Written by
Shasadri Sarkar

A balanced diet contains different types of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need for calories, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients are adequately met and a small provision is made for extra nutrients to withstand short duration of leanness. A balanced diet should provide 50%-60% of total calories from carbohydrates (preferably by complex carbohydrate), about 10%-15% from proteins and 20%-30% from both visible and invisible fat. The quantities of food needed to meet the nutrient requirement varies for each individual as everyone has different metabolic rates and level of activity.

The best stage to start a good relationship with food is from childhood as most of people think that it’s not possible to bet on a balanced diet once into adulthood, but this is not true as studies show that force of habit is able to reprogram your brain and change your taste buds. The way we relate to food, how our brain reacts to emotional hunger, desires, cravings etc. all of these influence our eating habit. It’s repetition that makes the change.

Inspite of counting calories and worrying to much about what is good food and bad food or what is right or wrong, you should reconnect with yourself and respect your feelings of hunger, satiety and satisfaction. You can achieve a balanced diet and experience great pleasure by maintaining a relaxed relationship with hunger, without major restrictions. Therefore you should try to adopt more beneficial habits for your body and achieve the balanced diet to lead a healthy life.