balanced diet — healthy mix of food
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A way of eating that includes the right amounts of different foods, like fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains, to keep your body healthy.
Say it like a native
Textbook One should consume a nutritionally well-proportioned dietary regimen.
Native You should eat a balanced diet.
'Nutritionally well-proportioned dietary regimen' is textbook; 'a balanced diet' is the normal phrase.
Pattern: a balanced diet
In use
- Children need a balanced diet to grow and stay healthy.health
- In my opinion, having a balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health, especially when people have busy lifestyles.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I eat balanced diet.
✓ I eat a balanced diet.
It needs the article — 'a balanced diet'.
Common collocations
a balanced diet— eat, healthy, maintain, part of
Don't confuse it
Different from 'healthy food,' which refers to individual foods, 'balanced diet' is about the overall mix.