balanced diet

American  

noun

1. a diet consisting of the proper quantities and proportions of foods needed to maintain health or growth.

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balanced diet Cultural  

1. A diet that contains the proper proportions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water necessary to maintain good health.

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Etymology

Origin of balanced diet

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

A healthy routine, particularly a well balanced diet, can help slow cognitive decline and support healthier aging.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

Many processed items, especially those based on plants, are beneficial parts of a balanced diet.

From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2025

The Cookie Monster declared cookies a "sometimes food" and taught children about a balanced diet.

From BBC • May 19, 2025

Bügel, who is leading efforts to refine that system, emphasized that many processed foods still provide key nutrients and can be part of a balanced diet.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025

Cereals and pulses together thus provide many of the ingredients of a balanced diet.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond