Balanced Eating Made Simple

Have you ever felt overwhelmed when it comes to eating healthy? You are not alone, many people also feel this way. Food is not meant to be over complicated, there are some simple tips and tricks to help make eating healthy fun, affordable, and delicious. 

Most of the time we want to focus on eating nutrient dense, whole foods. One tip frequently given to clients is to aim for 80 percent of your meals and snacks to be nutritious, and 20 percent of the time they can be fun foods. Both nutrient dense foods and fun foods are part of a balanced diet. 

What do we mean by a balanced diet? 

Aiming for half of your plate to be colorful fruits and vegetables, helps make sure you are eating enough nutrients for your body to perform all the internal functions it needs to! Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of fiber which plays an important role in regulating blood sugar and energy levels, keeping you full and satisfied, and promoting good digestion.

One quarter of the plate should be lean protein, which helps to repair tissue and cells, and have a healthy immune system. 

The last portion of the plate should be whole grains. Whole grains are fiber rich carbohydrates that slow down digestion and help support stable energy levels throughout the day. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy; making sure whole grains are on your plate is a great way to eat enough carbohydrates!

Breakfast balanced plate example: strawberries and blueberries, hard boiled eggs, and whole grain toast with butter. 

Lunch balanced plate example: cucumber and tomato salad, salmon, and jasmine rice. 

Dinner balanced plate example: asparagus, lean beef, and potato. 

Snack balanced example: apple and string cheese. 

Balanced eating does not need to be overwhelming, or complicated. Focus on having a fruit or vegetable, a protein, and a carbohydrate at most meals for stable energy levels, good digestion, and to keep you full and satisfied.