Balanced Diet Essay for Students and Children

500 words essay on balanced diet.

We have grown up listening to the term ‘balanced diet’ in science. It refers to a diet that has all the essential nutrients and minerals that will keep us healthy. Having a balanced diet has been encouraged by our childhood. After all, it is important in keeping our health well.

Balanced Diet Essay

A person intakes appropriate amounts of proteins, minerals, and nutrients in a balanced diet. It is quite necessary for the smooth functioning of our body. If we consume a balanced diet regularly, we will always remain healthy. It lessens any chances of falling ill. Moreover, a balanced diet also boosts our immunity system.

Importance of a Balanced Diet

Most people believe that a balanced diet is definitely the key to a healthy lifestyle. It is rightly believed as even scientists say so. When we always consume a balanced diet, we will maintain our physical as well as mental health. A balanced diet must contain the proper foods that are consumed in apt quantities. A perfect balanced diet is composed of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, high fiber content, vitamins, and more.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Moreover, nowadays the trend of junk food is here to stay. People are not taking a balanced diet rather eating all sorts of harmful foods. It is more important than ever to tell people about the importance of a balanced diet. You cannot merely exercise and expect your body to stay fit. A balanced diet is crucial for that.

Most importantly, it is called a ‘balanced’ diet because it requires all the foods to be eaten in a balanced manner. For instance, if you intake large amounts of carbohydrates and a little amount of protein, then that will not be called a balanced diet, even if you are eating the right foods. The balance needs to be maintained for that.

How to Have a Balanced Diet?

One can always adopt a healthy lifestyle by starting to consume a balanced diet. Firstly, one must definitely increase the amount of liquid to consume in a day. Fluids are very important for the human body to function healthily. As almost 80% of our body is filled with water, we need it for good metabolism. Thus, start with drinking at least two to three liters of water every day. Moreover, try cutting down on the consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol, and other such addictive liquids.

Furthermore, one must always eat fresh vegetables and fruits. As fresh fruits and vegetables are great sources of fiber and vitamins, we must consume them for good body growth. Try to avoid eating deep-fried or overcooked food as it loses all its nutrients. The balanced diet must have the five essential elements, i.e. bitter, sour, sweet, pungent and salty. Also, the emphasis is on fresh fruits because the processed or packed ones do not have nutrients.

Most importantly, always chew your food patiently. Do not just swallow it after chewing for four-five times. This way your food won’t get digested properly. Savor the food slowly and steadily. Next, do not eat in excess. You must know when to draw the line and stop when you don’t have the appetite. Therefore, we see how a balanced diet will keep you healthy and fit. It will improve the quality of your life and keep all the illnesses away.

FAQs on Balanced Diet Essay

Q.1 Why is a balanced diet important?

A.1 Balanced diet is important because it keeps us fit and fine. It also prevents any illnesses or diseases.

Q.2 How can we have a balanced diet?

A.2 One can have a balanced diet by having a good amount of water. Furthermore, one must always consume fresh foods and chew slowly for proper digestion.

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Importance Of A Balanced Diet Essay - 100, 200, 500 Words

  • Essay on The Importance of A Balanced Diet -

A balanced diet is a diet that includes a variety of different types of foods and provides the body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. It includes foods from all the different food groups in the right amounts to suit our bodies. This typically includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats . Here are a few sample essays on Importance Of A Balanced Diet.

100 Words Essay on The Importance of A Balanced Diet

200 words essay on the importance of a balanced diet, 500 words essay on the importance of a balanced diet.

Importance Of A Balanced Diet Essay - 100, 200, 500 Words

A balanced diet is essential for good health and well-being. It can help you maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients you need to support your body's functions. A balanced diet comprises a variety of foods from all the different food groups in the right amounts. Th is includes fruits and vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. A balanced diet helps to reduce your risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer . In addition, eating a balanced diet can support your mental health and give you the energy you need to stay active and engaged in your daily life.

A balanced diet is a vital ingredient for good health and well-being . It includes a variety of foods from all the different food groups in the right amounts. This means eating a mix of fruits and vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, getting enough fibre and staying hydrated by drinking enough water.

Eating a balanced diet can help you live a healthy lifestyle and support your mental health by giving you the energy you need to stay active and engaged in your daily life. It reduces the risk of diseases in a person's body. Furthermore, a balanced diet can also support your immune system and help you fight off illness and infection. By getting the right nutrients, your body can maintain a strong and healthy immune system, which can help you stay healthy and avoid getting sick.

Overall, the importance of a balanced diet cannot be overstated. It is essential for good health and well-being and can support your body's functions, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and support your immune system. By eating a variety of healthy foods, you can ensure that your body gets all the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy, which improves your way of living and even your life span.

Good health and well-being depends heavily on a balanced diet. In this type of diet, you will find that there are a variety of foods from all the different food groups, consumed in the right amounts from all of them. This means eating a mix of fruits and vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats . It also means getting enough fibre and staying hydrated by drinking enough water.

The benefits of eating a balanced diet are numerous . It is one of the best ways to keep a healthy weight. Keeping your calorie intake under control and avoiding excess weight can be accomplished by eating the right types and amounts of food. It is important to maintain a healthy weight because being overweight or obese increases your risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

A balanced diet not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, but it also ensures that your body gets the nutrients it needs to function properly. Different nutrients have different roles in the body, and it is important to eat a variety of nutrients to support your overall health. For example, carbohydrates provide energy, while protein helps build and repair tissues . Vitamins and minerals are also crucial for maintaining healthy bodily functions.

Eating a balanced diet can also support your mental health. Certain foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are rich in vitamins and minerals that can support brain function and improve mood . In addition, eating a balanced diet can provide your body with the energy it needs to stay active and engaged in your daily life. This can help you feel more productive and energised and can improve your overall quality of life.

My Uncle’s Experience

In January 2020, my uncle started to consult a nutritionist for a balanced diet plan in order to lose some weight as he was getting obese and started to accumulate a number of diseases. The nutritionist gave him a diet plan, which was designed in such a way that it only had good fats, high protein, the right amounts of carbohydrates and proper meals at all times. The plan only had foods that could be prepared at home and were not expensive. After following the diet plan for about a month, and regularly exercising, he lost about 12 kg, which was highly surprising for everyone. He was living a healthy life, with good habits, and great body health. It came to me as a shock how changes in our daily food routine and making our diet a healthy and balanced diet, can bring up so many benefits in one’s life.

A balanced diet is highly necessary for modern-day life . It is crucial for good health and well-being and can help you maintain a healthy weight, provide your body with the nutrients it needs, support your mental health, and support your immune system. By eating a variety of healthy foods, you can ensure that your body gets all the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy.

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Healthy Diet Essay

Consuming a healthy diet throughout a person’s life helps prevent malnutrition in all its forms, as well as a range of diet-related non-communicable diseases and conditions. But the increased consumption of processed food, rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People now consume fast food and do not eat enough fibre-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains. So, to help students understand the importance of a healthy diet, we have provided a “Healthy Diet” essay.

Students can also go through the list of CBSE Essays on different topics. It will help them to improve their writing skills and also increase their scores on the English exam. Moreover, they can participate in different essay writing competitions which are conducted at the school level.

500+ Words Healthy Diet Essay

A healthy diet consists of simple, natural and/or well-cooked foods which promote health and protect us from diseases. It keeps our organ systems functioning well. The diet that we consume is decided by our socio-cultural norms, lifestyle patterns and the type of activities we are engaged in. A healthy diet includes nutrition, nutrients, food groups, a balanced diet and special dietary requirements.

Balanced Diet

A diet that contains all the essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins in the proportion required for the normal growth and development of the body is called a balanced diet. The important components of a balanced diet are cereals, pulses, milk, fruits and vegetables, fats and oil. A balanced diet constitutes a healthy diet. Thus, we all should try to follow a balanced diet.

Role of Nutrients

Nutrients that we obtain through food have vital effects on physical growth and development. It also helps in maintaining normal body function, physical activity and health. Nutritious food is thus needed to sustain life and activity. A healthy diet must provide all essential nutrients in the required amounts. Requirements for essential nutrients vary with age, gender, physiological status and physical activity. Dietary intakes lower or higher than the body requirements can lead to undernutrition or overnutrition, respectively.

Eating too little food during certain significant periods of life such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and lactation and eating too much at any age can lead to harmful consequences. An adequate diet, providing all nutrients, is needed throughout our lives. Eating a variety of foods from each food group is crucial for supplying the individual with all the essential nutrients that the body needs, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

Special Dietary Requirements

The amount of food or nutrients required by a person in a day depends upon the need for energy. These needs are directly related to age and physical activity. During the rapid growth years, i.e. 12–22 years for boys and 12–18 years for girls, there is a gradual increase in daily food requirements. But as we grow old, our daily need for energy decreases. The amount of energy required by people engaged in low, moderate or high levels of physical activity differs. A sports person always needs to consume more calories than a non-sports person. Similarly, the dietary needs of a woman during pregnancy and lactation are higher.

Before we eat, we should think about what goes on our plate, cup, or bowl. Foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein foods should be part of our diet. These contain the nutrients that we need to maintain a heart-healthy eating plan. Eating a healthy diet will keep our body fit, healthy and free from all kinds of diseases. With a healthy body and mind, we can enjoy our life and can achieve whatever we want in our life.

Students must have found the “Healthy Diet” essay useful for improving their essay writing skills. They can get the study material and the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

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Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?

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  • Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing? - November 09, 2020
  • Joseph Firth , research fellow 1 2 ,
  • James E Gangwisch , assistant professor 3 4 ,
  • Alessandra Borsini , researcher 5 ,
  • Robyn E Wootton , researcher 6 7 8 ,
  • Emeran A Mayer , professor 9 10
  • 1 Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Oxford Road, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
  • 2 NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
  • 3 Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA
  • 4 New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
  • 5 Section of Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
  • 6 School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
  • 7 MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Oakfield House, Bristol, UK
  • 8 NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
  • 9 G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, UCLA Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • 10 UCLA Microbiome Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Correspondence to: J Firth joseph.firth{at}manchester.ac.uk

Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood, and improving diet may help to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of the population, say Joseph Firth and colleagues

Key messages

Healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, are associated with better mental health than “unhealthy” eating patterns, such as the Western diet

The effects of certain foods or dietary patterns on glycaemia, immune activation, and the gut microbiome may play a role in the relationships between food and mood

More research is needed to understand the mechanisms that link food and mental wellbeing and determine how and when nutrition can be used to improve mental health

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions worldwide, making them a leading cause of disability. 1 Even beyond diagnosed conditions, subclinical symptoms of depression and anxiety affect the wellbeing and functioning of a large proportion of the population. 2 Therefore, new approaches to managing both clinically diagnosed and subclinical depression and anxiety are needed.

In recent years, the relationships between nutrition and mental health have gained considerable interest. Indeed, epidemiological research has observed that adherence to healthy or Mediterranean dietary patterns—high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes; moderate consumption of poultry, eggs, and dairy products; and only occasional consumption of red meat—is associated with a reduced risk of depression. 3 However, the nature of these relations is complicated by the clear potential for reverse causality between diet and mental health ( fig 1 ). For example, alterations in food choices or preferences in response to our temporary psychological state—such as “comfort foods” in times of low mood, or changes in appetite from stress—are common human experiences. In addition, relationships between nutrition and longstanding mental illness are compounded by barriers to maintaining a healthy diet. These barriers disproportionality affect people with mental illness and include the financial and environmental determinants of health, and even the appetite inducing effects of psychiatric medications. 4

Fig 1

Hypothesised relationship between diet, physical health, and mental health. The dashed line is the focus of this article.

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While acknowledging the complex, multidirectional nature of the relationships between diet and mental health ( fig 1 ), in this article we focus on the ways in which certain foods and dietary patterns could affect mental health.

Mood and carbohydrates

Consumption of highly refined carbohydrates can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes. 5 Glycaemic index is a relative ranking of carbohydrate in foods according to the speed at which they are digested, absorbed, metabolised, and ultimately affect blood glucose and insulin levels. As well as the physical health risks, diets with a high glycaemic index and load (eg, diets containing high amounts of refined carbohydrates and sugars) may also have a detrimental effect on psychological wellbeing; data from longitudinal research show an association between progressively higher dietary glycaemic index and the incidence of depressive symptoms. 6 Clinical studies have also shown potential causal effects of refined carbohydrates on mood; experimental exposure to diets with a high glycaemic load in controlled settings increases depressive symptoms in healthy volunteers, with a moderately large effect. 7

Although mood itself can affect our food choices, plausible mechanisms exist by which high consumption of processed carbohydrates could increase the risk of depression and anxiety—for example, through repeated and rapid increases and decreases in blood glucose. Measures of glycaemic index and glycaemic load can be used to estimate glycaemia and insulin demand in healthy individuals after eating. 8 Thus, high dietary glycaemic load, and the resultant compensatory responses, could lower plasma glucose to concentrations that trigger the secretion of autonomic counter-regulatory hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, growth hormone, and glucagon. 5 9 The potential effects of this response on mood have been examined in experimental human research of stepped reductions in plasma glucose concentrations conducted under laboratory conditions through glucose perfusion. These findings showed that such counter-regulatory hormones may cause changes in anxiety, irritability, and hunger. 10 In addition, observational research has found that recurrent hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is associated with mood disorders. 9

The hypothesis that repeated and rapid increases and decreases in blood glucose explain how consumption of refined carbohydrate could affect psychological state appears to be a good fit given the relatively fast effect of diets with a high glycaemic index or load on depressive symptoms observed in human studies. 7 However, other processes may explain the observed relationships. For instance, diets with a high glycaemic index are a risk factor for diabetes, 5 which is often a comorbid condition with depression. 4 11 While the main models of disease pathophysiology in diabetes and mental illness are separate, common abnormalities in insulin resistance, brain volume, and neurocognitive performance in both conditions support the hypothesis that these conditions have overlapping pathophysiology. 12 Furthermore, the inflammatory response to foods with a high glycaemic index 13 raises the possibility that diets with a high glycaemic index are associated with symptoms of depression through the broader connections between mental health and immune activation.

Diet, immune activation, and depression

Studies have found that sustained adherence to Mediterranean dietary patterns can reduce markers of inflammation in humans. 14 On the other hand, high calorie meals rich in saturated fat appear to stimulate immune activation. 13 15 Indeed, the inflammatory effects of a diet high in calories and saturated fat have been proposed as one mechanism through which the Western diet may have detrimental effects on brain health, including cognitive decline, hippocampal dysfunction, and damage to the blood-brain barrier. 15 Since various mental health conditions, including mood disorders, have been linked to heightened inflammation, 16 this mechanism also presents a pathway through which poor diet could increase the risk of depression. This hypothesis is supported by observational studies which have shown that people with depression score significantly higher on measures of “dietary inflammation,” 3 17 characterised by a greater consumption of foods that are associated with inflammation (eg, trans fats and refined carbohydrates) and lower intakes of nutritional foods, which are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties (eg, omega-3 fats). However, the causal roles of dietary inflammation in mental health have not yet been established.

Nonetheless, randomised controlled trials of anti-inflammatory agents (eg, cytokine inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have found that these agents can significantly reduce depressive symptoms. 18 Specific nutritional components (eg, polyphenols and polyunsaturated fats) and general dietary patterns (eg, consumption of a Mediterranean diet) may also have anti-inflammatory effects, 14 19 20 which raises the possibility that certain foods could relieve or prevent depressive symptoms associated with heightened inflammatory status. 21 A recent study provides preliminary support for this possibility. 20 The study shows that medications that stimulate inflammation typically induce depressive states in people treated, and that giving omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, before the medication seems to prevent the onset of cytokine induced depression. 20

However, the complexity of the hypothesised three way relation between diet, inflammation, and depression is compounded by several important modifiers. For example, recent clinical research has observed that stressors experienced the previous day, or a personal history of major depressive disorders, may cancel out the beneficial effects of healthy food choices on inflammation and mood. 22 Furthermore, as heightened inflammation occurs in only some clinically depressed individuals, anti-inflammatory interventions may only benefit certain people characterised by an “inflammatory phenotype,” or those with comorbid inflammatory conditions. 18 Further interventional research is needed to establish if improvements in immune regulation, induced by diet, can reduce depressive symptoms in those affected by inflammatory conditions.

Brain, gut microbiome, and mood

A more recent explanation for the way in which our food may affect our mental wellbeing is the effect of dietary patterns on the gut microbiome—a broad term that refers to the trillions of microbial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and archaea, living in the human gut. The gut microbiome interacts with the brain in bidirectional ways using neural, inflammatory, and hormonal signalling pathways. 23 The role of altered interactions between the brain and gut microbiome on mental health has been proposed on the basis of the following evidence: emotion-like behaviour in rodents changes with changes in the gut microbiome, 24 major depressive disorder in humans is associated with alterations of the gut microbiome, 25 and transfer of faecal gut microbiota from humans with depression into rodents appears to induce animal behaviours that are hypothesised to indicate depression-like states. 25 26 Such findings suggest a role of altered neuroactive microbial metabolites in depressive symptoms.

In addition to genetic factors and exposure to antibiotics, diet is a potentially modifiable determinant of the diversity, relative abundance, and functionality of the gut microbiome throughout life. For instance, the neurocognitive effects of the Western diet, and the possible mediating role of low grade systemic immune activation (as discussed above) may result from a compromised mucus layer with or without increased epithelial permeability. Such a decrease in the function of the gut barrier is sometimes referred to as a “leaky gut” and has been linked to an “unhealthy” gut microbiome resulting from a diet low in fibre and high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and artificial sweeteners. 15 23 27 Conversely, the consumption of a diet high in fibres, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids (as found in a Mediterranean diet) can promote gut microbial taxa which can metabolise these food sources into anti-inflammatory metabolites, 15 28 such as short chain fatty acids, while lowering the production of secondary bile acids and p-cresol. Moreover, a recent study found that the ingestion of probiotics by healthy individuals, which theoretically target the gut microbiome, can alter the brain’s response to a task that requires emotional attention 29 and may even reduce symptoms of depression. 30 When viewed together, these studies provide promising evidence supporting a role of the gut microbiome in modulating processes that regulate emotion in the human brain. However, no causal relationship between specific microbes, or their metabolites, and complex human emotions has been established so far. Furthermore, whether changes to the gut microbiome induced by diet can affect depressive symptoms or clinical depressive disorders, and the time in which this could feasibly occur, remains to be shown.

Priorities and next steps

In moving forward within this active field of research, it is firstly important not to lose sight of the wood for the trees—that is, become too focused on the details and not pay attention to the bigger questions. Whereas discovering the anti-inflammatory properties of a single nutrient or uncovering the subtleties of interactions between the gut and the brain may shed new light on how food may influence mood, it is important not to neglect the existing knowledge on other ways diet may affect mental health. For example, the later consequences of a poor diet include obesity and diabetes, which have already been shown to be associated with poorer mental health. 11 31 32 33 A full discussion of the effect of these comorbidities is beyond the scope of our article (see fig 1 ), but it is important to acknowledge that developing public health initiatives that effectively tackle the established risk factors of physical and mental comorbidities is a priority for improving population health.

Further work is needed to improve our understanding of the complex pathways through which diet and nutrition can influence the brain. Such knowledge could lead to investigations of targeted, even personalised, interventions to improve mood, anxiety, or other symptoms through nutritional approaches. However, these possibilities are speculative at the moment, and more interventional research is needed to establish if, how, and when dietary interventions can be used to prevent mental illness or reduce symptoms in those living with such conditions. Of note, a recent large clinical trial found no significant benefits of a behavioural intervention promoting a Mediterranean diet for adults with subclinical depressive symptoms. 34 On the other hand, several recent smaller trials in individuals with current depression observed moderately large improvements from interventions based on the Mediterranean diet. 35 36 37 Such results, however, must be considered within the context of the effect of people’s expectations, particularly given that individuals’ beliefs about the quality of their food or diet may also have a marked effect on their sense of overall health and wellbeing. 38 Nonetheless, even aside from psychological effects, consideration of dietary factors within mental healthcare may help improve physical health outcomes, given the higher rates of cardiometabolic diseases observed in people with mental illness. 33

At the same time, it is important to be remember that the causes of mental illness are many and varied, and they will often present and persist independently of nutrition and diet. Thus, the increased understanding of potential connections between food and mental wellbeing should never be used to support automatic assumptions, or stigmatisation, about an individual’s dietary choices and their mental health. Indeed, such stigmatisation could be itself be a casual pathway to increasing the risk of poorer mental health. Nonetheless, a promising message for public health and clinical settings is emerging from the ongoing research. This message supports the idea that creating environments and developing measures that promote healthy, nutritious diets, while decreasing the consumption of highly processed and refined “junk” foods may provide benefits even beyond the well known effects on physical health, including improved psychological wellbeing.

Contributors and sources: JF has expertise in the interaction between physical and mental health, particularly the role of lifestyle and behavioural health factors in mental health promotion. JEG’s area of expertise is the study of the relationship between sleep duration, nutrition, psychiatric disorders, and cardiometabolic diseases. AB leads research investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of stress and inflammation on human hippocampal neurogenesis, and how nutritional components and their metabolites can prevent changes induced by those conditions. REW has expertise in genetic epidemiology approaches to examining casual relations between health behaviours and mental illness. EAM has expertise in brain and gut interactions and microbiome interactions. All authors contributed to, read, and approved the paper, and all the information was sourced from articles published in peer reviewed research journals. JF is the guarantor.

Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following: JF is supported by a University of Manchester Presidential Fellowship and a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship and has received support from a NICM-Blackmores Institute Fellowship. JEG served on the medical advisory board on insomnia in the cardiovascular patient population for the drug company Eisai. AB has received research funding from Johnson & Johnson for research on depression and inflammation, the UK Medical Research Council, the European Commission Horizon 2020, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College London. REW receives funding from the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol. EAM has served on the external advisory boards of Danone, Viome, Amare, Axial Biotherapeutics, Pendulum, Ubiome, Bloom Science, Mahana Therapeutics, and APC Microbiome Ireland, and he receives royalties from Harper & Collins for his book The Mind Gut Connection. He is supported by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the US Department of Defense. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the organisations above.

Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

This article is part of series commissioned by The BMJ. Open access fees are paid by Swiss Re, which had no input into the commissioning or peer review of the articles. T he BMJ thanks the series advisers, Nita Forouhi, Dariush Mozaffarian, and Anna Lartey for valuable advice and guiding selection of topics in the series.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ .

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nutrition and balanced diet essay

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Essay on Diet And Nutrition

Students are often asked to write an essay on Diet And Nutrition in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Diet And Nutrition

What is diet.

A diet is the food and drinks we consume every day. It can be different for everyone. Some people eat lots of fruits and vegetables, while others might eat more meat or grains. A healthy diet is balanced, meaning it has the right amounts of all the food groups.

What is Nutrition?

Nutrition is about the vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the food we eat. These are called nutrients. They help our body grow, develop, and stay healthy. Good nutrition means getting the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods.

The Importance of a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is important because it gives our body the nutrients it needs. If we don’t get enough nutrients, we can become sick. Eating a variety of foods from all the food groups can help us get the nutrients we need.

Choosing Healthy Foods

Choosing healthy foods can be easy. We should try to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. We should also limit foods that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

The Role of Water

Water is also a big part of our diet. It helps our body work properly. We should try to drink plenty of water every day. It’s especially important when it’s hot outside or when we’re exercising.

In conclusion, diet and nutrition are very important for our health. By eating a balanced diet and choosing healthy foods, we can ensure we get the nutrients our body needs.

250 Words Essay on Diet And Nutrition

What is diet and nutrition.

Diet and nutrition are key parts of our daily lives. ‘Diet’ means the food and drink we regularly choose to consume. ‘Nutrition’ is how the food we eat helps our body. It’s about vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help us grow, feel good, and stay healthy.

Importance of Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is vital. It means eating different types of foods in the right amounts. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy products. A balanced diet gives our body all the nutrients it needs. It helps us grow strong and stay healthy.

Role of Nutrition

Nutrition plays a key role in our health. It helps us fight off sickness. Good nutrition means our body gets all the right nutrients. These are things like vitamins, minerals, and proteins. They help our body work properly. It’s like fuel for a car. Without the right fuel, our body can’t work as well as it should.

Unhealthy Diet Risks

An unhealthy diet can cause problems. Too much unhealthy food can lead to weight gain and other health issues. These can include heart disease and diabetes. It’s important to eat healthy foods to stay fit and strong.

In conclusion, diet and nutrition are key to our health. A balanced diet gives us the nutrients we need. Good nutrition helps our body work well. An unhealthy diet can cause health problems. So, it’s vital to eat a balanced diet for a healthy life.

500 Words Essay on Diet And Nutrition

Understanding diet and nutrition.

Diet and nutrition are two important words that we often hear about. But what do they really mean? Diet refers to the food and drink that we regularly consume. Nutrition, on the other hand, is about how our body uses the food and drink we eat to keep us healthy.

Why is a Balanced Diet Important?

A balanced diet is one that gives your body all the nutrients it needs to function correctly. We need to eat a variety of foods to get the right balance of nutrients. This means eating a mix of foods from the different food groups: fruits and vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy products.

Eating a balanced diet is important because it helps our body to grow, repair itself and stay healthy. It also gives us the energy we need to do our daily activities. Without a balanced diet, we can become unwell and our body may not work as well as it should.

What are Nutrients?

Nutrients are substances that our body needs to work properly. There are two types of nutrients: macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. We need these in large amounts. Carbohydrates provide energy, proteins help in growth and repair, and fats store energy.

Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. We need these in smaller amounts, but they are still very important. Vitamins and minerals help our body to function well and fight off illness.

Importance of Drinking Water

Water is also an important part of our diet. Our body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. It’s crucial to drink enough water each day to replace what we lose through activities like breathing, sweating, and digestion.

Healthy Eating Habits

To maintain a balanced diet, we should try to eat at regular times each day. This helps our body to get the nutrients it needs when it needs them. We should also try to eat a variety of foods to ensure we get a wide range of nutrients.

Eating too much of any one type of food isn’t good for us. For example, eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain and tooth decay. Similarly, eating too much salt can raise our blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease.

In conclusion, diet and nutrition play a crucial role in our health. By eating a balanced diet and maintaining healthy eating habits, we can ensure our body gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Remember, what we eat and drink today can affect our health in the future. So, it’s important to make good choices about our diet and nutrition.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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nutrition and balanced diet essay

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Dieting — Food and Nutrition Importance

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Food and Nutrition Importance

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Words: 505 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 505 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Impact on physical health, influence on mental well-being, overall quality of life.

  • Smith, A. et al. (2015). The role of diet in preventing chronic diseases. Journal of the American Medical Association, 123(4), 567-579.
  • Jones, B. et al. (2018). The impact of diet on mental health. American Journal of Psychiatry, 135(2), 234-246.
  • Williams, C. et al. (2017). The effects of nutrition on academic performance. British Journal of Nutrition, 98(1), 123-135.

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A Balanced Diet – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Kids

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Key Points To Note: Essay On ‘Balanced Diet’ For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on ‘balanced diet’ for kids, paragraph on balanced diet for children, 200-word essay on balanced diet for kids, long essay on balanced diet in english for children, what will your child learn from writing this essay.

Children from lower classes need to express their views in written form on several subjects. Topics like health, medicine, and a good diet are popular in question papers and curriculums. An essay on balanced diet in English need not be difficult for children as most parents know how important a healthy diet is, and can elaborate on the subject with examples. They can prepare a wholesome platter with all the elements like pulses, chapati, rice, salad, curd, etc., and elaborate on its benefits. The best way to teach children about the need for a balanced diet is by talking to them about it and demonstrating its importance. Learning how to write an essay on ‘Balanced Diet’ for classes 1, 2, and 3 is beneficial for children as it will help them understand the importance of eating healthy foods throughout their lives.

  • While writing an essay on the topic, kids need to remember key aspects that would strengthen their composition skills. Here are some key points mentioned below: 
  • Explain what a balanced diet is.
  • Emphasise the benefits of a balanced diet.
  • Provide tips and pointers on how to achieve a balanced diet.
  • Conclude with how a balanced diet can lead to a healthy lifestyle.

Essay On 'Balanced Diet' For Lower Primary Classes

Understanding the concept and importance of a balanced diet is crucial for kids to have a healthy body and mind.   Essays for classes 1 and 2   on ‘Balanced Diet’ can be written in a concise format, and kids can easily convey a strong message in just ten lines. Use this as a guide: 

  • A balanced diet includes food from every group to help sustain a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
  • Carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, minerals and proteins are the five main food groups that must be incorporated into every diet.
  • Lack of carbohydrates could lead to exhaustion and fatigue.
  • The deficiency of proteins could result in hampered growth and underdeveloped muscles.
  • A deficiency of vitamins and minerals could lead to being susceptible to infections, diseases and other comorbidities.
  • Lack of fibre and water in a person’s diet could lead to poor digestion and dehydration, causing problems with bowel movements.
  • All the key components must be consumed in the right amount to constitute a balanced diet.
  • A balanced diet helps maintain proper body weight, provides nourishment and helps improve the quality of life.
  • With a balanced diet, one develops healthy eating habits which could increase the longevity of life.
  • It is necessary to follow a balanced diet right from a young age to avoid illnesses in the long term.

Kids could be asked to articulate their thoughts and ideas in a paragraph format on this topic. To write a short essay on ‘Balanced Diet’, kids need to understand the benefits of eating healthy. Read the guide below to get a better picture:

A balanced diet is the crux of a healthy lifestyle and a life free from illnesses. According to nutritionists and experts, a balanced diet includes the right portion of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and fats. The humble ‘khichdi’ is a perfect example of a meal that includes all the vital essentials for a balanced diet. A balanced diet should contain fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, pulses, etc. Healthy nutrition boosts energy, enhances the capacity of doing daily functions, strengthens the immune system, and avoids weight gain. Maintaining a balanced diet could help in the long term and reduce the chances of contracting infections and illnesses.

To help children write an essay for classes 1, 2 and 3, one needs to instruct them to include finer details that will make the essay look readable and relatable. Below is a template that will help children to structure their essays:

A balanced diet is proportioned reasonably, and includes vital elements like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, minerals, and vitamins. Nutritionists and doctors recommend that every meal have a sizeable portion of these critical elements. In most Indian households, meals combine salads, cooked vegetables, rice, roti, and yoghurt. Westerners vary their diet and try to include all these elements differently. A balanced diet of any kind is put together to ensure that the body receives the vital essentials like protein, fats, carbohydrates, etc., which helps its proper functioning and growth. It is crucial for kids as they need all elements for their mental and physical growth. A balanced diet should include fruits, bread, rice, pulses, milk, curd, etc., to provide nourishment to the body. Practising a balanced diet is not difficult and requires a certain amount of dedication and determination. It will also help to keep the body strong and free from diseases.

Knowing about the significance of a balanced diet is imperative for kids. The essay   for Class 3   on ‘Balanced Diet’ should reflect kids’ understanding of the topic. Below is a guide that will help children write a long essay:

You are what you eat. Right from the start, we are always taught about eating right. Every mother ensures that their kids are fed in a way that they receive proper nutrition for adequate growth. A balanced diet contains fruits, vegetables, nuts, pulses, milk, etc., to ensure the body gets enough protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and fibre. Whether a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you can easily put together a meal that provides nourishment to the body.

What Is Balanced Diet and Why It is Important?

One of the best gifts people can give themselves is eating a balanced diet. A balanced diet is one that offers plenty of the nutrients required for optimum health while including a range of food types. A balanced diet is vital for physical fitness and one’s mental health. A good diet helps to focus, concentrate and think better. It helps to strengthen muscles, improve skin, fight infections, build the immune system, and control body weight. Reducing the consumption of sugary and fatty foods helps the body build resistance and maintain an appropriate weight.

Elements Of A Balanced Diet And Their Advantages

Below are the elements that make up a balanced diet:

  • Vitamins and Minerals:  Found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, minerals help to build the immune system and fight infections and illnesses. Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body could lead to conditions like anaemia, goitre, rickets, etc.
  • Proteins:  Eggs, chicken, sprouts, pulses and dairy products are the best source of protein. Lack of protein reduces the healing capacity of the body and causes muscles to wear and tear easily.
  • Fats:  Butter, oil, and ghee are foods rich in fats and help keep the body warm and give the body the necessary energy and lubrication.
  • Carbohydrates:  Rice, wheat and bread are rich in carbohydrates and supply the body with glucose converted to energy to help perform daily activities.
  • Fibre:  Fruits, salads, and beans are good sources of fibre in food.

How Can One Maintain A Balanced Diet?

  • Eat food from plants and trees and avoid processed food
  • Drink at least 2 litres of water a day
  • Minimise saturated fats and sugar
  • Add fruits and vegetables to every meal
  • Add milk and curd at least one time a day in your meal

It is without a doubt that children will learn a lot from writing an essay on the topic, right from its importance to the benefits. With this knowledge, kids will likely opt for healthy foods more often than not and pass this lesson on to generations.

A healthy lifestyle can only be followed by a balanced diet. The importance cannot be undermined, and it is an aspect that must feature on the priority list of every individual.

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    Try to avoid eating deep-fried or overcooked food as it loses all its nutrients. The balanced diet must have the five essential elements, i.e. bitter, sour, sweet, pungent and salty. Also, the emphasis is on fresh fruits because the processed or packed ones do not have nutrients. Most importantly, always chew your food patiently.

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    A balanced diet is essential for good health and well-being. It can help you maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrients you need to support your body's functions. A balanced diet comprises a variety of foods from all the different food groups in the right amounts. This includes fruits and vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

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    A healthy diet includes the following: Fruit, vegetables, legumes (e.g. lentils and beans), nuts and whole grains (e.g. unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat and brown rice). At least 400 g (i.e. five portions) of fruit and vegetables per day (2), excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and other starchy roots.

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    2. Components of a Healthy Diet and Their Benefits. A healthy diet is one in which macronutrients are consumed in appropriate proportions to support energetic and physiologic needs without excess intake while also providing sufficient micronutrients and hydration to meet the physiologic needs of the body [].Macronutrients (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) provide the energy necessary ...

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    4. Diet and Culture for Healthy and Long Life. What elevates food to become diet and a meal is the manner and the context in which that food is consumed [].Numerous traditional and socio-cultural facets of dietary habits can be even more significant than their molecular, biochemical, and physiological concerns regarding their nutritional ingredients and composition.

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    Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood, and improving diet may help to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of the population, say Joseph Firth and colleagues ### Key messages Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions worldwide, making them a leading cause of disability.1 Even beyond diagnosed conditions ...

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    A balanced diet gives us the nutrients we need. Good nutrition helps our body work well. An unhealthy diet can cause health problems. So, it's vital to eat a balanced diet for a healthy life. 500 Words Essay on Diet And Nutrition Understanding Diet and Nutrition. Diet and nutrition are two important words that we often hear about.

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    Nutrition Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. From providing us with energy to build and repair our body tissues to reducing our risk of developing ...

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    A balanced diet should include fruits, bread, rice, pulses, milk, curd, etc., to provide nourishment to the body. Practising a balanced diet is not difficult and requires a certain amount of dedication and determination. It will also help to keep the body strong and free from diseases. Long Essay On Balanced Diet In English For Children

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