Three aspects to a balanced diet

Good nutrition goes way beyond the foods you should eat. To have an impact on the health, the diet should be sustainable over years and decades. For sure, one can lose weight on an extreme diet or eat poorly on a holiday without gaining much weight but none of these options will lead to a long-term health or to the desired body composition. In this post we introduce you the three aspects of a healthy diet.

1. Energy balance

Let’s start with the most obvious, energy balance. Simply put, you should consume enough energy to support your activity level and body composition. In case you would like to reduce your body mass you will need to reduce your energy intake and have a negative energy balance. Also, in case you would like to gain weight you will need to consume more calories than you are burning to be able to either build muscle or store the extra energy as fat tissue.

2. Nutrients

Food is more than just fuel. It also contains nutrients. You must have heard about macro nutrients; carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Eating a balanced diet means that you get enough of all the above. However, food also contains equally important micro nutrients; vitamins and minerals. Getting enough of these is a key for health in the long run.

3. The social aspect of food and nutrition

The real key to a healthy and balanced diet is understanding the social aspect of food. Food is cultural. Food is social. Food is an expression of love and care. Food is comfort. Food is memories. This is the aspect that we tend overlook when we try to do dramatical changes to our diet. Overlooking this aspect can lead to a series of unsuccessful diets. This phenomenon even has a name; yo-yo dieting.

Conclusion

For a short period of time prioritizing or neglecting one or two of the aforementioned aspects won’t harm you. In some cases, quite the opposite can happen. If you are on a strict weigh loss diet before a fitness show or a competition your number one factor to monitor is the energy balance. Nutrients and social life play a smaller role. The same goes for holidays. Spending time and eating with friends and family can mean a lot more than the energy intake. However, in the long run you will need to find a balance between the three. Too high or two low energy intake will lead to unwanted weight gain or loss. Too little nutrients will lead to various health and performance issues and perhaps also to an unwanted body composition. And too restricted diet will lead to disordered eating, unhealthy social life and can harm relationships with friends and family.

In case you would like to have help with your diet, book a free consultation with us right now!