Understanding a Balanced Diet: Guidelines & Resources

Question
Dear Kimberly,
What constitute a balanced and healthy diet? How to make sure the diet is such?

Answer
The best guidelines to follow are the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  They give the basics for a healthy and well balanced diet.
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dga/
http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/pyramid.html
http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/py/pmap.htm
Thanks,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net