Components of healthy diet

HEALTHY DIET
A healthy diet comprises of food that is sufficient in essential nutrients required for the proper functioning and health of the body. A well-balanced diet and physical activity is the base of a good health.

FOOD PYRAMID
A food pyramid consists of the essential nutrients and food groups that are important for health. It provides a guideline to make the correct food choices.

The nutrients that are important to sustain a good health are

1. PROTEIN
   Proteins are the main constituents of cells in the body. Animal sources of protein are meats, milk, poultry and eggs while some plant sources are nuts, beans, legumes and some grains.

2. CARBOHYDRATES
   Consume carbohydrates, which include brown rice, potatoes, wheat and oatmeal to name a few.

3. FATS
   Fats store energy in the body. Good fats that are vital to health are avocados, walnuts, olives, dark chocolate, and others.

4. VITAMINS AND MINERALS
   We need vitamins and minerals for the proper growth of the body. There are numerous choices to get these including meats, fish, vegetables, and fruits.

BOTTOM LINE
Be mindful of what you eat and enjoy your meals. For a healthy diet prepare a balanced diet chart and stick to it.