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We all know that we should be eating a balanced diet. But what does that really mean? A lot of people have a lot of different ideas about what a balanced diet looks like. In this post, we’re going to take a look at what a balanced diet really is and how you can make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need.
What is a Balanced Diet?
A balanced diet is one that contains all the nutrients your body needs to function properly. These nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. When you eat a variety of foods from each of these nutrient groups, you’re giving your body everything it needs to stay healthy and function properly.
How Much of Each Nutrient Should You Eat?
The amount of each nutrient you need depends on factors like your age, gender, activity level, and overall health. That being said, there are general guidelines for how much of each nutrient you should be getting every day. Here’s a quick breakdown:
– Carbohydrates: 45-65% of your daily calories
– Protein: 10-35% of your daily calories
– Fat: 20-35% of your daily calories
But that’s not all. As much as these are the most known key macronutrients, there’s also vitamins and minerals to consider. These should make up the remainder of your calories after carbohydrates, protein, and fat have been accounted for. You’ll also want to ensure that you’re drinking around 8-10 glasses of water per day to stay hydrated too.
What Does a Healthy Diet Look Like?
Now that we know what nutrients we need and how much of each nutrient we should be getting, let’s take a look at what a healthy diet actually looks like. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein sources, and healthy fats. It’s important to eat various foods from each food group to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
It’s also important to limit the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars in your diet. You can do this by choosing lean protein sources. You can get these from meat or shop here for other options. Also think about eating mostly whole grains, choosing low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and cooking with healthy oils instead of solid fats.
Finally, you may find that using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your food and limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets you consume will make the world of difference to your diet too.
Bringing a Balanced Diet into Your Life
As you can see, there are lots of different factors that go into eating a balanced diet. But it doesn’t have to be complicated! By simply making sure you’re including foods from all the different nutrient groups and limiting unhealthy fats, salt, and sugar, you can easily create meals that are both delicious and nutritious!
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