Healthy diet facts for kids

United States Department of Agriculture food pyramid (click to enlarge)

A healthy diet or balanced diet means eating the right amounts of all the important food groups. It includes fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and protein. This way of eating makes sure you get enough, but not too much, of any kind of food. If you eat too much or too little of a food group, it's called an "unhealthy diet." A healthy diet focuses on foods that come from plants and fewer convenience foods (like fast food or highly processed snacks).

What is Basic Nutrition?

Leafy green, allium, and cruciferous vegetables are key parts of a healthy diet.

Understanding nutrition and diet is always growing as we learn more. However, the basic ideas of good nutrition stay the same. The best way to get personal advice is to talk to a doctor or dietitian. They can give you information based on your lifestyle, health, and what foods you like.

Here are some basic nutrition tips:

• Start with foods from the main food groups. These include vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
• Also, eat lean proteins like beans, nuts, and seeds. Don't forget healthy fats!
• A good nutrition plan should guide you on how much food to eat from each group.
• Choose foods you can easily find at your local grocery store. You don't need special or fancy foods.
• Your food plan should fit your budget, your daily life, and your healthy food choices.
• Drink lots of water! Try to drink fewer Soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks, as these often have a lot of sugar.
• Always read food labels to see what's in your food. For example, labels show which foods are lower in sodium, like some soups, breads, and frozen meals.
• A healthy diet should include seafood like salmon, tuna, and trout. Also, try shellfish such as crab, mussels, and oysters. Seafood gives you protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart.
• Your diet needs balanced amounts of carbohydrates for energy. Carbohydrates are one of the three main nutrients your body needs. The other two are fat and protein.
• Eating healthy can be a better choice than just dieting to lose weight. When you eat healthy, exercise, and eat in moderation, it leads to better health over time.

Related pages

• Food pyramid
• Diet (nutrition)

Images for kids

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  Some healthy foods including beans, grains, cauliflower, cantelope, pasta, bread, orange, turkey, salmon, carrots, turnips, zucchini, snowpeas, string beans, radishes, asparagus, summer squash, lean beef, tomatoes, and potatoes.

See also

In Spanish: Dieta sana para niños