how to tell if i have a balanced diet? - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

beck3k · 05-31-2004, 06:03 AM

Can you go to the docters and have a blood test or somthing? I dont know alot about this sort of thing

crowgirl · 05-31-2004, 07:48 AM

Perhaps you could keep a detailed food diary for a week or so and have it analyzed by a dietician, nutritionalist, or maybe a doctor. Ask them about fees and specific instructions first, though.

HTH!

beck3k · 05-31-2004, 01:34 PM

ok thanks will do

modert · 06-01-2004, 12:09 PM

There is no specific test that indicates if a diet is balanced. The best way to know is to document everything you consume, keeping track of quantity (or weight) of portions, carbs, protein, fat, sodium, cholesterol, and fiber.

Then you can calculate your totals for each meal and for the day. There are specific calculations you can do to convert carb, protein, and fat grams into calories. Then you can determine what percentage of each make up your total caloric intake. This is a good start to determine whether you diet is balanced. There is more to it than that - for example WHAT carbs are you eating? What proteins? What fats? etc....

Your ratios of carb/protein/fat can vary depending on your own health and nutirtional needs. I recommend 50% carbs/25% protein/25%fat - this is typically easy to accomplish and suitable for most healthy people.