When we talk about a balanced diet, we refer to one that keeps a person in an optimal state of health and allows him to carry out his daily activities. So as to do this, it must provide the necessary nutrients in adequate proportions.

Diet imbalances may lead to disorders due as much to excess (obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) as to deficiency (lack of vitamins, anaemia).

During the past few years, there has been a considerable increase in the consumption of fats that have resulted in imbalances caused by an excessive consumption of saturated fatty acids. These acids – present in red meat, sausages, milk products, eggs and numerous prefabricated products – may produce negative effects for health over the long term.

In order to remedy this, we should adopt a balanced diet that is:

   - Complete: it should provide the sufficient amount of nutrients.
   - Balanced: it should provide them in the adequate proportions.
   - Varied: the nutrients must come from different foods.

The nutritional pyramid shows us the different proportions of foods that should be present in a balanced diet.