Balanced Diet – Meaning, 6 Ways To Maintain A Healthy  Eating Diet

Can I maintain a healthy eating diet? Yes, you can.

We are what we eat; if we eat good food, we will look good. That’s what my late Grandma always told me.

If you have ever suffered in bed or gone to the toilet several times just because of what you ate, you would be sure to pay attention to what you eat, at home or when you are out.

 That happened to me last month at my friend’s birthday party.  I lay in bed all through the next day,  after going to the toilet several times and losing stamina.

This incident made me take time to plan my meal to ensure it is healthy enough for my family.

Understanding what a healthy diet is would go a long way in helping you plan your meals daily, from grocery shopping to cooking your food with the right recipes.

A Balanced Diet is a set of meals that contains the six classes of food. Which includes protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, fat, oil, and water.

A balanced diet is essential for the good nutrition and health of the whole family. It not only protects you from diseases but also helps your children grow. Having a balanced meal doesn’t have to be expensive. You can eat healthy even on a low budget or income.

 Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for human growth, nutrition and well-being. That’s why I will be sharing some tips that can guide your meal planning and eating habits. This way, it will be a lot easier for you to maintain a balanced diet 

Here are some tips that can help you maintain a healthy eating habit.

 The following tips can help you maintain a balanced diet.

1. Shop For Fruits And Vegetables Regularly
2. Cut Down On Too Much Salt And Fatty Foods
3. Check Out Food That Will Serve The Whole Family
4. Eat Dietary Foods And Enough Meat
5. Eat a Variety of Food, But Do Not Take Excesses
6. Make a List Of  The Food Items To Buy Before Going To The Market To Get Them

Now let’s dive into each of them. Here we will discuss how you can use these tips to maintain a balanced diet.

1. Shop For Fruits And Vegetables Regularly

Fruits and Vegetables are essential for the immune system and tissue building of the body.

 In a balanced diet, there must be fruits and vegetables included. It does not necessarily mean you have to buy a basket of these; you just need to get enough that will serve the whole family.

It is also very important to look out for fresh and good looking fruits and vegetables when you go shopping.

2. Cut Down On Too Much Salt And Fatty Foods

Salt is essential for cooking and making our everyday meals, but too much of it is bad, especially for people who are hypertensive.

Sometime last year, I accompanied my friend to the hospital where her mother was admitted. Her mother is suffering from high blood pressure.

 The doctor advised that too much salt, spices and fatty foods are dangerous to the body, especially the heart. He said it’s more preferable to eat more fruits than to take an excess of fatty foods.

Too much salt and fatty food in the body causes high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, difficulty in breathing and is unhealthy for the kidneys too.

The best way I monitor my usage of salt is to check the quantity of salt I add to my food. When frying, I either use air fryers or measure the amount of oil I add. I also try not to use butter for everything.

3. Check Out Food That Will Serve The Whole Family

In a family there are adults and children whose age varies. When planning a meal the food that soothes different age groups should be put into consideration.

For example, what a 5-year-old would eat won’t be the same as what a 60-year-old would eat. This is because their age differs and their body system also.

As a mother, what I do each time I plan the meal for my family is to get all the ingredients and recipes I need.

  I make for the children what suits them, then I make for the adults what suits them.  This way, the nutritional requirements for the different age grades are met.

4. Eat Dietary Foods And Enough Meat

In a balanced diet, protein is essential; it helps repair damaged tissues and build the body.

Each time I plan a meal for my family, I ensure that there is enough protein and dietary food in it.

Eggs, poultry, fish, beef, and products like cheese, milk, and yogurt are good sources of protein.  Other sources of protein are beans, peas, lentils, tofu, nuts, and seeds.

There are varieties of them, which makes it easier to choose from. You don’t necessarily need to have all of them in one meal. A few of them can serve.

5. Eat a Variety of Foods, But Do Not Take Excesses

Wearing the same clothes each day can be very boring, right? In the same way eating the same food each day makes the body get tired of it.

For example, taking carbohydrates in the morning, afternoon, and evening, this could be in varieties like rice, yam, and bread in one day. They all fall in the same class of food and give the same kind of nutrients.

To maintain a healthy eating habit, you need to plan your daily meals, adding variety. You can choose to take fruits in the evening, because that aids digestion.

In the morning, it is best to take something light and take heavy foods in the afternoon so the body uses them up before evening, and your evening meal should also be something light.

6. Make a List Of  The Food Items To Buy Before Going To The Market.                                                                                                                                                                                                To make my shopping a lot easier, I make a list of everything I want to buy before heading out. This helps me buy everything I need and top up the ones that have reduced.

Sometimes, when you don’t have a list of what you need handy, you tend to buy things you don’t need or make purchases impulsively.

That’s why, to prevent this, it is important to make a list.

You might have questions like; 

1. Why Is It Important To Eat A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet provides the body with all the nutrients it needs to function. It helps the body stay healthy and prevent diseases.

 The more balanced diet you take, the healthier your body becomes. Studies have shown that eating more fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of obesity and other kinds of diseases.

2. What Is A Balanced Diet Chart?

It is the arrangement of food in its rightful proportions. It includes all the classes of food and their sources

3. How To Eat Healthy Food Every day

To eat healthy food each day or to maintain a healthy eating habit, you need to eat a variety of food covering the different classes of food that are in a balanced diet.

Sometimes you do a combination of these food classes to ensure that they are taken in the right proportion.

Conclusion

 Now that you know about Balanced Diet, its Meaning, and 6 Ways To Maintain A Healthy  Eating Diet.

It is important for you to know that some people are allergic to different foods, and their body systems do not accept certain foods.

Planning meals differently for such persons is also essential.