MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Balanced diet

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Balanced diet

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Function	Food Sources Side Effects Recommendations

Illustrations

Food guide pyramid

Healthy diet

Fish in diet

Alternative names Return to top

Well-balanced diet

Definition Return to top

A balanced diet refers to intake of appropriate types and adequate amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for the maintenance of body cells, tissues, and organs, and to support normal growth and development.

Function Return to top

A well-balanced diet acts to provide sources of energy and nutrition for optimal growth and development.

Food Sources Return to top

Milk group (milk and milk products)

milk, cheese, yogurt

Meat group (meat and meat substitutes)

meat: chicken, fish, beef, pork, lamb
legumes: beans and peas
nuts and seeds

Fruit and vegetable group

fruits
vegetables

Grain group (breads and cereals)

whole grain breads
enriched breads
rice
pasta

Side Effects Return to top

An unbalanced diet can cause problems with maintenance of body tissues, growth and development, brain and nervous system function, as well as problems with bone and muscle systems.

Recommendations Return to top

The term "balanced" simply means that a diet adequately meets your nutritional needs while not providing any nutrients in excess. To achieve a balanced diet, you must consume a variety of foods from each of the food groups.

There are several guidelines available to help a person plan their balanced diet. They include:

The Food Guide Pyramid
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines (RDA guidelines)

RDA guidelines include:

eat at least 3 meals each day
do not skip breakfast
eat foods from each of the Four Food Groups at every meal

The most important step to eating a balanced diet is to educate yourself with what your body needs, and read the nutrition label and ingredients of all the food that you eat.

Update Date: 10/17/2003

Updated by: David Webner, M.D., Sports Medicine Fellow, Crozer-Keystone Family Practice Program, Springfield, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.