A balanced diet focuses on providing all the nutrients that your body needs. A balanced diet includes seven essential components: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, water, minerals, and vitamins.   What is a Balanced Diet? A healthy balanced diet gives your body the energy and nutrients it needs to function correctly. You should consume the majority of your daily calories in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, lean proteins to get proper nutrition from your diet. Daily Calorie Recommendations A calorie is the amount of energy stored in a particular food. The body uses calories from food for breathing, thinking, walking, and various other important functions. Few examples of daily calories intake based on the United States Department of Agriculture Guidelines are: children ages 2 to 8 years: 1,000 to 1,400 calories girls ages 9 to 13 years: 1,400 to 1,600 calories boys ages 9 to 13 years: 1,600 to 2,000 calories active…