A balanced diet contains sufficient amounts of fibre and the various nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals) to ensure good health. Food should also provide the appropriate amount of energy and adequate amounts of water. The diet should not contain items that are harmful. In other words, a balanced diet should be both adequate and wholesome. This definition is easy to give, but it is much more difficult to state precisely what constitutes a balanced diet for any particular individual. Government departments, using advice gained from expert committees, provide dietary guidelines that are designed to help us achieve a balanced diet (see Dietary Reference Values; and Recommended Dietary Allowance).

Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise. Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.