Dietary Diversity

Every cell, tissue, and organ in the human body relies on nutrients for energy to perform its function properly. Nutrients come from the food you eat. In the best-case scenario, you eat a well balanced diet with lean meats, poultry, and fish along with lots of vegetables, legumes, fruits, and healthy nuts. This healthy diet provides nutrients such as minerals and vitamins, which become energy sources on a cellular level. In contrast, if you eat meals and snacks loaded with processed foods, salt, sugars, and fats, your body doesn't get what it needs to properly grow and thrive, which can compromise not only normal function, but also long-term health.
Adequate nutrition refers to eating foods that provide the bare minimum for survival. For instance, it's possible to eat mostly junk food like salty potato chips, meals like high fat frozen dinners, and sugary snacks. In contrast, optimal nutrition means you're consistently eating foods that properly fuel your body for top performance.