A healthy diet consumed
throughout the life-course helps in preventing malnutrition in all its forms as
well as wide range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and conditions. But
rapid urbanization/globalization, increased consumption of processed foods and
changing lifestyles has led to a shift in dietary patterns.
People are consuming more foods
high in energy, fats, free sugars or salt/sodium, and many do not eat enough
fruits, vegetables and dietary fibers such as whole grains. So, these all
factors are contributing to an imbalanced eating. A balanced and healthy diet
will vary depending on the individual needs (e.g. age, gender, lifestyle,
degree of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods and
dietary customs but the basic principles of what constitute a healthy diet
remain the same.
A balanced diet is one which
contains variety of foods in such quantities and proportion that the need of
all nutrients is adequately met for maintaining health, vitality and general
wellbeing and makes a small provision for extra nutrients to withstand short
duration of leanness.
The major food issues of concern
are insufficient/ imbalanced intake of foods/nutrients. One of the most
common nutritional problems of public health importance in India are low birth
weight, protein energy malnutrition in children, chronic energy deficiency in
adults, micronutrient malnutrition and diet related non-communicable diseases.
Health and nutrition are the most important contributory factors for human
resource development in the country.
Healthy dietary practices begin
early in life. Recent evidences indicate that under nutrition in utero may set
the pace for diet related chronic diseases in later life. Breastfeeding
promotes healthy growth and improves cognitive development, and may have
longer-term health benefits, like reducing the risk of becoming overweight or
obese and developing NCDs later in life.
Since a healthy diet consists of
different kinds of foods, the emphasis has been shifted from nutrient
orientation to the food based approach. Foods can be categorized according to
the function as-
- Energy rich foods (Carbohydrates
and fats)-whole grain cereals, millets, vegetable oils, ghee, nuts and
oilseeds and sugars.
- Body building foods (Proteins)-
Pulses, nuts and oilseeds, milk and milk products, meat, fish, poultry.
- Protective foods (Vitamins
and minerals) - Green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, eggs,
milk and milk products and flesh foods.
