Everyone has different ways of staying healthy. Here are some of the food portions that you need to have to keep a balanced healthy diet.

Start with the basics. Include bread, rice, and pasta in your breakfast, lunch or dinner. These types of food take care of the supply of the vitamin B complex and should always be part of the main course. Remember to take everything in moderation.

Stock up on fruits and vegetables. Most people don’t get the required portions of fruits and vegetables. Experts say that we should at least eat five portions of these nutritious foods in each meal. Examples of one portion of veggies are two tomatoes, half of a cucumber, or a small bowl of grapes.

Eat the right portions of meat, fish and chicken. Fish especially salmon and sardines are the healthiest so they should be eaten at least twice a week. Chicken is better without the skin and grilled instead of fried, while lean meat is much better than eating it with fat.

Foods rich in sugar and fat also need to be included in a balanced healthy diet, but still in moderation. It might be tempting to eat chocolates and ice cream, but we should always limit it to avoid high blood sugar levels. Whenever you can, you should also choose healthier alternatives like “fat-free” versions or those drinks with “less sugar.”

Fiber should also be included in the diet because it aids in constipation and keeps the body healthy. The nutrients can be found in foods like pasta, potatoes and beans. To get your protein fix, eat foods like nuts. Salts are also essential to the body but only in little amounts. Iron and iodine are also some of the minerals that should be taken note of.

Calcium from milk is also vital because it helps keep the teeth and bones healthy. Potassium, which is found in bananas and raisins also play an important role for the heart and the kidney.

There are different types of diets that exist for weight gain or weight loss. Generally speaking, if your diet contains the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, you are eating properly. A deficiency in one or more of these minerals will be evident in you body. Lack of protein, for instance will stall growth and the healing of wounds. Too much food intake will make a person become overweight.

Combining diets with exercise is healthiest because you build a stronger immune system. Exercising can also burn the excess calories and fat that you consume each meal, making you more fit.