Dinner for a Balanced Diet

Eating a balanced diet can be much easier said than done. Most of us are so busy running in so many directions during the day that we are lucky to find time to eat, much less find the time to cook a balanced meal. It is still important to find balance in your meal plan, though, and it's possible to prepare dinner for a balanced diet when you don't have a lot of time to spend cooking. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Food Portions

For many people, dinner is the biggest meal of the day, but that does not mean that you have to eat unhealthy. If you learn how to manage portion sizes and make healthy choices, you can eat a larger meal in the evening and still maintain an overall healthy diet. A balanced diet should include all food groups, which consists of vegetables, protein and starch. Small amounts of dairy can be added as well. While it may sound a bit complicated, it is actually quite simple to make the right food choices when it comes to meal time, especially one that you have time to prepare yourself and can set down to enjoy.

A good example of a healthy dinner that is also low in fat and calories would be a 4-oz. grilled chicken breast on a bed of greens with grilled tomatoes, onions and sprinkled with a small amount of feta cheese. A nice small, crusty roll on the side with a slight pat of butter is all you need for a tasty meal that takes just minutes to make and you can feel good about eating it.

On the Go

If you are planning a meal on the go, instead of takeout or the drive-thru, packing an on-the-go meal such as a healthy wrap and carrot sticks can squelch hunger; it's quite tasty, too. Take a low-fat whole wheat or veggie-flavored tortilla and fill with turkey or chicken, lettuce, tomato, a small amount of shredded cheddar and 1 tbsp. of light ranch dressing.

Eating healthy, especially at dinnertime, can be done. You don't even have to set at the table to eat if you don't want to. You don't even have to turn on the stove or oven. With a little pre-planning and some dedication, meals can be easily prepared with few ingredients. Best of all, you can eat food that tastes delicious and makes you feel good as well.