Balanced Diet Chart

A balanced diet is essential to stay healthy and fit as it contains all the essential macro and micro nutrients. The balanced diet prevents diseases, boosts immunity, keeps the weight in check, provides energy and increases longevity. The essential nutrients in a balanced diet are fruits and vegetables, protein rich foods, carbs and fats as well as foods that are rich in micronutrients. It is advisable that a balanced diet for adults contains about 2320 calories. You should take into account your age, occupation, stage of health and local climate when creating a balanced diet chart for yourself.

Overview on Balanced Diet Chart

Maintaining good health is the key to leading long and fulfilling lives. When trying to become fitter, there are a lot of things to take into account such as exercise, BMI, and, and most importantly your diet. The kind of food that people eat directly translates to how it gets absorbed and used by their bodies. If you eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables that contain all major and minor nutrients, you will remain quite fit. However, if you continue to consume junk foods for long periods of time, your health will slowly deteriorate. Thus, keeping a healthy diet chart. In the long run, it is incredibly important to maintain our health and fitness levels. In this article, we’ll take a look at the importance of a balanced diet and some examples of what a daily diet chart should look like.

9 Important Benefits of a Balanced Diet

A healthy and balanced diet allows you to experience a higher quality of life. What does this look like?

Disease Prevention

The biggest takeaway from balanced nutrition is that it can protect one from a variety of dangerous diseases. Healthy foods affect various health markers like blood pressure, digestion, brain function, heart health, each of which can become compromised by a major illness. Hence a balanced diet can help one live longer.

Weight Control

Consuming a balanced diet can become a key first step in weight loss. A balanced diet aids in the maintenance of weight for the long term. In case one is underweight, eating a healthy diet can help with weight gain, but you have to also maintain that weight in the long term.

Immune System Health

Foods that are full of Vitamin C, D, and E are immunity boosters. Vitamin E can aid in the production of antibodies, and Vitamin C-rich foods produce lymphocytes. Both these types of cells fight infections in the body. Vitamin D-rich food eases inflammation in the body.

Proper Sleep

A balanced diet has been claimed to improve sleep for the average person. Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining health.

Mental Health

Being rich in whole foods, a balanced diet can help prevent the onslaught of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. The link between mental illness and diet is a convoluted one but exists since sleep is a vital factor that connects both.

Good for Children’s Growth

Children and teenagers who are still growing need a rich diet that contains a good mix of all necessary nutrients. Thus, a balanced diet is extremely crucial for kids of growing age. Lack of any single nutrient may cause stunted growth and improper development.

High Energy

Many people often feel lethargic at all times, some others feel like they do not have enough energy to do their day-to-day activities. This often happens due to the lack of one or more essential nutrients in the diet. People who consistently follow a balanced diet benefit from high energy levels.

Improves Digestive Function

People not following a balanced diet may often face many digestive issues, especially those who frequently consume junk food. However, a balanced diet that is rich in fibre can help keep your digestive system in good health.

Increase Longevity

Maintaining a balanced diet will allow your body to remain in a healthy condition for a very long time, which in turn can help increase the longevity of your life. Multiple studies have shown that unhealthy lifestyle habits like eating fast food, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol may shorten an individual’s lifespan by years.

Nutrients to Include in a Balanced Diet Chart

It is essential to include the following nutrients in a healthy diet chart:

1. Fruits and vegetables

According to nutritionists, about 40% of your daily caloric intake should come from fruits and vegetables. Ideally, every meal should include a colourful assortment of fruits and veggies. When you do this every day, you receive an adequate supply of essential vitamins, potassium, folate, minerals, antioxidants, and more. Consume raw as well as cooked vegetables and fruit.

2. Must-Haves

Fruits like bananas contain potassium, a key nutrient for a healthy diet. Another essential fruit is pomegranate which is beneficial for all kinds of reasons — from aiding in boosting metabolism while also being antioxidant-rich. Another must-have is tomatoes as they contain lycopene which can prevent cancer. Leafy greens vegetables are also vital to a balanced nutrition plan but don’t neglect brinjals, onions, beets, garlic, etc.

3. Protein

About 25% of your daily nutritional consumption should be protein. Protein is a filling macronutrient making it good for those who have a habit of binge-eating unhealthy foods. Besides aiding in feelings of satiety for long periods, protein is also essential for muscle building. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be. Overall, you can eat less, burn more, and get stronger. Amino acids from proteins are also essential in cellular function, as well as building strong bones.

4. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are essential to a balanced diet. They are the source of glucose which the body uses to generate energy as ATP. There are 3 types of carbs — starch, sugar, and fibre. Nutritionists recommend cutting down on processed sugar and eating natural sugars in moderation. For starches, consumption in moderation is ideal, provided they are also rich in fibre. Consider eating whole grains such as buckwheat, quinoa, rye, and barley. Not only are these a great Vitamin B, but they are also released slower in the body than processed carbs due to their low glycemic index. This allows a steady release of energy as your day progresses without a heavy crash.

5. Fats

When creating a balanced diet food chart, you cannot do without fats. They are essential for brain, bone, and skin health. Fats help the body store energy while using up nutrients. The healthiest types of fats are unsaturated fats, known to decrease stomach inflammation and heart disease. These include avocados, nuts, and seeds. It is recommended that a person’s diet consist mostly of unsaturated fats, with saturated fats in moderation, and zero trans fats.

Balanced Diet Chart for Adults

The following daily diet chart is recommended for adults who lead sedentary lifestyles:

2320 Kcals
Food Groups	Portion (Grams)	Sedentary
Food Groups	Portion (Grams)	Men	Women
Cereals Millets	30	12.5	9
Pulses	30	2.5	2
Milk & Milk products	100ml	3	3
Roots & Tubers	100	2	2
Green Leafy Vegetables	100	1	1
Other Vegetables	100	2	2
Fruits	100	1	1
Sugar	5	4	4
Oils & Fats	5	5	4

Balanced Diet Chart for Kids

The following daily diet chart is recommended for children who lead sedentary lifestyles.

Food Groups	Portion (Grams)	1-3 yrs	4-6 yrs	7-9yrs	10-12yrs	13-15yrs	16-18yrs
Food Groups	Portion (Grams)	1-3 yrs	girls	boys	girls	boys	girls		boys
Cereals Millets	30	2	4	6	8	10	11	14	11	15
Pulses	30	1	1	2	2	2	2	2.5	2.5	3
Milk & Milk products	100ml	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Roots & Tubers	100	0.5	1	1	1	1	1	1.5	2	2
Green Leafy Vegetables	100	0.5	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Other Vegetables	100	0.5	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2
Fruits	100	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Sugar	5	3	4	4	6	6	5	4	5	6
Oils & Fats	5	5	5	6	7	7	8	9	7	10

Having a healthy diet chart can be very helpful in ensuring your health is managed. However, in case you wish to remain truly protected against any medical situations, you can also look into getting a health insurance plan.

6 Ways to Maintain a Balanced Diet Chart

Here are some useful tips to follow and maintain a balanced diet chart:

Prepare a balanced diet chart

The first step is to make your own daily diet chart based on your personal preferences but make sure your diet contains a solid mix of all nutrients.

Include things you like

When making your diet plan, make sure to also add some fruits and vegetables that you like to eat so that it becomes easier to follow your diet in the long run.

Keep it visible

It is a good idea to stick your healthy diet chart in your kitchen or dining as a constant reminder to maintain your diet journey. If you make a diet plan and then forget about it, it will not give you any health benefits.

Start Slowly

When making a new diet plan, you may be tempted to add only healthy foods to your diet. However, if you are used to eating more snacks and packaged food, gradually shift your diet to a healthier one rather than completely replacing all your favourite foods. You can make a balanced diet chart for a week and keep adding healthier foods as you get accustomed.

Use Local Fruits and Vegetables

Every city, town or village has its own local foods that are grown in nearby areas and used by the locals in their diet. Usually, dishes prepared out of local fruits and vegetables are fresh and extremely healthy.

Consider Micronutrients

Many people are deficient in micronutrients such as vitamins, potassium, iron, etc. So, when making a balanced diet chart, ensure that you add foods containing all the important micronutrients.

Factors Affecting a Balanced Diet

The following factors impact what a balanced diet will look like for different people.

Growing children also require more essential nutrients like phosphorus and calcium to build strong bones in their formative years. Children also have a higher metabolism and can get away with a higher carbohydrate consumption than adults who require more fats and proteins which can help in feeling full for longer.

Occupation

An athlete, carpenter, or labourer will do better with a protein and carbohydrate-rich diet than an individual who lives a more sedentary lifestyle.

Climate

Since foods release heat in the body, the ratio of macronutrients can determine how hot or cool a body remains. In colder climates, it's recommended to eat more proteins and fats as these are released slower and keep us full for longer. On the other hand, a more balanced diet is recommended for warmer climates.

Stage of Health

If one is recovering from an illness, they require more minerals,

Final Thoughts

A balanced diet is a surefire way to secure your long-term health. It can affect everything in your daily functioning, from your vision to your concentration abilities. If you are confused about how to make a chart, you can search the internet for ‘balanced diet chart drawings’ or ‘balance diet diagrams’ for inspiration. Ensure you create a daily routine balanced diet chart containing key nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, in the right proportions for your body. You can also use our calorie calculator to keep your calories on track. Another way to secure your long-term health is by considering health insurance from Bajaj Markets.

ALL CALCULATORS

BMI Calculator | Calorie Calculator | BMR Calculator

Health Insurance Plans Available at Bajaj Markets

Bajaj Allianz Health Insurance	Aditya Birla Health Insurance	Care Health Insurance

Health Insurance Top Pages

Government Health Insurance Schemes

Health Insurance Articles

What is a balanced diet?

A balanced diet that contains all the nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and water in correct proportion is called a balanced diet.

What is the importance of a balanced diet?

A balanced diet helps in the following ways:It helps in disease prevention., It can help in controlling weight, Helpful for meeting the nutritional requirements, Keep immune function healthy, Aids in restful sleep, Supports one’s mental wellbeing.

What are the factors affecting a balanced diet?

One’s occupation, age, and state of health primarily affect what kind of balanced diet one should consume. Additionally, climate also makes a difference.

What are the benefits of a balanced diet?

A balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight. It is also great as a means of disease prevention. It also supports good immune functioning. A balanced diet has been linked to improved sleep, and thereby improved mental functioning.

What does a balanced diet consist of?

In decreasing quantity, a balanced diet should consist of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy products, lean meat, poultry, sea food, salads, beans, nuts, and seeds, and simple sugars or dessert.