A balanced diet supplies the nutrients your body needs to work effectively. Without balanced nutrition, your body is more prone to disease, infection, fatigue, and low performance.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest , 4 of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States are directly linked to diet. Learn more about healthy meal plans for kids. Your body needs nutrients to stay healthy, and food supplies essential nutrients that stop us from getting sick.

People who follow a vegan diet will focus entirely on plant-based foods. Tofu and beans, for example, are plant-based sources of protein.

Some people are intolerant of dairy but can still build a balanced diet by choosing a variety of nutrient-rich replacements. Learn about 50 super healthy foods. Fruits are high in sugar , but this sugar is natural. Unlike candies and many sweet desserts, fruits also provide fiber and other nutrients.

If you have diabetes, your doctor or dietitian can advise you on which fruits to choose , how much to eat, and when. Learn about 11 low-sugar fruits. Vegetables are a key source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Eat a variety of vegetables with different colors for a full range of nutrients.

Dark, leafy greens are an excellent source of many nutrients. They include:. Local, seasonal vegetables are often reasonable in price and easy to prepare.

Use them in the following ways:. Refined white flour is featured in many breads and baked goods, but it has limited nutritional value. Whole grain products include the entire grain, including the hull and germ. They provide additional vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Many people also find that whole grains add flavor and texture to a dish. Meats and beans are primary sources of protein, which is essential for wound healing and muscle maintenance and development, among other functions. Processed meats may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases, according to some research.

Some processed meats also contain a lot of added preservatives and salt. Fresh, unprocessed meat is the best option.

Tofu , tempeh , and other soy-based products are excellent sources of protein and are good alternatives to meat. Dairy products provide essential nutrients, including:. They also contain fat. Your doctor can help you decide. For those following a vegan diet, many dairy-free milks and other dairy alternatives are now available, made from:.

These are often fortified with calcium and other nutrients, making them excellent alternatives to dairy from cows. Some have added sugar, so read the label carefully when choosing. Fat is essential for energy and cell health, but too much fat can increase calories above what the body needs and may lead to weight gain.

In the past, guidelines have recommended avoiding saturated fats , due to concerns that they would raise cholesterol levels. More recent research suggests that partially replacing with unsaturated fats lowers cardiovascular disease risk and that some saturated fat should remain in the diet — about 10 percent or less of calories.

Trans fats , however, should still be avoided. Recommendations on fats can sometimes be hard to follow, but one scientist has proposed the following guideline:. Most experts consider olive oil to be a healthy fat, and especially extra virgin olive oil, which is the least processed type.

Deep fried foods are often high in calories but low in nutritional value, so you should eat them sparingly. A balanced diet contains foods from the following groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein. A healthy diet will combine all the nutrients and foods groups mentioned above, but you need to balance them, too.

A handy way to remember how much of each food group to eat is the plate method. Aim for around half your food to come from fruits and vegetables, around one quarter to be protein, and one quarter whole grains and starches.

A varied and healthy diet is usually one that contains plenty of fresh, plant-based foods, and limits the intake of processed foods. If you have questions about your diet or feel that you need to lose weight or change your eating habits, schedule an appointment with your doctor or a dietitian. They can suggest dietary changes that will help you get the nutrition you need while promoting your overall health.

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Fruit is healthy, but is it enough to fill out your entire diet? Here's what you need to know about the fruitarian diet. Acne is a skin problem that can cause several types of bumps to form on the surface of your skin.

How to Reduce Sodium Suggestions for when you are at the grocery store, at home, or dining out. Healthy Eating Tips Start eating healthier with these simple tips. Good Nutrition Starts Early Introduce kids to healthy foods with these ideas.

Improving Your Eating Habits Learn more about how to start changing your eating habits. Planning Meals Stock up on healthier foods that contain fewer calories to help prepare you for weight-loss success! Cutting Calories Find out how to cut calories for your meals, snacks, and even beverages.

Eat More Weigh Less Manage your weight without being hungry. Get Enough Sleep Regulate your appetite with adequate sleep. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight.

Español Spanish. Minus Related Pages. Want to learn more? Connect with Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Last Reviewed: March 8, Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

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Water is best to quench your thirst. Skip the sugary drinks, and go easy on the milk and juice. Choose more fresh foods and fewer processed foods. Moderate drinking can be healthy—but not for everyone.

You must weigh the benefits and risks. A daily multivitamin is a great nutrition insurance policy. Some extra vitamin D may add an extra health boost.

Skip to content The Nutrition Source. Not all fat is the same. While bad fats can wreck your diet and increase your risk of certain diseases, good fats protect your brain and heart. In fact, healthy fats—such as omega-3s—are vital to your physical and emotional health.

Including more healthy fat in your diet can help improve your mood, boost your well-being, and even trim your waistline. Eating foods high in dietary fiber grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and beans can help you stay regular and lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

It can also improve your skin and even help you to lose weight. As well as leading to osteoporosis, not getting enough calcium in your diet can also contribute to anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. Whatever your age or gender, it's vital to include calcium-rich foods in your diet, limit those that deplete calcium, and get enough magnesium and vitamins D and K to help calcium do its job.

Carbohydrates are one of your body's main sources of energy. But most should come from complex, unrefined carbs vegetables, whole grains, fruit rather than sugars and refined carbs.

Cutting back on white bread, pastries, starches, and sugar can prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar, fluctuations in mood and energy, and a build-up of fat, especially around your waistline.

Switching to a healthy diet doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy, and you don't have to change everything all at once—that usually only leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan.

A better approach is to make a few small changes at a time. Keeping your goals modest can help you achieve more in the long term without feeling deprived or overwhelmed by a major diet overhaul. Think of planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps—like adding a salad to your diet once a day.

As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices. BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more.

Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. To set yourself up for success, try to keep things simple. Eating a healthier diet doesn't have to be complicated. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories, for example, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness.

Focus on avoiding packaged and processed foods and opting for more fresh ingredients whenever possible. Prepare more of your own meals. Cooking more meals at home can help you take charge of what you're eating and better monitor exactly what goes into your food.

You'll eat fewer calories and avoid the chemical additives, added sugar, and unhealthy fats of packaged and takeout foods that can leave you feeling tired, bloated, and irritable, and exacerbate symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety.

Make the right changes. When cutting back on unhealthy foods in your diet, it's important to replace them with healthy alternatives. Replacing dangerous trans fats with healthy fats such as switching fried chicken for grilled salmon will make a positive difference to your health.

Switching animal fats for refined carbohydrates, though such as switching your breakfast bacon for a donut , won't lower your risk for heart disease or improve your mood. Read the labels. It's important to be aware of what's in your food as manufacturers often hide large amounts of sugar or unhealthy fats in packaged food, even food claiming to be healthy.

Focus on how you feel after eating. This will help foster healthy new habits and tastes. The healthier the food you eat, the better you'll feel after a meal. The more junk food you eat, the more likely you are to feel uncomfortable, nauseous, or drained of energy.

Drink plenty of water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many of us go through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches.

It's common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices. What is moderation? In essence, it means eating only as much food as your body needs. You should feel satisfied at the end of a meal, but not stuffed. For many of us, moderation means eating less than we do now.

But it doesn't mean eliminating the foods you love. Eating bacon for breakfast once a week, for example, could be considered moderation if you follow it with a healthy lunch and dinner—but not if you follow it with a box of donuts and a sausage pizza.

Start by reducing portion sizes of unhealthy foods and not eating them as often. As you reduce your intake of unhealthy foods, you may find yourself craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences. Think smaller portions.

Serving sizes have ballooned recently. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don't order supersized anything. At home, visual cues can help with portion sizes. Your serving of meat, fish, or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards and half a cup of mashed potato, rice, or pasta is about the size of a traditional light bulb.

By serving your meals on smaller plates or in bowls, you can trick your brain into thinking it's a larger portion. If you don't feel satisfied at the end of a meal, add more leafy greens or round off the meal with fruit. Take your time.

It's important to slow down and think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids.

It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full.

Eat with others whenever possible. Eating alone, especially in front of the TV or computer, often leads to mindless overeating.

Limit snack foods in the home. Bump Up Fiber Increase Calcium and Vitamin D Add More Potassium Limit Added Sugars Replace Saturated Fats Cut Back on Sodium Aim for a Variety of Colors.

More Information General Tips to Help Your Picky Eater Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight Benefits of Healthy Eating 5 Easy Ways to Find Healthier Options at the Grocery Store Build a Healthy Eating Routine [PDF Connect with Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity.

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