The benefits of a balanced dietImagine yourself sitting in class at school. It’s only the second period and you’re already distracted by the growling of your stomach. All you can focus on is how hungry you are and you probably wish you had something to eat for breakfast. This is a common situation for many students every day because they are missing a main tool in their diet. Balance. So when you think of balance, you probably think of two objects of the same weight, or glasses of water filled with the same amount. But balance doesn't just mean equal amounts. This can mean having more of the good things and fewer of the bad. Eating a balanced diet will help you be a healthy person. A balanced diet contributes to your physical, mental and emotional health. We've probably all heard our parents or doctors recommend that we eat fruits and vegetables. But a common misconception among young people is that the only way to eat healthily is to eat fruits and vegetables. However, to have a balanced diet, you must choose what you eat based on the activity you are going to do. For example, when you're preparing to go to a sporting event, if you want to be successful, you need to make sure you get some protein by eating some chicken and then some grapes. Often, people sell themselves short of what they can accomplish through exercise because of the food they eat. A balanced diet will help you achieve more physically. However, our bodies are like cars. Without fuel, they won't leave. You can't expect to eat chips and drink a Coke before a sporting event and be successful. Not only would this prevent you from succeeding, but it would make the activity difficult and tiring. However, when you consume protein, vitamins and antioxidants through a balanced diet...... middle of paper ...... if you know you are eating healthily and nourishing your body, you will feel more confident yourself inside and out. Research by JD Latner has shown that obese children are more likely to experience feelings of depression and low self-esteem than children of a healthy weight. Eating a balanced diet helps you have a healthy weight for your age. In conclusion, a balanced diet will improve your mood, confidence and overall emotional health. The next time you think about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, think about how you balance your diet. I hope you remember how beneficial a balanced diet is for your physical, mental and emotional health. If you balance your diet, you will truly feel like a new and improved version of yourself. So the next time you are about to eat something, ask yourself: will this limit me or help me become a healthy person.?