Guidelines for Planning Balanced Dites

You have  gained considerable knowledge about the principles underlying the planning of balanced diets. Let  us  now  look at some more important aspects. We have to remember that balanced diets are:

• individual-specific 
• region-specific and 
• income-specific 

What do we mean by these  terms? Why are these important in  planning balanced diets?  You will find the answers to these questions in the subsequent  discussion. A balanced diet is  never generalized and suitable for all individuals.  It  is  specific firstly, to an individual of a given age (age-range) and sex. In the case of adults, it  is also specific to a given  activity  level-sedentary, moderate or heavy work. A balanced  diet for a  sedentary worker (e.g. typist  or clerk) would differ from that of a heavy worker (e.g. construction  labourer). A balanced  diet for an infant would be very different from  that of an adult (influence of age). A diet for an adolescent girl would be different compared to one for an adolescent  boy (influence of sex). 

Secondly, balanced diets are always region-specific. The particular foods available in a region can be used in  planning;  using others would be impractical and unsuitable. There is no point in including  a  cereal like  ragi  in a  diet meant for a North  Indian because  ragi is grown only in  the south. A balanced diet for a particular  region  must reflect the  characteristic  meal patterns, the social  and religious  practices  of that region. These factors are  taken into consideration to ensure that the diet  planned is acceptable

Thirdly, balanced  diets  are income-specific.  Balanced diets for an individual of a given age and sex (and activity level where relevant) vary depending on income. A balanced  diet  would  imply the use of all  food groups energy-giving, body-building and protective/regulatory - in each and every meal. However, the selection of foods and the amounts in  which they are consumed would vary depending on income. As income  increases, consumption of cereals reduces and consumption of milk and  other  animal  protein  foods, vegetables and fruits, fat and sugar tend to increase. While planning  balanced  diets for the  affluent these trends are kept in mind but excessive amounts of fat and  sugar are not recommended.  Having more money does not mean spending more on  fat, sugar and expensive foods like meat/cheese, nuts  and  dry fruits. It means consuming the amounts absolutely necessary so as to maintain good  health and avoid putting on weight and developing other health  problems.  Having  more  money,  however,  enables  a person to add more variety to the diet; unusual  foods or foods not locally available can be purchased or ordered from elsewhere. Judicious selection of food is,  however, as important for the rich as for the poor. The ultimate aim is alway to meet the nutritional requirements  

Let us  now study the major  steps in  planning balanced  diets. These are given in the following chart. 

Let us now  discuss  each of these steps. 

1. Identify the individual  and  his/her specific characteristics: You know the individual's characteristics and  background would determine the type  of diet planned.  Income,  socio-economic background, religion and the region  where  the, individual stays are also important, as you are aware, in the  planning of balanced  diets. 
2. Consult RDls for energy and protein :Generally diets which meet energy and protein needs meet the needs of other nutrients  as well if care is taken to include rich sources of vitamins and minerals.  Therefore in  planning  diets the total energy and protein needs are specified first. 
3. Decide on total amounts of  specific groups :The amounts of cereals, fat, sugar, milk, meat/fish/poultry, eggs, pulse,vegetables and fruits to be consumed are decided based on the income. The amount included would be such that RDls can be met for energy and protein. This wilI become clear to you  when you study the Practical Manual. 
4. Decide on  number of meals to-be consumed :Meal frequency varies depending on income, the work school schedule and convenience. People belonging to the higher income group consume  more meals. Consider the following lists of meals consumed in a  day.
5. Distributed total amount decided between meals:The total amount of each group decide must be distributed over the day's meals. You will learn how to do this using the Practical Manual.
6. Decide on items and their amounts within each group for each meal:The dishes to be included for each meal are decided based on amount of each item in each of the three food groups decided on earlier. For specific dishes to be included specific items are selected from each food group.