and satisfied, not to mention healthier in the long run.
Remember: Do not deprive yourself! Proper diet is about balance, and indulging every once in awhile is not only permitted, but encouraged for sake of sanity 🙂
Shedding Light 