Nutrition (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Reasons for Having A Balanced Diet

• The definition of a balanced diet is:

A diet that provides all the necessary nutrients required for good health

• To achieve a balanced diet, each person must consume a variety of different food types to gain all the different required nutrients

• No single food contains all the nutrients required by the human body

• The required nutrients are:

  • Carbohydrates

  • Proteins

  • Fats

  • Fibre

  • Vitamins

  • Minerals

  • Water

Balanced diet diagram

This pie chart, also known as the Eatwell plate, shows the approximate proportions of different food types that make up a balanced diet

• There are several reasons why a balanced diet is important:

  • Consuming too much saturated fats can lead to excess fats being stored in the body. Over time and in excess this can lead to obesity

  • Carbohydrates and sugary foods provide glucose for respiration, increasing the energy available for sporting activities

  • Different nutrients are required for the basic metabolism (chemical reactions) in all cells - these include things like growth and water balance in cells

The Role of Carbohydrates, Fat, Protein
& Vitamins/Minerals

Food nutrients table

• Every person has different requirements for their diet depending on factors such as age, gender and activity levels

• A typical balanced diet is made up of:

  • 55–60% carbohydrate

  • 25–30% fat

  • 15–20% protein